The Armour Archive

Who makes the best 15th century Brig? The more plates the better. They need to be reliable.

H

The best?

I would go with guys like Mac, Thaden, Ugo, Jiri Lucius, Jiri Klepec, Hedgecock.

I'm not sure that can be asked as a single question like that. I think it's more like.

Who would make/has made the most accurate copy?
Who makes the best commercially available one?
Who would make the best one if you paid them enough?
Who makes/would make the best one in your price range?
Who makes the best looking/functioning one?

Sorry if that's not much help but everybody's probably got their own answers and mine may not help much as I'm probably on the wrong side of the pond.

Maybe you could post a picture of what you'd like. As well as tell us your price range.

However, I personally think that whenever possible, the best piece of armor is one that you made for yourself.
It's the only way to ensure that the armorer is fully dedicated to giving you the best piece of armor possible. With the help of buddies, you can get yourself measured, get the pieces cut out and arranged just how YOU want them. Then you can bring it to your marshall and say: "Is this legal for combat, is it safe for me?" even before you've finally assembled it.

It sure beats opening the package at war and discovering it leaves a 4 inch gap where others can pound on you with impunity.

Good point.

Best commercially made one. needs to be durable for sca combat, preferably stainless plates. And of course it needs to look good. Ugo and some of the others mentioned in the previous message more than likely have Verrrry long wait lists.

herrhauptmann

True, the best pieces are the ones you make yourself. If you know anyone who has a great pattern for late peroid Brig, let me know. My major issue is Time, which I dont have alot of, thus I was seeking an armourer.

H

There is a very nice pattern in the Pattern Archive
http://www.armourarchive.org/patterns/brig/

Regards,
WvK

For SCA use try Luther at Anshelmarms.com

Here is a shot of my squire in one of his brigs

[img]http://kottr.com/d/53600-2/IMG_3425.JPG[/img]

Hjalti wrote:Good point.

Best commercially made one. needs to be durable for sca combat, preferably stainless plates. And of course it needs to look good. Ugo and some of the others mentioned in the previous message more than likely have Verrrry long wait lists.

The best commercially made one is by the White Rose Company in the UK. At the moment, they are the only commercially available models that are accepted by Wolfe Argent .

Craig and I were the ones who made the brigs people keep referencing patterns for. They take over 200 man hours to make - at currently $650, give or take, for a White Rose 'Archers Brigandine', you can hardly beat the deal. They are made to have a correct waist, and look very nice. If Craig and I were to make one, we would be charging well over $2000 for one - don't ask us, I still have my second brigandine underway, and I doubt very much I will ever get around to making a third example.

Do you have a link or pictures for a White Rose Brig? I'd like to see how it looks, and my google-fu is weak!

Thanks!

Thank you! I guess I fail at google

Thanks guys

I think I will be calling the U.K. shortly.

Anyone dealt with them before?

H

If going to look overseas try http://armstreet.com/store/armor/1/ as well. I have never seen his Brigs but some of his other work is well made that i,ve seen. I,m sure lots of other archive members have a opinion ?

Gordon the Grey wrote:If going to look overseas try http://armstreet.com/store/armor/1/ as well. I have never seen his Brigs but some of his other work is well made that i,ve seen. I,m sure lots of other archive members have a opinion ?

It has no waist. It roughly has the plate arrangement of a brigandine, but it lacks the peplum.

Brigandines are not tubes, as early coats of plates. This one would not pass muster in our company.

Hjalti wrote:Thanks guys

I think I will be calling the U.K. shortly.

Anyone dealt with them before?

H

I have not personally, but I have heard good things from them.

Let me put it this way, I was seriously considering getting one to put in my personal loaner armoury, when I had more cash-flow. I can make a better one, but these are good representations of munition ones, and I can buy one for less than it would cost me in time to put one together.

Chef

You seem to be the go to guy on Brig. Why would it not pass muster for your company, if you don't mind me asking. Not enough plates I assume?
Have you ever seen 15th cent arm or leg brig defences?
H

Hjalti wrote:Chef

You seem to be the go to guy on Brig. Why would it not pass muster for your company, if you don't mind me asking. Not enough plates I assume?
Have you ever seen 15th cent arm or leg brig defences?
H

It does not pass muster, because it is incorrectly shaped. Brigandines had flared waists (even ones made for fat men) - this is shaped like a tube, and stops at the hip. You get the shape just like you do putting in faulds in plate armour. We have made two brigandines that will fit tubby people, and both have waists and the peplum (fauld) flares.

There are some early-ish 16th century brigandine work arms extant, no 15th century ones, however, I have seen brigandine-work tassets (early 16th century), which are identical to examples seen in art of the 1480's, but no brigandine-work legs to my knowledge, at least none found to date.

We also have this guy over here now http://armour-services-historical.co.uk/ his site seems to be having a few issues at the moment. I've had a couple of interesting brigandine coversations with him. He has a very nice looking example on his stall at shows and is going to stop linning his and tin the plates.

Too bad there are no examples of his work on the Web page, or his prices.


H

chef de chambre wrote:There are some early-ish 16th century brigandine work arms extant, no 15th century ones, however, I have seen brigandine-work tassets (early 16th century), which are identical to examples seen in art of the 1480's, but no brigandine-work legs to my knowledge, at least none found to date.

I've seen one brig tasset but for the life of me cannot find brig arms anywhere, it would seem my google-fu has deserted me. Could you give me a nudge in the right direction?

This isn't the worst looking Brig i've ever seen http://bractea.freha.pl/armour.html#Brig_01