The Armour Archive

After a long time lurking, I finally have some work worth showing off in this august company. I recently finished a custom Charles de Blois style pourpoint/gambeson for Guillaume de Cambrai (Evil Merlin). Please check it out here: http://home.att.net/~klausrother/recent.html . If anyone in authority would care to let me know how to post pictures directly to the list, which I've never done, I can do that as well.

This is a lighter, tighter-fitting interpretation of the Charles de Blois than the versions currently available from Revival Clothing and Anshelm. It's meant to be worn as a foundation garment under 14th century plate harness, not as armor by itself. I also plan to develop a pattern based more closely on the lentner/coat-armor of Charles VI from Chartres, which will be a wear-it-on-the-outside fighting garment.

And now to the point: how many of y'all would be willing to invest around $250-350 in such an item (civilian versions too) during the next year? Serious answers only, please. If there is enough demand, this will help me convince the wife to let me quit my job as a mindless corporate drone, take a more flexible job sewing custom drapery, and significantly ratchet up my garb business.

Even if the takers are few and far between, I will still be soliciting orders for these and other fine items before too long. (But not just yet. Still recovering from my wedding. )

Lemme just comment that this is the best piece of garb/armour I own.

I've been in San Diego for a week so I have not been able to take any images yet. Stay tuned!

Where are you in San Diego, would like to hook up and say hi. Maybe show you the shop.

Eric

Yes, there is a market for this.

Oooooo, Bill....I am SO going to loot your body!

C'mon, let's fight for harnesses! ;o)

Good stuff!

Will other styles be available?

After months of looking for some one to make that exact same style of arming cote for me, i finally found some one localy and allready put down a good sized deposite and it gets started next week. OTHERWISE I'd jump at the chance to have you make one for me. Personally i think there is a market for arming cotes of this style and that you've got the proper price range in mind for them.

I would like to see what it looks like being worn, as I know that they are suppos to be taylored and snug. If you'd posted this a month earlier you'd have my money allready.

Brian

Galileo- I am planning to develop at least two other styles: a lentner similar to the Charles VI coat-armor, with a four-panel body and big puffy sleeves to be worn over low-profile elbows and vambraces; and something a little more generic with a 4-panel body and straight sleeves that one can wear typical SCA harness over. This will be more of an "off-the-rack" cut and won't require the level of custom tailoring necessary for the Charles de Blois pattern. I already have a couple of tentative orders in the pipeline for these styles, so I hope to be working on the prototypes shortly.
Brian- I have a picture of another customer wearing a Charles de Blois coat I made for him just before I did the red one for Merlin, with his arm harness pointed on. I'll throw that up on my site today. Hopefully once Merlin takes the field in his, I'll get pictures of that in action as well.

Oh, and a month ago I was in preparation for my wedding, and soliciting new business was the farthest thing from my mind.

Klaus

OK, I posted the pictures of the prototype of this pattern being worn with arm harness: http://home.att.net/~klausrother/recent.html

Klaus

Yes please! Avalon is suffering from a chronic gambeson/arming coat/pourpoint shortage. I've got six people even now looking for a source of armouring foundation garments.

You've done a fine job with this- congratulations and good luck with them! There is a market for a well done version of this garment and I won't touch 'em.

Get them now at this price folks, because when he quits his job and starts trying to live on what he's asking for them now the price -WILL- go up!

Gwen

Thanks, Gwen- and now I feel less guilty about the inevitable price hike! For the time being, I figure it's a fair trade since I'm a moonlighter with limited production time. My sales pitch is: be patient and give me some slack, and you'll get my best work for less. (Actually, it's a gateway drug. Gambesons do need replacing, and I'm getting the client based hooked so that in a couple of years I can start pushing thousand-dollar hand-quilted lentners covered in silk brocade.)

Klaus

Im going to point Marla to the link so she can check it out, i think you are underpriced, im sure the customers here will want me to keep my mouth shut
Nice job.

AB

Klaus, beautiful work as always, and Gwen is right you are way under valued. Look at my arming coat, that was 350, the detail and quality of yours is another order of magnitude above that. Not saying dont sell them at your current price, but consider a way to cut down on the labour involved and make a 'munitions' grade model and then offer a custom cadillac version like Bill's.

Psst hey folks he also makes civies and right now the prices are ridiculously low!
Not wanting to under cut Gwens business, but if you want Bockstens and hose for Pennsic this year hit up Klaus, he makes very good stuff.

Thought I'd be clever and post his web site, but it seems to be under new construction.
Here it is anyway so you can keep an eye on him.
http://home.att.net/%7Eklausrother/

Put me on a list! I want one!!!

Thanks, Thaddeus- who needs an ad agency when you've got happy customers? Give me a call this week at some point and we'll get the ball rolling (finally) on your Herjolfsnes gown.

Muschijaeger- drop me an e-mail with your contact info and I'll let you know as soon as I'm ready to start firmly scheduling orders for the next few months. (Any time now.)

Klaus

Howdy folks,

I'm the guy at the bottom of Klaus' link page looking stunned as Klaus took the photo. This pourpoint is a beautiful piece of work. Form fitted perfectly and what was most important to me was Klaus' attention to detail and his customer serivice! A++++++!

The arms you see are CLANG's pointed to the garment. This was after my first practice with the pourpoint and as you can see, a little sweaty. This pourpoint is not big and bulky like the other pourpoints/gambesons I've heard about. A nice lightweight garment.

I have also bought a linen shirt and coif from him as well and he is going to make my cotehardie for my wedding and I can't wait!

He's a excellent guy to deal with...

I'd want one for SCA, likely another for 14th C lh.

If you can make em that don't look machine sewn that'd be awesome.

I'd also suggest ditching the poly batting and going with cotton only

Just to follow up on my original post as I finally have gotten home and now have a bit of time to relax.

Klaus has made a set of braies, chausses (linen) and a nice St. Louis style shirt for me, as well as my arming coat and to be delivered tomorrow a coathardie. I'm very impressed with his garb and other than Flonzy (who is doing my 15th century garb) I don't think I have a need to go anyplace else for garb from now on.

As for the concerns about machine vs. hand sewn, it does not LOOK machine sewn to me.

About the only bad thing is, dumb ass me went and put on about 10-15 lbs of FAT since the original and following fittings. The good news is the arming coat does still fit, the bad thing is, I now KNOW I need to loose some pounds. Thank god my Wife is a personal trainer or I'd be in trouble.

You can bet I will be doing more buisness with Klaus now that SCA Heralds have approved my blazon...

OK here are some QUICK images, as I hadda take them on my own in my bathroom mirror (the Wife is asleep)

Front view, notice how well it fits me. As mentioned the top buttons are "soft" buttons, and the bottom cloth covered hard buttons.

[img]http://home.comcast.net/~evil_merlin/armingfront.jpg[/img]


Here is a good side view...

[img]http://home.comcast.net/~evil_merlin/armingside.jpg[/img]

Hey, Mark- welcome to the archive.

Murdock- no polyester batting on my watch, son. Cotton only. I used poly on my first couple of attempts and learned my lesson. On my site, the poly refers only to the thread I used (it's cheaper and easier to find than silk). And if you want hand-quilting across the board on one of these, it can certainly be arranged, but you gotta be both patient and rich...

Whooo... now everyone and their dog wants one. I'm starting to feel like I've created a monster...

I hadn't intended to open for business just yet, but here's how we're going to do this. If you are interested in being considered for a gambeson (or any other type of garb project), please email me at klausrother (at) att.net, which is the e-mail I prefer for business. Please include your mailing address and proper name as well as your Archive handle and/or SCA name or whatever you answer to, and a brief summary of what sort of garment you're looking for in terms of style, color, materials, insane level of authenticity, what sort of harness you're going to wear it with, and so on. The address is important- I need to know where you live, so I can determine whether I can fit you in person or whether it has to be done by correspondence and/or psychic channeling. (I am already working on a scheme to have someone do proxy fittings for me at Pennsic, since I won't be going this year.)

Once I get my schedule hammered out for the coming months, I will then contact everyone on the list and offer them a quote and a production time slot according to the order in which I received their request. Those of you who have already contacted me, your place in line is duly noted, but please also send me the above detailed info if you haven't done so.

Thanks to everyone for their interest.

Klaus, that is AWESOME! Really, you probably have created a monster. Good.

Coopt Master John.
Fittings at McGuires, line forms to the left, don't mind Britt she's mostly harmless.

Klaus, here's hoping the monster doesn't burn you out. We need more quality suppliers!

I'll be at Pensic

we'll try a "real nice" SCA version before a no visible machive stitching one.

Might be looking for a few other things such as a Norman and early 13th century gambeson.


I'll email ya

Thaddeus, Master John was exactly whom I had in mind. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Murdock, if ever I create a Gambeson-of-the-Year subscription service, you'll be the first in line.

KR

Well if Master John can't do it I will be available.
A tape and some paper wont add overly much to my packing.

I was wondering whether you were going to be a Marauder again this year. Maybe youse can tag-team on the fitting- he knows the tailoring, you know the armor.

KR

I know this isn't the reason this thread was created, but...

I just have to mention that I recently received a full 14th century outfit from Klaus, and I couldn't be happier. The clothing is all wool and linen, in the colors I requested, with perfect fit and a few custom touches, and no visible machine stitching. All that, and his customer service was excellent as well. He is now on my very short list of medieval tailors that I feel I can order from without any hesitation.

I suppose I could have just said "ditto what Evil Merlin said," huh?

Stop, I'm blushing.
KR

Nice work, please let me know when the 15th C arming doublets are available.

Best,
Karl

That's on my long-term list of patterns to pursue as well. (Probably not this year, but ya never know.) Got me a photo out of Claude Blair of what is probably the only surviving 15th century arming doublet in existence, complete with mail voiders, that's in a private collection somewhere. Makes me weak in the knees just to think about it.

KR

Yet another follow up.

The coathardie that Klaus did up for me came in today.

I will post images a little later, but all I have to say is WOW. The number of fine buttons on it alone are impressive... the fit is right on the money and it's going to finish up my garb quite well. I have a few more things to have made, and you can bet Klaus will be doing em up for me (if his line isn't too long!).

Another big two thumbs up for Klaus.

Rather to my amazement, I have received enough tentative orders for gambesons/pourpoints and other items that I expect to be booked up for the rest of the year and probably into 2005. Thanks for everyone's interest and compliments. I will open up for further orders at a future date once I pare down the list. In the meantime, I will be contacting everyone who's in the queue about fitting and other details, and get my website remodelled and back in action so you can track the progress of your order and see the other cool stuff I make.