The Armour Archive

I'm seeing if there might be enough interest to be worth making a run of this item. These are pressed out of a die,and are very strong-very little stretching occurs on the face.


overall dimensions-

six inches across the bowl rim, in the back.

1.75 inches deep (which is more than enough, when you include the .50 to .750 board behind it)

flange measures 8 inches across.

I can do 8 holes, 6 holes or leave them blank.

Customers choice. The example shown is 16 gage 304 stainless (sorry that's my max capacity in gage with my current set up)

In Mild, I make them in 14 gage,I have yet to see one dented to any extent.

Pricing,25 per in the 14 gage mild.

40 each in the stainless-your choice of polished or satin finish.

Discounts of 20% off for orders of 12 or more.

I need one that is 7" across though, any chance of that? When are you looking to do these?

Marcus Claudius Scorpus wrote:I need one that is 7" across though, any chance of that? When are you looking to do these?

The die was a hell of a lot of work to make, I'm only offering ones in these dimensions. Unless you'd care to pay me five hundred for the first 7 inch one?

I'll do them, when and if, I get enough interest to at least cover materials costs to do four dozen.

InfinitySteel wrote:The die was a hell of a lot of work to make, I'm only offering ones in these dimensions. Unless you'd care to pay me five hundred for the first 7 inch one?

Hmmm....let's see, I dunno sounds tempting, but I think I will have to pass.

Why cant you do the deeper more along the lines of authentic ones? There sure is a market for them.

Primvs Pavlvs wrote:Why cant you do the deeper more along the lines of authentic ones? There sure is a market for them.

Because if I press them that deep, they will be paper thin in the faces, and they will dent. These have more than enough room with a handle behind-and you can run over them with a semi, and they won't buckle.

(And please people,I am already offering a discounted price-don't be cheapskates, and ask me to also cover shipping.)

1.75 depth won't be deep enough for SCA fighters that use Aluminum shields.

Otherwise they look nice.

InsaneIrish wrote:1.75 depth won't be deep enough for SCA fighters that use Aluminum shields.

Otherwise they look nice.

Nodding....but most who use aluminum don't make rounds, they make heaters. And even so, you can just use spacers under the handle in back.

InsaneIrish wrote:1.75 depth won't be deep enough for SCA fighters that use Aluminum shields.

I think it could work if you mounted the grip just so. I've been thinking I'd like to try a lower-profile boss.

For war fighting, aluminum scuta are popular and aluminum center grip kites are becoming popular as well.

Even for wood, I like my hand deep in the boss, so I cut the wood with the grip integral, and then add another strip of wood on the back to build it up more.

- Scott

InfinitySteel wrote:

InsaneIrish wrote:1.75 depth won't be deep enough for SCA fighters that use Aluminum shields.

Otherwise they look nice.

Nodding....but most who use aluminum don't make rounds, they make heaters. And even so, you can just use spacers under the handle in back.

Spacing the handle out from the boss takes it out of plane with the shield. Bad juju for controlling the shield. People use aluminum for every shape that people make shields in.

The bosses you are making are not large enough for me to use and while I have large hands, they're certainly not the largest around. Bosses are not a one size fits all item.

And it's fine if you're only going to make one size - it will probably work just fine for some people. But it's not going to fly for everyone and you don't need to defend it as though it would.

Gavin

I'm not defending these for everyone.

At the same time, I can't make ten different sizes that only a few people are ever going to buy-so I went with the mid range.

Seems like a good deal.

More than half of the shields in Caid are center-grips made of aluminum (judging by what I've seen at wars and tourneys for the past several years). However, I don't think a boss of these dimensions would be a problem for most fighters using such a set-up.

My current boss was made by Krag (spring-steel rocks!) to almost the exact same dimensions & shape, and the handle is about half-way inset into the shield itself (which is 3/8" thick - doorskin laminated over T6). The boss is padded with a thick hunk of shearling leather, and I've never felt like I had too little room for my long fingers. For reference, I am a 'large' in men's gloves.

If the boss were more conical, that would be another story!

I'm already considering putting the male die back on the lathe to give a bit more depth. Do folks think two inches will be enough, or should it be deeper?

These are cold pressed, so I am worrying about the steel work hardening too much. Crystalization would not be a good thing.

Original bosses I have studied tend to be from 3 to 5 inches in depth.

I think this would open a market to the customers who want something more authentic, yet protective also.

InfinitySteel wrote:At the same time, I can't make ten different sizes that only a few people are ever going to buy-so I went with the mid range.

Why not go with a larger size that would fit everyone who wanted one versus the mid-range fitting only most? If you already have you die then so be it, but it would seem if your only going to make one size then maybe the large size to fit everyone would be the wisest choice. I will say one thing though, they look very very nice indeed.

I'll see about modifications later. Im just going to run with what I have for now-not many seem to be able to make these in any quantity.

Hmmm....actually, these might be just the right size for a project i have been mulling over that is TOTALLY unrelated to SCA heavies fighting!

What sort of pricing would you give on an order of say, 6 to 10?

thanks

Lady Ariadne (aka Natalie)
SCA/IJA

drop me a line at infinitysteel@msn.com and we'll talk

I've thought of doing pressed bosses but people seem to like the hammered ones I offer. You can look at em on my site if you like I've sold over a thousand of them.