The Armour Archive

Hey everyone, Im new to the sca, I've been fighting for about a month now. My question is, is ashcraft baker currently doing bussiness? im asking because I noticed they havent updated to web site since '06 . As well as I need a good helm at like almost next to nothing because the conical they have is a great price and its what im looking for, so please gentlemen do you have any feed back?

They are in business, however, there have been some issues with their business practices. They do get your stuff to you, and its well made, but I have heard of several time issues, and them being hard to get a hold of when that happens.

joy.... i believe that means no way i could have it by mist cynagua.... :: sigh::

Red Falcon may be a good option for you, since I imagine you're looking for something cheap and newbieish.

AJ -

I'd post what you want, what you'd be willing to pay and a hard date when you need it and let the armourers come to you. There is an extremely large population of armourers here in a variety of price ranges here that will do you right:

Stonekeep
Armourer Eric
Shamrock
Icefalcon
Lord O'Quinn
White Mountain

and a dozen more I'm too lazy to type.

As well as many folks selling used

Randy

hmmmm. the starter helm .... i was looking at a conical for about the same price.. witha nasal, I was just hoping to be able to get a helm in the next three weeks, but i doubt that will happen.. i have a bascinet that can get me on the feild... but its simply well... unatractive. But it was a gift from a friend.

Thank you Randy, I was posting a PM to him as you were posting, I still don't know what AB's helm price was thiugh.

Eric

The cheapest ashcraft baker helm is $70 + $10 for a nasal.
Someone said that "It will be well made", but in my experience though it will be "Safe", it will not be "made well". It is a spun top helmet that is riveted together with a welded grill that will pass muster.

I would suggest you stay clear of Ashcraft Baker. They tend to cycle through "apprentices". If you get something made by an apprentice who's been there awhile and aquired some skills, you can get a usable piece. But more often then not, you get lots of slag from the welds and a questionable fitting piece. I've heard horror stories of their customer service, so once you've paid, you keep you're fingers crossed until you get what you ordered and hope to God that it fits correctly, because you're NOT sending it back (you can, but odds are they will still keep your money).

I don't think even ashcraft will get you that helm in 3 weeks though.

You're much better off eating peanut butter and jelly for 6 months, and saving up for a helm that is from a reputable armorer. Continue to use the "ass-hat" until you can get what you covet. You'll have something that A) fits B) looks good and C) will be something to build the rest of your kit off-of and D) It protects your coconut dummy, you've only got one of those!

Sometimes you're better-off investing in something better up-front, then buying something you're not happy with but you could afford at the time. Then spend the next year saving up until you can afford what you wanted in the first place.
My thought is: "If I'm not willing to walk/bicycle to the store/eat crackers/foregoe going to the movies over the next 6 months to get something I REALLY want...Then I really didn't want it that bad to begin with." and that's why I don't have it.

A last note: A fighter's helm is the largest single investment many of us make, and is the primary means of identifying friends/foes on the field. Save up for something that not only can be identified, but identifies with YOU.
-Cian

I've fought in an AB helm for the last 8 years and I HATE IT. They're heavy, ugly, HUGE, and just generally a pain in the neck. I agree that you should save up for a while and get something better. Trust me, it's easier to save up some money now and wait than to be stuck with a POS helm and try to replace it.

the 4 AB helms we've got in the past 2 years don't have spun tops.
I am far from the AB poster boy, but I've seen other "newbie" helms and these are good for the price. In a few years almost everyone of us will be onto something nicer and they will be loaner gear.
They are pretty decent as far as some of the other armorers go with getting things to you that aren't instock but you could probably find something pretty decent in your price range that someone has instock so you can have it under certain time constraints.

Hey Paul, please take this with all the good natured ribbing that is intended
but I'm gonna quote you here with my own bolding...

I've fought in an AB helm for the last 8 years and I HATE IT.

um... DUDE!!!
what you are saying is it has held solid for 8 YEARS... you can't hate it that much.

I have an AshB sallet that probably should never have made it past the marshals. If I don't keep my brow tipped forward, a good flat snap across the top of the helm can pivot it back leaving my neck totally exposed.

This might have more to do with the chin strap I put in than the design though.

I am now going to spray paint it bright pink with neon green LOANER on the back. So 1) No one will want to steal it. 2) No newbie will want to wear it for very long.


I totally agree with saving up for one you like. It's worth it. Or if you have any skills you might try one of Hal's DIY Kits. They are swanky! or if you can talk him into making you one.... he's great to work with.

There are a number of other armorers out there that can work with yoru budget as well. And still get a nice helm!


Matt



ADDING: Ashcraft Baker helms will take a beating though. They are tanks... in both ruggedness and appearance.

okay im not going to go with ashcraft baker, here is another item i have been looking at for $225 and from what i'm told converted from metric its roughly 13 gauge. any commentary back? this is who made it www.jamesriverarmoury.com.

you will be infinitely happier with that choice

That helm looks great for that price.

Excellent. But make sure it fits your coconut.
Most helms are measured by circumference of your head at brow line (e.g. 23", 23.5" etc.).
-Cian

That would be Armourer Eric from here.

I am told the helm I have is from him. If so, I couldn't be more pleased with the handling of it. Never failed an inspection going on 3+ years, only got one dent, where something was "wonky" with the area (found when we had a hard time getting the dent out). Continually get compliments on mine, and it is solid as a tank. I would not hesitate to recommend him to others.

I would suggest saving up some money and grabbing an aventail ASAP. For a Norman helm, they do wonders in reducing the ringing and power of shots to the head, as well as making it looks worlds better. A cheap butted coif or aventail from ebay is usually about $50, and after lining the back of the helm in soft leather, I didn't loose too many links.

Ceddie wrote:Hey Paul, please take this with all the good natured ribbing that is intended
but I'm gonna quote you here with my own bolding...

I've fought in an AB helm for the last 8 years and I HATE IT.

um... DUDE!!!
what you are saying is it has held solid for 8 YEARS... you can't hate it that much.

You're absolutely right, it's as solid as it can be. I never said it wasn't. I said it's big (I'm 6'6", 300+lbs and have 3 layers of padding in it to make it kinda fit.) it's ugly (nobody can argue with that) and it's so heavy it hurts my neck to wear it.

I've fought in it for so long because it's all I had, and up untill now I've been a broke college student and couldn't afford a new helm. Now I'm married and my wife won't let me buy a new helm untill I can find "THE" helm.

paul

Here is a trick.

Ask you wife if you can use the change in your pocket to buy a helm.

never pay with change, always use paper.

toss the change in an opaque white milk jug in the bottom of the closet.

in a year, cut it open and buy a helm. you should have about 300-350.

I bought my first car like that after a summer job working for tips.

Ceddie wrote:Here is a trick.

Ask you wife if you can use the change in your pocket to buy a helm.

never pay with change, always use paper.

toss the change in an opaque white milk jug in the bottom of the closet.

in a year, cut it open and buy a helm. you should have about 300-350.

I bought my first car like that after a summer job working for tips.

Not a bad idea. I've already called dibs on the "IRS echonomic stimulus check" thingy for armor. I figured what better way to stimulate the echonomy than with new armor. I figure for $1200 I can get a nice helm and maybe have enough left for some chainmaile.

paul

[quote="Paul the Small
Not a bad idea. I've already called dibs on the "IRS echonomic stimulus check" thingy for armor. I figured what better way to stimulate the echonomy than with new armor. I figure for $1200 I can get a nice helm and maybe have enough left for some chainmaile.

paul[/quote]

Same here, I get about half of ours to play with for armour. She promised me I could get a haubergeon....

Aj Garren wrote:okay im not going to go with ashcraft baker, here is another item i have been looking at for $225 and from what i'm told converted from metric its roughly 13 gauge. any commentary back? this is who made it www.jamesriverarmoury.com.

James River Armoury is a great choice. I have a set of legs made by Eric and they are a very good design. You will be very happy with a helm from him. His customer service is top notch too.

I bought the same style of helm from Jamesriver for a firend and there very nice.

thank you for the feed back gentelmen, you have made my choice easier.