The Armour Archive

What time period(s) did splinted armour come about and live? I am trying to match a helm to my harness. Also, what would be the ideal torso protection for the same period? You have helped me much more then you could have ever imagined. Thank you.

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Torr O'Neal
The Irish, Norwegian Merc

If you are trying to match a helm to a time period of armour, in this case splinted, it would be easier to know what kind of helm you have. Splinted armours cross many time periods and cultures. These types of armours show up in Scandinavian/Vendel armours from the 7th cent to 14th cent armours in Germany and elsewhere. Granted, they look different but function the same. Be a little more specific.

Munz

I presently do not have a helm and am going off the pattern in the archive called splinted arms. I am trying to base my persona off of a Western European merc. I was just wondering what time period where it mainly dominated the style of armour used my everyone (well, at least mostly everyone). Thanks Munz.

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Torr O'Neal
The Irish, Norwegian Merc

Torr,
Splinted armor example can be found easily around the mid 14th century in europe. Edge and Paddock's Arms & Armour of the Medieval Knight has some brasses displayed that show splinted armour used with an open faced bascinet. Stephen Turnbull's The Book of the Medieval Knight shows an engraving based on the tomb of Count Gunteher von Schwarzburg on page 87 that shows a knight in splinted armor wearing an open face bascinet with chain drape and in his right arm he cradles what appears to be a Great Helm though the crest on top of the helm makes it hard to see the complete shape. If you look on the pattern archive, either the great helm by sinric or the sugarloaf helm by sinric would both me good matches. I personally own a sugarloaf helm (no visor type) made from sinrics pattern. It works great for me. I am working my way up to an approximation of the engraving in Turnbull.

Hope this helps,
Brandr

Torr, as Brandr said, splinted armour was common in mid 14th c Europe. I think it may have been especially so in Geermany.

I have an image on file of the Gunteher von Schwarzburg(1349) engraving Brandr mentioned. I can send it to you if you like.

By the mid 14th century visors were starting to become more common. You could therefore also use the splinted arms and legs with a bascinet with klappenvisor or breteche(without greathelm), both being characteristically German.
If you are going to be a mercinary, you may not have had a greathelm, as they were mostly used in tournament by the mid 14th. I think the visored bascinet is for you.

As for torso protection, a coat of plates!

Almost forgot. A kettle hat would also be appropriate with splint.

Erik

[This message has been edited by Erik Schmidt (edited 01-12-2002).]

You all have been an excellent amount of help. Erik, I would like that pic if you don't mind sending it to me. I would be eternally grateful if you did. If anyone else has another pic or pics that they would mind sending to me, go for it. Once again, thanks all.



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Torr O'Neal
The Irish, Norwegian Merc

Oh yeah, you might want my e-mail. It is


<a href="mailto:jjmills@graceland.edu">here./p>

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Torr O'Neal
The Irish, Norwegian Merc

Pic's on it's way Torr. Eternally grateful eh? Sounds good!

Your e-mail is in your profile, in case you forgot.

Erik

Time to get wild and loose.

:0 !