Any interest in fairly accurate munitions armor

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Thu Sep 27, 2001 10:39 am

I've recently realized how I can make munitions grade armor for a lower price.

Basically this means the same plate stuff that's on my site. But munitions grade would be made from unpolished hot rolled steel.

Ie. Black unpolished armor but the same quality in the shaping and planishing and all custom fit to the customer like usual.

If there's even a slight interest I'll get to work and add munitions prices to all the stuff on my site. I do actually have an order for a set of munitions grade spaulders and the floating articulation arms and legs so there'll be some pics to go along with the prices in a month or two.

Just to give a price example of what I'm talking about this would mean $75 for floating arms and $75 for floating legs. Regular price is $90/pair.

I'd be able to drop my comming soon starter kits prices. Right now the basic one is going to be about $450 that's the shiny one. The munitions one would be about $390. That's a full list legal harness.
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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

[This message has been edited by Mad Matt (edited 09-27-2001).]

Armourkris · Post by **Armourkris** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 2:23 am

I like the idea.
maybe i;m wierd, but i LOCE the look of munitions armour, i dont like high polished stuff, same with the super well planished stuff.
i like some leftover scale and a few hammer marks. to the point where after making my first cuise today i went and put a couple dings in it on purpose:P
anyways, if i could aford it i'd buy them, i'm pretty sure a lot of us poor newbies would as well, not so much for the look in most cases, but so they can fight and pay the rent.

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What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:

Androu · Post by **Androu** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 7:09 am

Matt,

I would imterested as well. I am in the market for arms and legs.

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 5:52 pm

Mad Matt
You sure you want to do this? It will double what you have to keep up with. I had a similiar idea for my apprentices, but it didn't work out.

This winter, I'm setting up a couple of people out here - to do somewhat the same thing. One is a 30 year blacksmith crossing over to do armour.
This way I can do more the high grade.

AB Hammer

Ideval · Post by **Ideval** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 7:49 pm

Matt,
it will have its ups and downs. Hot rolled is somewhat softer, but not much. It's all metal, after all.

That said, to protect yourself, I believe that you should 'limit' the munitions items. Perhaps stick with the 'floating' items, the 'gutter' items, the spaulders and 'dog-collar' gorgets, and maybe a munition breastplate.

Mostly, I want to add that I love the less finished look on armour. My personal harness, which I am completing slowly but surely, is all russetted and oiled. I think that a lot of people are into this look - we've all coveted that set of "archer's" knees that look as though they are actually a dark red leather, but of course are steel.

Matt, see the e-bay auction I linked on the Want Board - sabotons. I think you will like them. They have a few nice pictures of the inside as well.

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IdÃ«val
The Huntsman of
I-NossÃ« LÃºmÃ«vanwa
My mind opens wide when I roar

Prince Of Darkmoor · Post by **Prince Of Darkmoor** » Sun Sep 30, 2001 11:21 pm

I've found that the majority of my customers prefer the munitions stuff. Of course, take into consideration that the average age of my customers so far is around 17-20, so most of them can't really spring for the shiny stuff, although some of them like to shine the stuff up at home.

I just finished a set of arms today that were munitions grade. I really like the way they came out, especially because of the color of the steel.

Munitions keeps me busy, so I'm happy with it for now.

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 8:30 am

Ok sounds like it's a go.

For those who posted concerns.

I want to use hot rolled for aestetic reasons and basically the drop in price only covers the fact that I'm not polishing things. Polishing takes time and I don't like dooing it (who really does). Unpolished hot rolled IMHO looks better then unpolished cold rolled. Also historically munitions armor would have fire scale on it. So this works. I'm not using the word munitions meaning crappy like lots of people do. I'm using the actual meaning or what I see the meaning to be as basically rough or unpolished. So you'll see the hammer marks from planishing etc. But it'll still be the same functionality fit and quality of the other stuff I sell.

Obviously not everything will have a munitions grade option. Such as Coat of Plates which I don't polish the plates on anyway.

For getting swamped with orders. Once I reach a number of orders that seems a bit much I go to a waiting list format. Ie. no deposit no obligation. You place an order and get put on a waiting list. When I've cleared up my current comissions I see if the next person on the waiting list still wants their stuff and then they send a deposit and solidify their order.

I'm also currently not really busy. So more orders won't hurt.

Hot rolled steel is also cheaper. Not much mind you. It would probably translate to about 50 cents for a pair of arms. But it is cheaper.

Anyway I'll hopefully get prices up sometime this week. I'll post and let people know when they are so you can give opinions of prices etc.

Thanks for the feedback.

Androu: Like it says above. A pair of arms with floating articulation and soupcan style cops (you can see pics of the non-munitions ones on my site) will be $75 or $100 fully strapped. Let me know if you're interested.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Captain Jamie · Post by **Captain Jamie** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 9:53 am

Dear Matt- Have you thought of painting the munitions grade with one of the rust converter/preventer products on the market? I believe that Rustoleum carries one. This would allow you to stock some items and let them stay looking fresh for a lot longer as well as providing a base coat for the customer to paint if he desires.

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Captain Jamie

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 11:59 am

I went to check out your site again, but couldn't find a reference to the abovementioned kit... can you spot me an url or drop me a line?

-Russ

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon Oct 01, 2001 1:23 pm

Russ it's not on there yet. Thus the comming soon thing. Basically I want to have pics of all the parts before I offer it.

This is what it would be though.

Closed face 16ga greathelm
collar gorget
simple coat of plates
spaulders
"soupcan style" knee and elbow cops
demi-gaunts

That's getting minimums in most area of the SCA. Of course it is minimums and most normal people will want to add some leather to the knees and elbows. Some places require full vambraces.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory