Review: GAA, Icefalcon, Mandrake, Bokalo, Revival Clothing!

[Karl]

Gulf Wars! I bought stuff from all of these merchants and have nothing but the highest praise for them.

http://www.mandrakearmory.com/ I picked up Black Swan Designs clothing in addition to Rod's spiff integrated thrusting tips for polearm, swords, their awesome chinstraps, and sticky-backed closed cell foam. Gretchen knows a ton about what works and has wonderful taste in colors.

http://www.gaa-armouries.com/ offers Duke Baldar's awesome cuphilts and pre-siloflexed rattan as well as a plethora of hardened leather armour. The siloflex is exactly what I needed for practice here in Fenix and I wear his half-gauntlets when I fight sword and board.

http://www.bokalosarmoury.com/ basically makes some of the best gauntlets for SCA use. The "Cat's Ass" gauntlets are super light and have a stainless steel enclosed thumb. I took some MASSIVE shots to the hands in the Midrealm Unbelts practice versus Atlantia and my hands are fine.

http://www.icefalcon.com/ sells quality stainless armour and accessories. I picked up a pair of the "Mylec Pro" low-profile hockey gloves to use with the Bokalo gauntlets. They fit perfectly and really are a steal at the price.

http://www.revivalclothing.com/ offers wonderful stuff at prices most anyone can afford. I picked up a 14th C linen pourpoint that totally blows away any belt I had ever used to suspend my leg harness. I honestly enjoyed the time I spent with them discussing my specific needs and am looking forward to my linen gambeson when it comes in-stock.

Wonderful people all. You cannot go wrong dealing with these vendors!

[Ivo]

Hello.

Alright. Mind to post pics of you in all of that wonderful equipment?

Regards

Ivo

[Karl]

I'm not fond of putting photos of myself on the Internet but I will certainly take pictures of the individual items once I clean them up a bit. It was a tough Gulf Wars, those Atlanteans are most definitely at our Westie calibration.

[andras]

I've bought several of the rubber axeheads from Mandrake Armoury and I've been very pleased with them. Ditto with the spearhead kit.

Ashcraft Baker has supplied several folks in my group with inexpensive, functional equipment. Good service from them too.

And, it's a real pleasure (not to mention a bit of a surprise) to hear someone sound happy over how hard Atlantians hit. You made my day.

[Karl]

My personal opinion is that Atlantia is helping define what I call SCA Next (tm) - hiding the plastic, hitting like you mean it, focused tactics designed specifically for SCA conventions - I really admire what y'all are doing down there.

The Midrealm Unbelt Practice Tourney versus 20 Atlantian Squires at Gulf Wars was the best fight I've ever had bar none. There were no holds, no bullshit discussions over how hard I or my opponent swings, just good clean fun.

Those 20 Squires showed me first-hand what the future of our game should be. They were secure in their prowess and it showed through their Knightly calibration.

I mean dude - both times I hit the ground I did so with a smile on my face. Bruises fade yet true glory can last an age.

Best,
Leo
Squire of Duke Sir Stephen of Beckenham

[mrks]

I too am very thankful for the atlantians and how they play the game.

thanks atlantia for keeping things real.

[Kevin]

You gotta watch those gorilla-armed thugs from Atlantia. They mean business.

[Matt_Stanley]

Cat's Ass Gauntlet? Que? What the hell is that?t

[Krieghund]

http://www.bokalosarmoury.com/ basically makes some of the best gauntlets for SCA use. The "Cat's Ass" gauntlets are super light and have a stainless steel enclosed thumb. I took some MASSIVE shots to the hands in the Midrealm Unbelts practice versus Atlantia and my hands are fine.

Second on that! His prices are also extremely fair! You won't find a more consciencious armourer out there. Make sure to take time to speak with him if you have a custom order in mind...he just might surprise you by having thought something similar out ahead of time!

YiS,

Jonah

[Oswyn_de_Wulferton]

I agree with Kevin. Every time we travel north at all, we tend to get beat up all over the place (I'm from Meridies). I went over to ask one of our knights (who is actually crown prince for another week unitl Coronation) about trying to pound back out a section of my leg armor that had flattened (I apparently got these 8th hand) and was told that I had gotten 3/4 mild Atlantian War Legs and were either 10 or 12 ga. steel. He then suggested that I replace some of the leg like the cuisse (sp?) with a lighter ga. I have yet to try and make a pourpoint (sp?) but am afraid that these legs are a *bit* too heavy.

BTW, I am kidding about any bad things said about Atlantians.