SCA armorers making rapier gear: concerns

[Tibbie Croser]

I'd like to get an 18-gauge dress helm converted to a rapier helm, but I have concerns about asking armorers who are accustomed to making armor for rattan fighters. I worry that armorers who fight only heavy themselves would be unfamiliar with the rapier rules, might be indifferent to them, might think that "swishy-pokey" fighting doesn't have safety issues.

Are my concerns unfounded? Armorers, if a customer wanted you to make a rapier helm, would you familiarize yourself with the rapier requirements or consult with a rapier marshal? How many of you heavy-armor-makers have made rapier gear? How were your experiences?

There's a market out there for SCA rapier gear (leather and metal), and as time goes on, for cut-and-thrust gear. Leather scabbards that will accommodate rapiers with SCA-required tips, rapier helms, perf-plate faceplates, period-correct belts and hangers, bucklers and other shields, gorgets, elbow/knee/wrist protection for cut-and-thrust, rapier storage and transport bags and cases, etc.

[InsaneIrish]

I'd like to get an 18-gauge dress helm converted to a rapier helm, but I have concerns about asking armorers who are accustomed to making armor for rattan fighters. I worry that armorers who fight only heavy themselves would be unfamiliar with the rapier rules, might be indifferent to them, might think that "swishy-pokey" fighting doesn't have safety issues.

Are my concerns unfounded?

Yes, they are.

Armorers, if a customer wanted you to make a rapier helm, would you familiarize yourself with the rapier requirements or consult with a rapier marshal?

Not an armourer, but it would make good business since to be familiar with the requirements of the piece you are working on. That and making something that the client did not ask for or want is not good business.

How many of you heavy-armor-makers have made rapier gear? How were your experiences?

I know Patrick Thaden has made rapier helms.
Icefalcon has a nice rapier helmet.
I believe White Mountain Armoury has done them before.
Windrose has done them.
Whitebat armoury does perf faced helms.

[Baron Alejandro]

Flittie, there is also a growing sub-market for rapier specific armourers. Have you tried looking at Darkwood Armory? They're the most well known, but there's also a guy out in the Midrealm doing some keen-o stuff.

My point being, you don't necessarily need to go to a 'rattan only' armourer.

I doubt there is such a thing anyway. It's more like, "I make what the customer pays me to make....."

[Tibbie Croser]

I look at the Darkwood Armory site often. They don't show helms, though.

I'm interested in the Marco-Krieger Armory rapier helms, which are inexpensive conversions of Indian import dress helms. Haven't been able to see one up close yet, or get enough opinions on them.

I'm sure the full-time professional armorers are very careful about making sure that custom pieces meet regulations. I was thinking more about hobbyist armorers who make their own armor and do occasional bits for other people.

So....which armorers in northern Atlantia might be able to convert a By-the-Sword burgonet to a rapier helm?

[losthelm]

not quite shure who all is down that way doing that quality of work.
if you have a Picture of the helm and a sketch of what you want. it might help.
doing complex shapes in minimum perfplate can distort the thickness of the material and change the size/offset of the perferations.