From: z_berryrw@ccsvax.sfasu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: armor construction (long)
Date: 19 Nov 92 18:45:25 CST
Organization: Stephen F. Austin State University

Greetings and well met!

In article <9211181402.aa13408@mc.lcs.mit.edu>, gdaub@mcis.messiah.EDU writes:
> Greetings!
>    I have long been interested in Medieval armor.  I had a few questions for
> those on the Rialto who have some armor:
> 
>    1) What kind of armor do you use (padded, leather, chain, plate)?  I am
>       fairly acquainted with armor terms, so feel free to be as detailed as
>       you like.  I would also appreciate any information about the materials,
>       like thickness, weight, etc.
 
I know you are bound to receive an avalance of advice and information on this
topic.  Some if it will undoubtedly seem contradictory, and misleading.  This
is due in part to the wide differences in fighting styles and armour
regulations throughout the Known World.  Consult your local branch for more
information on armour regs and styles.
 
I will try to describe several styles of armour for the budget minded new
fighter, and (The Rialtans will be pleased at this) will endeavour to be as
brief as possible.
 
Armour styles and amounts are usually dictated by local conditions, including
weather and fighting styles.  I am an Ansteorran (mundanely, Ansteorra is Texas
and Oklahoma) so I tend to wear very close to bare minimum armor.  In cooler
climes, full plate is not uncommon.

> 
>    2) Where did you get your armor (did you make it or buy it)?  I would
>       probably prefer to make my own rather than buy it (both for the fun of
>       making it and to save money) but I might want to buy a hard-to-make
>       piece here and there.  I would appreciate any tips on making armor as
>       well as good places to buy some.
There are many skilled artisans who make very fine armour and weapons
for SCA combat.  Their work is often breathtaking, and many are the 
hours I have drooled over a Merchant Armourer's table of wares, wishing
they could be mine. 
However, I would suggest for a starting fighter that you use the loaner
armor available in most groups.  It would be a shame to spend several
hundred (insert local currency name here) and find that fighting was not
for you after all.  Try to borrow some armour to see how you like it.

After you have been hooked, and decide you MUST have some armour of your
very own ( :) ) I'd suggest staying away from most of the commercial
stuff.  My first set of armor cost me about 15 dollars American to make,
and that includes an army surpluss webgear and harness.  I bought two rolls
of duct-tape and two boxes of copper rivets.  The rest of the armor 
consisted of carpet (fuzzy side in please) and scrap steel strips for
rigidity.  I borrowed a helmet and gauntlets from the newbie chest, and 
I was off to Bordermarch Melees (!!!)

Chainmail armour is not terribly expensive, but is time consuming, and 
REQUIRES underpadding to be tolerable.  But weaving chain is another topic
entirely.

Leather armour, whether cuir boille (wax hardenend) or plain is very nice,
but expect to pay 60 - 100 dollars US for a half hide of armour thickness
leather.  Patterns are available from the library, from other SCA folk,
commercially available from armour merchants, or from your own head (this
can be expensive)

Armour can be as complex and historically accurate as you like and have 
money for.   YOu can buy a complete set, or build from scratch.  
You can have armour from any period of time, and any place known in period.
It is all a question of how far you and your checkbook want to go.

The only items of armour I'd suggest you buy (when you know you want to
fight) are a helm and your groin armour.  Those two are very important
both for fit and construction, and are best left to someone who knows
what they are about, until you develop your own armour making skills.

Everything else can be fairly easily constructed for a modest investment, and
can be as safe as anything made by a pro.

If you'd like detailed instructions on any particular piece or type of
armour, I'd be happy to continue this topic in E-mail, that we might spare
the Bandwidth of the Rialto.
> 
>    Thanks.
> 
>    Mundanely,
> 
> .......................................................................
> 
> Item Subject: signature
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> |  Gregory Daub                      |  Messiah College                   |
> |  Administrative Programmer         |  Computing Services                |
> |  Internet: gdaub@mcis.messiah.edu  |  Grantham, Pennsylvania 17027      |
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

--Wolfrick Thorrinson,
Shire of Greywood, Ansteorra
mka Rick Berry, z_berryrw@ccsvax.sfasu.edu
From: Beth.Appleton@f4229.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Beth Appleton)
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