LivingHistory.co.uk

Once again, I can thoroughly recommend Uncle Roger's Mittens (see Lancaster's Armourie's Webpage).

Not the cheapest on the market but I dare say the very safest and sturdiest. He makes them to measure and they will last you a lifetime. It's worth saving up for them.

Aye, my missus would have to say something about that. My pretty face is the second best part of me.

Hmm...I'm not actually sure how prominent shields were in Sweden, 1361. Gotta read up on that. Anyhow, we probably have to agree to disagree as I can't really disprove that you would stab me in the face if I went for your legs.

Good point. But fighting in a duel and fighting for sport are two different things. I'd like to think that there is some form of ideal method that applies to both but that's just my religious belief and not necessarily founded in evidence. As for your other point - I believe people did have their le...

Interesting observation! Could that be an issue in WMA where more often than not you deflect a strike with the flat of your own sword? We do? Where did you hear that one? I recall discussion of such deflection, but nothing I've ever done says deflect a strike with the flat of your blade, because od...

At the base! wow... ive seen a hand n half break at the middle, but the base would of been the last place id of thought of. Breaking at the base is quite common in swords used as group resources by beginners in training. If it happens to your own sword it means you haven't got out of a bad habit by...

ASH?

I love his tinned brigs! Personally I'd be prepared to take one to bed when i can afford one.

I just had another look again myself. There definitely is more than one style I'd say. And it would make sense, too....fashion is a fickle mistress, after all.

I think a gardecorps does not have proper sleeves, kind of like a heraldic tabard. In Germany and the Netherlands it's called 'Wetterfleck' - a 'weather patch' or throw that you put on when it's cold and rainy. Kind of like a poncho with a hood, tacked together at the sides. Very practical kind of ...

[ Narvek - that's a nice garnache - I'd call it a herigaut (although I have a theory that the terms were used interchangably, or varied with location). or Gardecorps as well.. oh, I am now loking into a price of fox fur. To line and edge my dreammed of cloak I need 60 red fox and 15 arctic ones :de...

Well, of course! After saying all that I still have a hooded cloak which I made for myself and I wear it whenever I can find an excuse for it. They're just got style!

[...]and I have to ask .... why do (apart from the obvious) traders selling authentic clothing styles sell hooded cloaks ... [...] I think I should own up to it: because that is what sells. When you say 'cloak' most people think of something from the Lord of the Rings-film. Mind, in 'The Hobbit' th...

Just my two pence worth: I vaguely remember seeing a few medieval illustrations of men wearing separate hoods that ended in a really wide dagged shoulder cape, giving the impression of a hooded cloak. Date and source I have got none but I found this far more believable than a hooded full-circle cloa...

I'm not saying that it didn't happen. There's plenty of references in the sagas of men killed by arrows and in ship to ship combat they were readily used (I believe). Still, don't underestimate the use of a shield. Even if you can hammer an arrow 6" into a centre boss shield, I'm still fine unless I...

I'd say that if you really give it some welly most maille can be defeated by a thrust with something pointy. Apparently it's very easy to do with the main weapon of the period - the spear. But that only proves that maille is also not the main armour of the period. For that you use your body shield, ...

I have done so, though I must admit that I have a fairly easy bow (30lbs) which does not compare at all to a warbow. The string does not catch anywhere and the armour shouldn't impede your ability to draw. Though saying that, I'm very particular about how my arm harness is attached and it makes a hu...

Again, it depends what you want it for. Occasionally my group indulges in a fine tradition: mummer's plays, with such illustrious characters as St. George, The Dragon and a magical doctor who revives everyone at the end, complete with cheesy dialogue ("He is dead? Oh dear, that could be fatal!") :D ...

By the way - the most important part of defensive kit would be your body shield. For most vike fighters, that IS your armour. So even good maille would only really protect you safely from glancing blows. Some may have withstood a thrust and with enough padding even a heavy blow but your maille, scal...

On a rather similar note, I've found a lovely way to make some suitable padding: Make 2 wool tunics and make them a size too big. Then use one as lining for the other. Wash the whole thing in warm, soapy water, stirring and agitating it slightly so it shrinks A LITTLE (don't overdo it here or you'll...

Just out of interest: where could one lay hands on a crossbow with a much lower draw weight, say 30 to 45 lbs or so for shooting blunts at people with? I know there used to be a guy who made them out of fiberglass, all wrapped in leather for a more eye-pleasing look. Been looking for something like ...

You CAN use a bow with gauntlets. Even with mittens, depending on style. But fingered gauntlets are definitely easier to shoot with. I find the main problem is not the drawing but the arrows snagging on the gauntlet holding the bow. My shots are all over the place...! Try Lancaster's Armourie's fing...

You're not seriously even considering to use it with blunts, pretty please? Because if you do I might have to swap hobbies and take up ....say...trainspotting.

Also: how does that deburring tool work? I am most intrigued...!!

And while we're talking tools: http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/255mm-Expert-Quality-Hand-Nibbler-35748-Draper-3 Does anyone know if this is any good for cutting 16ga mild steel? I have bought that huge shear off you, Dave, which is still running brilliantly. It cuts endless straight lines and so far I'...

Don't expect to finish it this winter. :D Seriously though, it's a very demanding project. From experience, I'd suggest using 16ga plates. It'll be much MUCH heavier than 18ga, even heavier than a solid breastplate made from the same material but you will likely be using mild steel as it is cheap, r...

In favour of our general public I would like to say that our Have-a-Go Archery attracts many interested young men who, although in tracksuits, will display an amazing level of skill and understanding in the handling of the bow. Others are complete numpties. Very often it's society itself that breeds...

We shiny knights are pretty much tinned up allright. 8) I just noticed something about the buckler I've made though: after using it properly yesterday it's developed some lovely dents in the boss and a few nicks in the leather facing yet the edging is entirely unscratched. I reckon because of the wa...

This thread is pure quality...! To generalize a bit: is it plausible to think that a massed arrow barrage was the English answer to the french cavalry charge because the English traditionally fought on foot and therefore had to somehow negate the french advantage...? If memory serves, english archer...

Don't know about your chosen period but in mine the rim's supposed to be on the outside. It depends. Heater shields aren't often depicted with any kind of edge reinforcement, as far as I'm aware. As for vike shields - my main inspiration was a shield they'd found (web source escapes me now) with a ...

About stiffening leather - have heard somewhere that paraffin can be dissolved in white spirit. Is that true? Can't try it out atm. If it works, could one possibly saturate the veg-tan with that solution prior to stitching it onto the shield rim and would it do any good to harden the leather? Kinda ...