Cost of armour?

bobthebuilder · Post by **bobthebuilder** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:03 am

I was wondering how much reasonably priced stainless steel greaves vambraces and a great helm (bucket helm), i need about circa 1500 that would go good with chain mail? Also i need the price in canadian dollars if possable. Thanks.

Nigel · Post by **Nigel** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:20 am

c 1500

are you talking seperates or new parts for a harness ?

Tuppence · Post by **Tuppence** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:40 am

as any answers you get here will probably be in pounds, you can convert them here http://www.xe.com

debbie

(sorry - don't have a clue myself - armour's boring unless made of linen

)

Quayn · Post by **Quayn** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:46 pm

Not sure but thought great helms were 1300 but you could check get dressed for battle they have some at £106 or £113 give or take.

Kovex ars on the other hand have some starting at 132euros and vambracers starting at 37 euros though the carriage will increase the cost.

Neither of these get my thumbs up as I honestly havent dealt with them so can make no claims. They are cheap though and I've heard nothing bad.

Q.

bobthebuilder · Post by **bobthebuilder** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:37 pm

I know this will make me sound like a noob but, I dont really know what a harness is (im used to chain mail). But i mean i need the armour to go with the chain mail i made, its a coif and a hauberk im working on. i dont have anything but those. also i have been wondering if i should just try making the armour but i havent made plate before.

Quayn · Post by **Quayn** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:23 pm

Well for making plate here's a guide though I'm not an armourer and don't know how useful it would be. I wear mail from time to time and have found my gauntlets cover most of my forearm (like a vambrace) and they do take a beating so I would suggest the lower arm plate at least.

http://www.livesteelarmor.com/how.html

Hope it helps.

Q.

Thomas Hayman · Post by **Thomas Hayman** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:28 pm

What is the armour to be used for? LH purposes, SCA, LARP? as all these groups have widely varying 'safe' plate thicknesses choosing the right person for you could be hard.

Are you looking for something to bash about in or to look the part?
Do you have a lot of cash to outlay?
Would plastic be an option?

bobthebuilder · Post by **bobthebuilder** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:41 am

Well i would like sumthing that is up to sca standards but all in the same era (whichever era chain mail coifs and hauberks were used in), I have about a one hundred dollar limit per piece of armour, and no plastic isnt an option but i would be willing to go for another kind of steel (that doesnt rust)

Thomas Hayman · Post by **Thomas Hayman** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:05 am

Well, i'll advise you to spend a large amount on a helmet as this will keep you alive. everything else slows the bruising down. A Gorget you can make yourself, i believe this is mandatory in the SCA?

As for WHAT to wear. A 'saltshaker' style helm, many hundreds are seen in the maciejowski bible and aren't horribly difficult to get a hold of.

go to www.armourarchive.org and tell them what you ave and what you are trying to portray and you'll get some mroe detailed answers. this is a bit out of my scope, sorry.

Tuppence · Post by **Tuppence** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:19 pm

a harness is the whole caboodle (thnk classic knight in suit of armour image).

far as I know - hauberk and coif (integral or separate?) are norman / angevin, so would only really be worn with helmet for earlier, perhaps gauntlets and greaves for the later bits of that.

dress to kill are v good, btw

debs

(ok I do know a bit - couldn't live with Nige and not pick up something...)

Nigel · Post by **Nigel** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:07 pm

cannt pick my armour up though can you

basically mix of plate and maille is late 13th early 14th

you want

base a gambeson

fot the legs greeves knee cops

cannons on the arms and elbow cops

you can add a coat of paltes to the torso

helmets great helm is the classic

you also want a surcote

manufacturers

all needs to be made to measure

Iam picky re my armourers and would suggest
Plessis armoury
Dressed to kill
st Georges Armoury
White Rose
er thats it

Nige

for the cop Steve Lunn at White Rose

For the surcote and padding The paddedarmour company

who else did you expect

Nige

Edmund the Marshal · Post by **Edmund the Marshal** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:36 pm

It all depends on how much cash you want to spend and who you are re-creating. A billman or a prince

My armour was made by Derek Harper http://www.med-armour.co.uk it's now 9 years old with no problems.

other people you should check out are;

Lancaster's Armourie http://www.lancasters-armourie.co.uk/

Dressed to kill

Get dressed for battle http://www.getdressedforbattle.co.uk/

White Rose Armourie http://www.whiteroseapparel.co.uk/

The paddedarmour company http://paddedarmour.deborahloughcostumes.com/

regards

Bob

bobthebuilder · Post by **bobthebuilder** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:26 pm

I was wondering what size drill bit shoud i use for making holes to rivet?

guthrie · Post by **guthrie** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:15 pm

One the diameter of the rivets.
Now, as to what size rivets you get, thats up to you, I suggest ones at least 4mm in diameter.

Quayn · Post by **Quayn** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:07 pm

Edmund the Marshal wrote:It all depends on how much cash you want to spend and who you are re-creating. A billman or a prince

My armour was made by Derek Harper http://www.med-armour.co.uk it's now 9 years old with no problems.

other people you should check out are;

Lancaster's Armourie http://www.lancasters-armourie.co.uk/

Dressed to kill

Get dressed for battle http://www.getdressedforbattle.co.uk/

White Rose Armourie http://www.whiteroseapparel.co.uk/

The paddedarmour company http://paddedarmour.deborahloughcostumes.com/

regards

Bob

Just to add weblink for Dressed to kill.
http://www.dressedtokill.freeserve.co.uk/

Q.

bobthebuilder · Post by **bobthebuilder** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:21 pm

well im just aiming for a lowcost suit nothing extravigant just a simple yet strong armour.

nathan · Post by **nathan** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:35 pm

If you are after authenitc armour for the late C15th early C16th i would suggest you do a little more research as the items you have mentioned are associated with that period.

If you are after _cheap_ armour for SCA or rebated steel combat then i would point you in the general direction of either GDFB (www.gdfb.co.uk) or Lancasters Armourie (http://www.lancasters-armourie.co.uk/) i don't believe either offer stainless.

I have a second-hand bucket helm for sale if you want one cheap, http://livinghistory.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2045 (it's mild steel). I'd take $160 CAN + postage at cost (if you are serious i'll pack it and let you know how much that will be). Email me ASAP if you are keen (i'm happy with paypal) as i am on holiday from friday for at least 3 weeks.

N.

bobthebuilder · Post by **bobthebuilder** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:10 am

actually i was thinking of making the bucket helm my elf and was wondering if i should use steel flat head rivets that have a 3/16" diameter and are 5/16" long (they will be riveting my helmet together its 14 GA) and i was wondering if that length rivet would work for 16 and 17 GA steel (for body pieces) cause i might order alot of rivets to save time if thats the only rivets ill ever need. P.S. does flat and round headed rivets have any difference besides looks?

Flosi · Post by **Flosi** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:28 am

If you are looking for more specialist advise about making armour I would suggest checking out the armour archive.