ModernChivalry.org
Main => The Great Hall => Topic started by: merc3065 on 2011-10-25, 15:55:49
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Hello
I am new to the board and looking for more information on the 13th and 14th century knight armours.
I am from Canada and am currently enrolled in a swordplay class near my work.
I own a full suit of plate and chain minus a helmet, sabatons, combat ready sword and shield.
I am looking forward to learning more about the different armour's and centuries of warfare.
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Hi there, and welcome to the forum! I'm sure folks here will be happy to share what they know.
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Hey Merc, welcome to the forum. You should post pictures of your current kit as well as what you're looking for....maybe we can help.
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Welcome to the forum! Looking forward to sharing ideas with you! :)
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welcome!!
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Hello and welcome, I`m sure you have found just the right place ;)
G.
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Here is a few pictures of what I currently own.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/merc3065/SAM_0152.jpg)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/merc3065/SAM_0154.jpg)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/merc3065/SAM_0142.jpg)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/merc3065/SAM_0146.jpg)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/merc3065/SAM_0147.jpg)
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/merc3065/SAM_0158.jpg)
Looks funny wearing glasses...I may have to invest in some contact lenses
This is the website that I purchased my kit from.
http://www.swords4you.com/sklep/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13]
[url]http://www.swords4you.com/sklep/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13 (http://[url)[/url]
I purchased it from one of their tents at a local ren faire in Milton Ontario.
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Looks funny wearing glasses...I may have to invest in some contact lenses
Nah, you just need a good pair of sunglasses. :)
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You and Sir Edward are in the same boat- our Knight Commander wears glasses as well. Your cuirass with the tassets looks familiar, like something I might've seen on the medieval collectibles website. How does it suit you?
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Not exactly a big fan of the medieval pasties but they do the trick combined with the chain mail.
The tassets are ok, I don't like the middle one, but I guess again, they do the trick.
They can be removed relatively easy though just by removing the leather and rivets from the lower portion of the cuirass.
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The 'pasties' as you call them are besagews, designed to protect the underarm in the event you have to raise it while wielding a sword or other weapon. Tassets usually were two-piece affairs, that middle one is not something I've ever seen on effigies or any of the historical armor I've had the pleasure of viewing. But then, if you're shooting for 13th or 14th Century, you'd be wearing plate knees, elbows and helm- all the rest would be maille.
The question you should ask yourself is- if you're going to build a kit, how historically authentic do you want it to be?
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Historically accurate vs my own personal tastes...Tough decision
Well, for the accuracies, I can do as you've mentioned, plated knees, elbows, helmet, and the rest chain, as I own a Knight's Hospitaller surcoat.
The rest of the plate would be more of a transitional period where chain was still used to fill the gaps before going almost 100% covered in plate. So I'm just guessing here that it would be late 14th early 15th century? Not sure, but this is where the board experts can help with some of the education.
And yes, pasties! I had a girl come up to me at the same ren faire and she said, "Nice pasties!" and then she proceeded to flip them around playfully. So the slang term has stuck, and I don't think I'll ever be able to call them basagews after that experience. :o I would have preferred them not to be fluted but just the plain round discs.
With 14ga, it'll help in terms of protection. I've seen some horror story pictures from my sword play group, where they went out of town and the locals for whatever reason were brutal. One guy came back showing pictures of his helmet downright abused. It was 16ga. he mentioned that some guys were wearing 14ga and even 12ga to help with durability. Not sure I'd like to play in those groups...
As for the center tasset-like bit, I'm pretty confident I'll be removing it in the near future (Saturday morning).
I also have some leather shoe string that I will be using to help tie in and secure the chain mail a little better. The long sleeves are a bit cumbersome.
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Yeah, a real big problem is that for the 14th and 15th centuries, you have to pick a decade, or at least a quarter century. Armour styles changed so bloody fast :o
Welcome to the forum! A good start for a multitude of periods, I would say. That's what I have going. Multiple pieces that I mix and match for a multitude of eras.
Good to have you! :)
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Hail and well met! You've come to the right place!
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Merc, if you need tips on how to tailor your hauberk so you can do away with the 'bingo wings' as we call them, check out the subforum titled Workshop...Nathan put together a clear and concise instruction manual on how to do it solo.
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I didn't quite understand what bingo wings are to begin with.
But I threaded some leather cord through the cuffs of the sleeves last night so I can cinch them up to my wrists a little better.
The gambeson I have is an XL so it's pretty bulky and the chain shirt fits relatively snug when I wear the gambeson.
I had to make the neck on the hauberk bigger so I could fit through easier, and then shortened the sleeves about 2" and everything fits super nice now. Also had to lower the face opening in my coif so that it would stop snagging my beard.
Thanks for all the info!
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You've got a great start for a kit. My first armor was carpet covered in duct tape. :eek:
The plate you said is the "lower thigh", the name is cuisse - I can spell/type it, but don't ask me how to pronounce it. ;)
Bingo wings are the "floppy" part of the sleeves that pulls away from the body, sort of like wearing a shirt thats 5 sizes too large. Mail would be tailored to fit just like cloth. It's not hard, but it is time consuming. Boy, is it ever time consuming.
The center tasset, the only one I've ever seen mildly similar historically is the Pistoia Altarpiece cuirass. (Mad Matt has a replica here: http://www.madmattsarmory.com/inv_body.php (http://www.madmattsarmory.com/inv_body.php)). I'm very much an armor addict, and it's the only piece I've ever seen with a "center" tasset. The center would be left as just mail, as it's flexible and means you can get in and out of a saddle without exposing too much flesh to enemies. Same reason that they didn't usually have tassets in the rear - some cuirasses have rear faulds, but the only ones that have "complete coverage" would be the "tonlet" styled armors, designed and made specifically for foot combat at tournament. My guess is, since the armor is more of a fantasy style, it's loosely based off of a cod piece from the later ages of armor - there are a number of historical armors that have tassets on both sides and a removable codpiece in the center.
Welcome to the forum!
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Merc,
As Sir Nathan said, it`s a good start for multi period stuff.
If you are wanting to pitch your kit in the 14th century, go for the last few decades. This period of the 100 years war has (in my opinion) the most colourful and better looking armour of the transitional period armours.
Yes guys I know I`m biased lol
G.
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Very good suggestion. Never thought of the 100 years war. Certainly works!
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Yeah, you got most of what you would need to pull it off. Check into a bascinet, and if you don't mind a little cheating to save some cash, ou can cover the innacurate cuirass with a nice big tabard or so. (or go the whole gamut and then get a nice big tabard! Oh I love em! ;D)
And yes, Sir Gerard, we all know of your crippling late 14th century addiction ::)
I like both periods myself, but I'm pretty well sold on those crusades and all. 8)
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Whew! Out of school for the semester with straight A's yet again...be awhile getting back to normal before I am back in the kitchen again. Wanted to wish everyone and their families a wonderful holiday season, and peace walk with you all, my brothers in arms!
'drew