ModernChivalry.org
Main => The Armoury => Topic started by: Sir Brian on 2010-12-29, 14:39:46
-
I’m thinking real hard on having another go at finding the perfect yet reasonably priced gambeson. I’m seriously considering this one from Steel Mastery but this discussion over at the myarmoury forum tells me I might want to order it soon if I hope to have it in time for the start of the next faire season. :-\
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=21801 (http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=21801)
Just invert the colors of the sample picture to get an idea of what color mine will be. ;)
The options I want with shipping brings the price to approximately $180.00
-
Considering how high I've seen some, $180 including shipping is a good deal. Steel Mastery...for some reason, I always thought he was the same guy as Armstreet...guess cuz they're both in the Ukraine. I like it man...so are you gonna get it?
-
From the photo it looks pretty decent. The armpit looks like it'll let you raise your arms to at least horizontal without much fuss.
-
Not sure now that I just found out I'll probably have to replace the refrigerator. It is 17 years old and probably beyond repairs at this stage. I might have to hold off getting it until February or March after working some extra overtime. :(
-
Part of the fun is the assemblage of the many items that go into making a kit. No worries Sir Brian, yet another thing to look forward to in 2011!
-
Well I guess this is another addition to that wish list of 2011 because I’m seriously considering on picking these up and trying my hand at Cuir Boilli, after I dye them green and edge them with gold paint of course. ;)
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541 (http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541)
-
Believe me, I understand. I got about half way through my mid/late 14th C kit, and have to put it off for a while now due to a whole string of things, including making wedding plans.
-
I have the gambeson I picked up off of the MRL site for $99, and thus far, just with test fitting, it's done well. I modified it by splitting the front completely so it isn't a pullover, and adding some grommets for points. I have a size large, and am also picking up a medium in the next few weeks since I think it might fit better. You're welcome to try them on if you stop by.
-
Well I guess this is another addition to that wish list of 2011 because I’m seriously considering on picking these up and trying my hand at Cuir Boilli, after I dye them green and edge them with gold paint of course. ;)
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541 (http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541)
That would be ambitious, and from what I hear, quite messy. The wax...you need lots of it, or so I've read. Still, if you decide on doing it, you have to do the step by step w/pics!
Sir Edward, what else could you possibly need? lol
Sir James...which MRL gambeson do you have? The quilted one, or the shirt with the padded arms? The latter...that's what I have...strictly for show. lol
-
Sir James...which MRL gambeson do you have? The quilted one, or the shirt with the padded arms? The latter...that's what I have...strictly for show. lol
I have the quilted one here: http://www.museumreplicas.com/p-363-gambeson.aspx
The one thing I've noticed is that with the heavy cuirass, the shoulder will need some additional padding. Just walking in the house, I can feel the weight of the leather straps digging into my shoulders, but it's an excellent starting point for the price (I got mine 10% off, too).
-
Yea, the shoulders take a beating in a kit; I thought of putting a thick handtowel across my shoulders to alleviate that issue; I layer up for the moment (thick undershirt, reg shirt then gambeson) and it seems to work well, I guess because I'm not wearing a cuirass, only a few plate pieces and a haubergeon.
-
Sir Edward, what else could you possibly need? lol
Well, I had gotten the plate arms/legs from MercTailer, and I have a pourpoint, and the MRL bascinet with aventail. But I still need the coat of plates, a set of Wisby gauntlets, and I need to make a new surcoat/jupon for it as well, and figure out how I want to point the arms and add the besegews. So lots to do before it's wearable.
-
Yea, the shoulders take a beating in a kit; I thought of putting a thick handtowel across my shoulders to alleviate that issue; I layer up for the moment (thick undershirt, reg shirt then gambeson) and it seems to work well, I guess because I'm not wearing a cuirass, only a few plate pieces and a haubergeon.
I've started putting bits of blue camp-foam inside the arming doublet over the top of my shoulders so the straps rest on that. It helps a lot. Not exactly period, but an easy hack when the straps just aren't sitting right (historically, if you could afford it, everything would be shaped to you and wouldn't have that problem).
-
I have the gambeson I picked up off of the MRL site for $99, and thus far, just with test fitting, it's done well. I modified it by splitting the front completely so it isn't a pullover, and adding some grommets for points. I have a size large, and am also picking up a medium in the next few weeks since I think it might fit better. You're welcome to try them on if you stop by.
Thank you James for the kind offer! I may eventually pick one of those up to use in WMA class at a later date but probably not for wearing under the haubergeon because I suspect they use synthetic fill material for the padding which doesn’t breath well at all. I have a similarly made gambeson (the discontinued KOH one) which as the same problem. I heard that linen breaths very well and I suppose I will just have to save up for one. :-\
Yea, the shoulders take a beating in a kit; I thought of putting a thick handtowel across my shoulders to alleviate that issue; I layer up for the moment (thick undershirt, reg shirt then gambeson) and it seems to work well, I guess because I'm not wearing a cuirass, only a few plate pieces and a haubergeon.
I’ve found my pourpoint provides just enough additional padding on top of my shoulders beneath even my marginally padded wrestling jacket from revival clothing. ;)
-
i often hesitate on ordering over seas. dunno why but i still do.
my arming jacket has padding in the chest, back and shoulders. i need to make a aketon so as to use for earlier time periods than 15thc.
-
I may eventually pick one of those up to use in WMA class at a later date but probably not for wearing under the haubergeon because I suspect they use synthetic fill material for the padding which doesn’t breath well at all.
If I may, I don't recommend the MRL gambeson if you want to use it for Western Martial Arts. I used to own one, and it is fine for costume, but it's literally about as protective as a heavy sweater. It is also cut like a t-shirt, and since the material doesn't stretch like a t-shirt, it heavily restricts your movement. It is very hot due to the nylon fibers. You're better off with a cheap $50 fencing jacket than one of those, as it will at least protect you against knicks and burrs. I also used to use mine under my plate harness, and it is close to worthless for that purpose; I couldn't lift my arms high enough to take any of the upper guards.
While I haven't seen the Steel Mastery one in person, I suspect it will be a much better one for WMA usage. It looks like it will have some problems, but not as bad as the MRL one did for me.
-
http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/p-5478-warriors-medieval-gambeson.aspx
Thats the gambeson I got, I would've gotten the GDFB one but it was too large for me and this one seems to be almost the same. I don't recommend the MRL ones as they're basically useless for combat and more for costuming. Thats why I bought a new gambeson to replace my robin hood one.
-
I may eventually pick one of those up to use in WMA class at a later date but probably not for wearing under the haubergeon because I suspect they use synthetic fill material for the padding which doesn’t breath well at all.
If I may, I don't recommend the MRL gambeson if you want to use it for Western Martial Arts. I used to own one, and it is fine for costume, but it's literally about as protective as a heavy sweater. It is also cut like a t-shirt, and since the material doesn't stretch like a t-shirt, it heavily restricts your movement. It is very hot due to the nylon fibers. You're better off with a cheap $50 fencing jacket than one of those, as it will at least protect you against knicks and burrs. I also used to use mine under my plate harness, and it is close to worthless for that purpose; I couldn't lift my arms high enough to take any of the upper guards.
While I haven't seen the Steel Mastery one in person, I suspect it will be a much better one for WMA usage. It looks like it will have some problems, but not as bad as the MRL one did for me.
Thanks for the insight Bill! I will will have to be content for the time being with my KOH gambeson for WMA, (it just looks like hell from the armor stains) ;)
http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/p-5478-warriors-medieval-gambeson.aspx
Thats the gambeson I got, I would've gotten the GDFB one but it was too large for me and this one seems to be almost the same. I don't recommend the MRL ones as they're basically useless for combat and more for costuming. Thats why I bought a new gambeson to replace my robin hood one.
Sir Ulrich
Thanks for the link! That is certainly reasonable and looks like it would be adequate padding, but according to their sizing even their XXL would be a little tight and too short in the sleeves! Too bad they don’t offer them in a 3XL or otherwise known as quasi-behemoth size. ;)
-
Too bad they don’t offer them in a 3XL or otherwise known as quasi-behemoth size.
Wow, you must be ripped, Sir Brian! ;)
-
http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/p-5478-warriors-medieval-gambeson.aspx
Thats the gambeson I got, I would've gotten the GDFB one but it was too large for me and this one seems to be almost the same. I don't recommend the MRL ones as they're basically useless for combat and more for costuming. Thats why I bought a new gambeson to replace my robin hood one.
Sir Ulrich
Thanks for the link! That is certainly reasonable and looks like it would be adequate padding, but according to their sizing even their XXL would be a little tight and too short in the sleeves! Too bad they don’t offer them in a 3XL or otherwise known as quasi-behemoth size. ;)
I have a similar problem ... they don't offer them with a 40" waist and a 36" chest. Apparently I'm built upside-down. :(
-
Too bad they don’t offer them in a 3XL or otherwise known as quasi-behemoth size.
Wow, you must be ripped, Sir Brian! ;)
Yeah I'm still in shape...In my youth I was round, in my teens and twenties I was triangular, in my early forties I went back to round and now I'm just rectangular! :D
-
I have a similar problem ... they don't offer them with a 40" waist and a 36" chest. Apparently I'm built upside-down. :(
So, an inverted triangle then? :) Thankfully my waist is still smaller than my chest, but my gambeson has gotten slightly snug in the mid-section.
It's funny, with a lot of garb out there, you can run into fitting problems if you're actually in shape. Most manufacturers these days assume a little extra slack is needed in the mid-section. But of course, if you're anywhere over that, you'll have issues too. It'll never be tailored to you if it's off the shelf.
That reminds me. I need to get in shape. :)
-
hehehe was that your resolution the other night?
-
hehehe was that your resolution the other night?
Resolution? My resolution is 2560x1600. :)
-
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7H2HStmMnE[/youtube] :D
-
http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/p-5478-warriors-medieval-gambeson.aspx
Thats the gambeson I got, I would've gotten the GDFB one but it was too large for me and this one seems to be almost the same. I don't recommend the MRL ones as they're basically useless for combat and more for costuming. Thats why I bought a new gambeson to replace my robin hood one.
Sir Ulrich
Thanks for the link! That is certainly reasonable and looks like it would be adequate padding, but according to their sizing even their XXL would be a little tight and too short in the sleeves! Too bad they don’t offer them in a 3XL or otherwise known as quasi-behemoth size. ;)
I have a similar problem ... they don't offer them with a 40" waist and a 36" chest. Apparently I'm built upside-down. :(
My biggest problem has always been that most things medieval are sized exactly like that...I asked, because I have a 38" chest and a 32" waist but anything for my chest is usually 'waisted' for someone with a 40" or better waist...
-
http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/p-5478-warriors-medieval-gambeson.aspx
Thats the gambeson I got, I would've gotten the GDFB one but it was too large for me and this one seems to be almost the same. I don't recommend the MRL ones as they're basically useless for combat and more for costuming. Thats why I bought a new gambeson to replace my robin hood one.
Sir Ulrich
Thanks for the link! That is certainly reasonable and looks like it would be adequate padding, but according to their sizing even their XXL would be a little tight and too short in the sleeves! Too bad they don’t offer them in a 3XL or otherwise known as quasi-behemoth size. ;)
I have a similar problem ... they don't offer them with a 40" waist and a 36" chest. Apparently I'm built upside-down. :(
My biggest problem has always been that most things medieval are sized exactly like that...I asked, because I have a 38" chest and a 32" waist but anything for my chest is usually 'waisted' for someone with a 40" or better waist...
I got a 29-30 inch waist and a 32 inch chest (without my shoulders) so it fits me fine, I do wish I'd bulk up a bit being this skinny doesn't help me find clothing at all. With my shoulder's included my chest is 38 inches which makes the gambeson a perfect fit, as opposed to a baggy fit. I don't care much for baggy or oversized clothing, which is why I got a different gambeson. Pants have a bit of an easier fit due to drawstring waists being perfect for someone like me. I just use a belt at the waist to cut back on the extra room there.
-
Well I guess this is another addition to that wish list of 2011 because I’m seriously considering on picking these up and trying my hand at Cuir Boilli, after I dye them green and edge them with gold paint of course. ;)
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541 (http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541)
That would be ambitious, and from what I hear, quite messy. The wax...you need lots of it, or so I've read. Still, if you decide on doing it, you have to do the step by step w/pics!
Sorry Sir William! I don’t know how I missed this part of your earlier reply! :-[
Anyways I think I’ll try the water boiled method since from what I’ve read it is easier and actually more effective. http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/leather/hl.html (http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/leather/hl.html)
-
Sir Ulrich, you never include your shoulders when measuring your chest- which should be done after taking a deep breath and holding for the measurer.
Sir Brian...I'm thinking the cleanup will be easier at the very least. I'm very interested to see how it turns out...a lot of the so-called leather armor out there is just plain leather riveted together, not hardened at all.
-
Sir Ulrich, you never include your shoulders when measuring your chest- which should be done after taking a deep breath and holding for the measurer.
Yep. And a sewing-style cloth measuring tape is ideal, and you measure the circumference around your upper torso just under the armpits.
-
http://gambesons.com/category/gambesons ?
-
Nice link...I take it that he does it by commission only?
-
They appear to have the more complex shoulder design. At least in the pictures, they look great. I wish I could see one up-close.
-
http://gambesons.com/category/gambesons ?
That one looks excellent from the pictures. It looks like they really understand the proper design.
-
you could always email for detailed pics and then show us, hint hint. this guy i think gets some praises on the AA board
-
So my chest size is only 32 inches. While being 34 sized over a gambeson. Guess it was a right thing to do to buy medium sized mail and the smaller size gambeson. Last thing I want is my clothing to be too big and baggy for me like my old outfit:
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs714.snc4/63408_1448188819622_1680264272_872994_4070948_n.jpg)
-
The good news about getting it a little loose is that you have some room to grow. I started out as a really scrawny teen. I'm glad I sized my armor after my metabolism changed... heh :)
-
sir ulrich.
put your stuff on inside out and have someone help you gather and pin the seems until the garment fits you. then sew it up and cut off the excess
-
Never thought about that before. Think I'm going to do that with my surcoat so I got one that actually fits me.
-
i often hesitate on ordering over seas. dunno why but i still do.
my arming jacket has padding in the chest, back and shoulders. i need to make a aketon so as to use for earlier time periods than 15thc.
Well that is a sound precaution Sir Wolf and my ongoing experience with Steel-Mastery proves it out. :(
On February 12th I couldn’t resist one of their “In Stock” gambesons. It was their standard gambeson but made with red brocade silk in the right size and a roughly 30% off their regular price. Now an in stock should be a fairly quick and easy transaction but no. They received their payment via paypal nearly instantaneous and I didn’t hear anything from them until I sent my first inquiry on March 3rd. I received almost an immediate response that they would need a couple of days to get me the tracking number of my shipment. – Huh? I thought it was “IN STOCK”. I gave them a week and sent another inquiry…their response came the next day asking for a couple more days. – Obviously stalling now. I gave it another week and sent a more terse inquiry. Again their reply came the next day stating that the merchandise was in the post office and they would send me a tracking number tomorrow morning. – So that remains to be seen. :-\
I do know if I don’t have the merchandise or shipment verification within a week I’ll be contacting pay pal and disputing the transaction. Kind of sucks because you don’t always get back all of it but something is better than nothing. The real shame is they have some really great looking stuff. :(
-
Have you looked at Matuls Medieval Clothing (http://www.matuls.pl/index.php?IDP=1&Lng=en&IDKategoria=4) yet?
-Ivan
Who made his own out of 100% flax linen and is happy to not have to do it again for many years. :)
-
Hey great link with great looking and very reasonably priced items! Thanks for posting it Ivan, but
I think I’ll be all set for gambesons for a while whenever I get the one from Steel-Mastery. I
happened to also pick up another KOH gambeson off Ebay a couple of weeks ago. That green
gambeson he had in stock was very tempting to me though, fortunately it would be way to small
around the chest. ;)
-
Have you heard back from them yet, Sir Brian? I remember them as purveyors of some good looking armor and accoutrements, but the insane cost of shipping internationally always put me off.
-
Not yet, then again it's still considered "morning" across the pond although not for much longer. I'll give'em another couple hours and rifle them off another "reminder"! ;)
Kind of sad really that they have to make this so hard. :-\
-
Sir Brian, good luck with getting the gambeson from them. That sounds completely unacceptable for an "in stock" item.
-
Well wonders of wonders they replied to my latest inquiry late yesterday with the actual tracking number! So I guess it will all be a matter of time before I get it from the Ukraine. Once I see how the quality of the product is I will make an overall decision on whether it is worth the extra wait for their merchandise or not. One thing is certain though is don’t order from them if time is of the essence! ;)
-
Interesting saga, and great information, I wear a fairly heavy set of plate I wear with chain under but I dont wear a gambeson or much padding at all, mostly because its all to hot. I have to wonder just how people did it on a crusade. I was in Virginia last Memorial Day at the VA Faire, it was 97, I was dumb enough to wear full plate and lasted about four hours, cant imagine that also in a gembeson. I would need if filled with ice.
-
Yes "ice" is the operative word there! I don't think I'd survive in armor all day in those 80+ degree faire days if I didn't get an extra couple of hours with my wet undershirt/ice pack combination. ;)
-
Yeah, I've learned to pre-soak my shirt under my armor on those hot VARF days. :)
-
I should be writing this stuff down...the one and only time I went to VARF was in 07, in June, and even though I wore only my maille (hauberk and coif) I still felt like I was being braised. Don't know how you guys wear plate on days like that; as for our forebears, they weren't coddled by selectable temperature control systems, running water, sweat-wicking fabrics, and all of the modern appurtenances that have softened mankind over the years...I suspect in truth, if a knight were to travel to our day and age he would be both amazed and amused...and maybe not a little disappointed? LOL
-
Oh yes, we're all wimps in comparison.. :)
-
I tend to agree with that, but its a learned trait, you can also learn to endure...or not
-
I'm aying. 3 layer of 100% flax linen in the summer and your golden! Any errant breeze will cause you to shiver.
And I live in the High Desert but also fight in the Sacramento River Delta and other oven hot parts of the Central Valley.
Ever been at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in summer? I have and I was never going back till I got this gambeseon.
100% natural materials all the way baby yeah!
-Ivan
-
As I stand basting in my own sweat wearing all my armor complete with underlying padding and great helm I find it easier to endure if I think about our troops on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan where they don’t have a choice about what they have to wear in that oppressive heat and somehow it helps me.
-
I actually prefer linen, it actually does keep you cool. My old gambeson I think was artificial cloth (rayon and polyester) and I sweat a ton in it. Gambeson I have now is 100% cotton and I don't get hot at all in it. Wish I could afford a linen one but natural fibers are better than artificial stuff.
-
I was surprised this morning with this email from Steel-Mastery.
-----Original Message-----
From: v.ignatov@steel-mastery.com [mailto:v.ignatov@steel-mastery.com]
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 7:00 AM
To: Ames, Brian
Subject: Events in the US
Hello Brian!
I’m Vova, I do business development at Steel Mastery.
May I have a couple of minutes of your attention please?
This year we at Steel Mastery are planning to go to the biggest medieval markets in Europe and in the US.
So far we have planned the fair "Armi e Bagagli" (in Italy) and Pontoise medieval market (in France).
We’d like to visit popular fairs, markets and other medieval events in different countries, meet local SCA and LARP communities, hear feedback and suggestions from our clients and eventually find partners.
So I’m contacting you to ask if you could advice us important events in the US.
I found some info on the web, but would like to know the opinions of our clients first of all J
Thanks a lot for your reply!
Best regards,
Volodymyr Ignatov
Head of Marketing and PR department
Steel Mastery
I provided them with some links to several of the larger fairs on the east coast as well as PENNSIC. Hope they can establish a foothold in this market. They make a wide diversity of merchandise and it would be nice not having to pay that ridiculous shipping cost or deal with the long delivery delays. ;)
-
Well I finally received the "in stock" gambeson and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed with the construction and quality!
It was listed as red silk but it is more like a pink...I won't bandy about it. It is pink! It is also very thick! It is armor in its own right! I plan to use it on some days when I want to go "armor-light". The inner liner and multiple layers are linen and is very comfortable! I definitely will be ordering a custom gambeson in the future from these folks...except in green with a LOT less layers! ;)
Here are some photos.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Tah908/P4030001.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Tah908/P4030003.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Tah908/P4030004.jpg)
-
Looks good, Sir Brian! How's the range of motion in the arms?
-
OH BOY, i don't think i'd want to be taken alive by THAT Knight. he may have his way with me instead of ransom! heheheh
-
Nice, makes me wanna buy a new gambeson from those folk. They sell a bunch of things that American markets don't normally offer plus in my size too. Hope they do set up an American distributor. Do the arms move pretty well? I do know thats an issue with swinging swords which is why I usually go for the ones with detachable arms.
-
The range of motion is very good. It doesn't actually start to slightly pull on the sides until I lift my arms past the horizontal
plane and even then it isn't all that much.
@ Sir Wolf: Hey I'm an Irish knight, we are notorious for doing unspeakable things with only the heads of our captives! :P
-
Now I'm extremely tempted to order a custom gambeson from them made out of linen along with padded chausses. I could also customize it to be in red and black which is exactly what I want. One problem though it may be too nice to wear under greasy maille.
-
Cool. I don't see a front or back closure. Is it just a pull-over?
I wonder how well it would take a dye, to re-color it. I was about to say, "oh, I can just photoshop that", but that wouldn't help you at the renfaire. :)
-
Yes it is a pull over which you have to shuck yourself out of like maille! ;)
Dye job huh? Something to consider! Although if anything I'd go darker and try and turn it into a genuine red and little less of a Freddie Mercury fuchsia! :D
-
How much was the shipping? I am seriously considering getting one.
-
The gambeson was on sale @ $112.00 and the shipping was $38.79 (stuff from the Ukraine always has murderous shipping charges). My “in stock” item took about six weeks so I wouldn’t be expecting it any sooner than that. I also recommend as few layers of linen that they offer if you intend to wear it under maille because the seven layers are THICK! ;)
-
That looks well worth the wait. And it matches the flannel pants, too - just call it your clan tartan. :D
-
That isn't too bad, I probably can afford it then. I am planning on getting it with 3 layers at most. I like the fact they offer half color gambesons as well which is something I may get. Customization is always the best.