Sir Joshua's Surpirise Kit

[Joshua Santana]

Alright then!

I am keenly aware that all of ye Kind and Helpful Brethren are thinking this "What has Sir Joshua got thi9s time?" or ""He better get that Kit or else!"

Anyway, the Kit ideas that I started off in the previous posts didn't work out for me.  I was also getting really unhappy in my Mini Quest to find a unique and Knightly Look/Visage.

UNTIL...

I saw this picture (for any of you who has Frances Gies' "History of The Knight", please turn to Chapter 14, pg. 151.  The armor that the Veteran Knight has is it!)

That was the day I said "YES!  THAT IS IT!"  A Kit that is both Historically Accurate and Awesome!

From Allan at Merc Tailor's, it is quite easy to make
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=64
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=49
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=111
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=125
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=39
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=40
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=35
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=145
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=116
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=48

Al of that for a grand total of $2,277.00!  That is a good price!

The best part of it is that I can make several version of this kit from other Armorers such Ice Falcon Armory, Anshelm Arms and Armour, Clang Armory and Best Armor.com to name a few.

So now that you know, what do you think of it?

(Now I am aware that this is off the rack, but it will have to work for now until I raise the monies to update the Kit using pieces from either Clang., Anshelm or Best Armor)

(The other thing is that you can find the picture on the web, except it it difficult to access.  This is my reason for not uploading the "Inspiring" picture)

[Joshua Santana]

(I made a mistake in teh Title of Frances Gies' book, it is "The Knight in History" 

My apologies.

[Sir James A]

Are you going with a butted mail shirt?

[Sir Matthew]

I really like that ringmaile coat. I'm not sure if I'd wear that over maille though. I think I'd go with a coat of plates instead.

[Joshua Santana]

Are you going with a butted mail shirt?

Yes, that is the idea.  Is there something wrong?

I really like that ringmaile coat. I'm not sure if I'd wear that over maille though. I think I'd go with a coat of plates instead.

I have been thinking about that, I can go for this instead

http://clang.adkinssoftware.com/body%20pics/brig%20red%20suede%2001.html

Another thing that I am conflicted is whether to go with the Great Helm with the Brass Cross or with the Pembridge/Pembroke Great Helm.  Advice or Help is needed.

[Sir Ulrich]

If i were you I'd go for a riveted maille shirt. Unless you don't want riveted maille. You could do what I'm doing with my kit and start out as a foot soldier and work your way up.

[Sir Matthew]

That CoP looked really nice. Does he make and sell it or was that just to show what he had made?

[Joshua Santana]

f i were you I'd go for a riveted maille shirt.

Yep, that is what I found out.  Thanks.

That CoP looked really nice. Does he make and sell it or was that just to show what he had made?

No, he makes that and sells it.  I have considered to get that instead of the ringmaile coat.

I am designing this suit to be what a full Kit would look like for a Knight in the 1360's the time of the Early Hundred Years War.  Specifically the Castilian Civil War which lasted three years, 1366-1369.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castilian_Civil_War

This leaves me at the dilemma of going for a regular Great Helm or the Pembridge/Pembroke Great Helm.  I am aware that around the 1350's the Great Helm was loosing it's popularity on the battlefield due to the Bascinet's growing popularity at the time (If I have to, I will order a open face bascinet helmet to go with the Great Helm or a Cervelliere Helmet).

[Sir Edward]

Yeah, by the mid 14th, the great helms had pretty much evolved into more of the round-topped Pembridge style, and were usually worn over a proto-bascinent sort of cap that was integrated into the coif. This is hard to do with off-the-shelf gear. The helms can be found online, but not so much in the way of these proto-bascinents that will fit inside. So most people just end up wearing a regular coif, I think.

[Sir Wolf]

ya go for a riveted shirt. i'm a fan of a coat of plates, ring mail shirts are not very historical if at all.

[Joshua Santana]

Yeah, by the mid 14th, the great helms had pretty much evolved into more of the round-topped Pembridge style, and were usually worn over a proto-bascinent sort of cap that was integrated into the coif. This is hard to do with off-the-shelf gear. The helms can be found online, but not so much in the way of these proto-bascinents that will fit inside. So most people just end up wearing a regular coif, I think.

That is what I am ending up with.  I will go with the Pembroke Great Helm with a Cervelliere (or secret helm).  Sadly, this lieaves yet to another dilemma, which one to choose.  I am facing either A&A, Clang, Therion, or Best Armor.)

http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1278.html
http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1131.html

http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AB0371&name=14th+Century+Secret+Helmet

http://www.armor.com/armor007.html
http://www.bestarmour.com/great_helm_1.html
(H.G. 1.3)
http://clang.adkinssoftware.com/hist%20helm/pembridge%2001.html

Concerning the coif, I thing an arming coif would be good, since the proto-bascinet is hard to find.  What say you on this?

http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c637.html
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=200628&name=Padded+Coif
http://store.fastcommerce.com/icefalcon/quilted-cloth-coif-ff8081811788739801178967b5d22d4a-p.html

ya go for a riveted shirt. i'm a fan of a coat of plates, ring mail shirts are not very historical if at all.

That is what I ended up.  I wil go with the COP that I posted previously, I like that it is close to the Corazina design and it has straps which makes it easier to put on.

Riveted mail is my choice mail and I wonder would aluminum work?
http://store.fastcommerce.com/icefalcon/aluminum-chainmail-haubergeon-medium-ff808181179c99bb01179da2672c38a7-p.html

Out of curiosity, would this helm also work?
http://www.whitemountainarmoury.com/images/gallery/vsloaf1.jpg

[Sir Edward]

Out of curiosity, would this helm also work?
http://www.whitemountainarmoury.com/images/gallery/vsloaf1.jpg

Yeah, that's sort of a cross between a visored bascinet, and a sugarloaf great helm. I think you can get away with that for early/mid 14th century.

[Joshua Santana]

That is what I thought when I found it.

I think that what I am trying to get is Early to Mid 14th Century.  I do like the Pembroke Great Helm, but I admit the Brass Cross Great Helm is a classic that I can't resist.

So the revised Kit would look like this.

http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=64
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=91
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=49
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=111{8}14{13}20
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=125{8}14{13}20
http://clang.adkinssoftware.com/body%20pics/brig%20red%20suede%2001.html
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=35
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=145
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=116
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48

[Sir Wolf]

i like that version of the helmet

[Sir William]

That is a nice helm...I think I'll be looking for an open faced bascinet, much like the MRL one, pretty soon.