Main > The Armoury
Got my chausses and 13th century underwear package
John:
--- Quote from: James Barker on 2011-08-26, 12:16:45 ---I have a 16g CoP I have used for years for SCA, no dents, but I find it too heavy. I am going to use the 18g from here on.
--- End quote ---
Are all the plates 16g? or just the ones on the front?
Sir James A:
--- Quote from: Sir Edward on 2011-08-26, 18:40:01 ---
I really don't mind cheating on materials most of the time. We don't have the opportunity to practice in our armor for hours every day, and thus stay in the same kind of shape that historical knights would have. Comfortable armor is a good thing. :)
--- End quote ---
Agreed. Nor do we have other people who we can have clean our armor, nor do we get paid (or get paid much) to do what we do. If it's hidden, it's no big deal. If it's visible and still looks right - aluminum, steel, titanium - it doesn't bother me. I'd rather see people in non-period materials but looking medieval than people running around in jeans and t-shirts. :)
Sir Ulrich - I've heard good things about Wintertree Crafts. I'd contact them and give them a go.
Sir James Barker - I had no idea you make armor too. How do I bribe you for an open workshop day? :D
Sir Ulrich:
Well I am getting a COP eventually, maybe if I EVER do SCA fighting I'll go for the COP over maille route with a kettle helm and Visby gauntlets. I do plan to get it with either iron or regular steel plates though even if it's heavy, I could use some strength training and added mass when fighting, besides plate doesn't nearly encumber you as much as maille does or so I've been told, though it's a lot less flexible than maille it's less heavy. Still wondering how hard it would be to make a COP myself made to my measurements, anyone got any idea how I could and what tools I'd need?
John:
Strength is handy. Regardless of armour type. Lift weights. Find any excuse you can to be physical. Whilst it is true that the average medieval man was fitter than the average man of today. Today our elite performers are vastly superior to our ancestors. Modern physical training methods work. Go to the gym, lift weights, and you'll fight longer, recover faster. And for you Sir Ulrich, eat more!
Breathing is important as well. If you breath using your traps, pecs, and neck muscles you'll be lifting all your torso armour as well as your ribcage. If you belly breath you're only pushing out the armour that covers your belly. The less you breath, the less energy you burn. The less energy you burn, the longer you can fight before you run out of energy. Being in the right state of mind leads to efficient breathing. An example of western breath control can be found in the prayer before combat. Prayers are often spoken at a controlled pace, this regulates breathing. Think of the English army at Agincourt, in the morning they prep, advance, pause and pray, attack... win!
Here's an article on how to make a CoP http://www.armourarchive.org/essays/cop_pod/. If you have any fears about measurements, you could make a CoP out of cheap fabric and plastic/cardboard. Then cut your steel and leather using the cheaper material as a template. Here's one CoP template http://www.armourarchive.org/patterns/wisby_cop/. There's quite a few more different styles in the 1361 Battle of Wisby book. Some style have larger plates, some smaller, some have shoulders, some don't. Have a google. http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=9900&step=4&showunits=inches&id=839&top_cat=849 is an American company that sells sheet steel, they're selling 36" x 48" 16 gauge mild steel for $44 USD. Not necessarily the cheapest. If you hunt around you'll probably find a place that will cut it for you as well. Most cutting places use vector artwork, you can create this using Inkscape (free from http://inkscape.org) to trace around your pattern.
Have you considered lamellar? What makes it good is that you can lace them together yourself. It is faster to make than mail, and is better at reducing blunt trauma - though not as good as CoPs or larger plate harnesses. See http://www.polarbearforge.com/lamellar.htm for an example of various lame designs and an indication of cost per square metre. I think those prices are a little high and that you can get them cheaper by going directly to a steel cutting company.
Please note I haven't used any of the commercial companies above, the links are just there to give you an indication of what is possible. Shop around!
James Barker:
--- Quote from: John ---
--- Quote from: James Barker ---I have a 16g CoP I have used for years for SCA, no dents, but I find it too heavy. I am going to use the 18g from here on.
--- End quote ---
Are all the plates 16g? or just the ones on the front?
--- End quote ---
All are 16g on the old one; the back is armored as much as the front.
The new one is a replica of the Wisby 1 CoP all 18g and it is light. Even if I take a blow hard enough to bent the lighter plates it does not injure me underneath as the metal takes all the force.
--- Quote from: James Anderson III ---Sir James Barker - I had no idea you make armor too. How do I bribe you for an open workshop day? :D
--- End quote ---
Sir Wolf and I modified and old helm once and then I made this CoP, that is the extent of my armoring, I dabble in many crafts. However maybe late winter I may hold a CoP making day for those who wish to come over; I am booked until after Halloween with events, weddings, and so on and plan to wall in my shop and run power in the early winter. I am building a wood working shop in my basement where I have a few armoring tools also.
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