Christmas In February

[Sir Brian]

I think with the floating cops and vambraces you have to find that happy median. I wear my splinted vambraces well off the wrists so the longest part of the vambraces is almost to my elbow and then put the cop over it. This method works well for me and a retain sufficient mobility with my arms to manage all the guard positions. 

[Sir Patrick]

True. If I wear them high, the longest part overlaps the elbow cop. This doesn't restrict mobility, I just wasn't sure if it was "right". It's one thing to see pics of guys wearing these, it's another to put them on yourself. From that standpoint  I'm still a noob.

[Sir Brian]

The attached pictures are from my knight page and of an earlier version of my armor but they show how I wear mine. One of the reasons why I prefer my gambeson's to have longer sleeves is so I can roll them over the vambrace and help keep the cop pushing the vambrace down onto my wrist to much. The cuff is typically covered with my gauntlets. 

[Sir Patrick]

Thanks, Sir Brian. Those pics help a bunch

[Sir Patrick]

OK, so based on Sir Brian's pics and everyone's advice, I changed up where everything sat, and the issues are resolved!  Here's a few pics showing the set up over a mundane jacket.  The vambrace kind of dropped a little during the photography, but the point slightly overlaps the cop.  No effect on mobility though.  One last question:  Buckles or hinges on top?

[Sir Wolf]

cool, glad it worked out for you.  now you can wear the 3/4 length sleeved hauberk like the period pictures where the vambrace is under the mail but the elbow is on top of it.

[SirNathanQ]

Ahh, that Iconic early 14th century look. It's nice look, go for it.     You don't see too many folks doing that look nowadays.

[Allan Senefelder]

now you can wear the 3/4 length sleeved hauberk like the period pictures where the vambrace is under the mail but the elbow is on top of it.

Nailed it, this is something that is not at all uncommon in artwork of the period but that I don't see that many folks do all that much. Very period in terms of look. Ed i'll get you the math on shields, I got lost in 1) the shop all day, 2) gin and tonic and Carlitos Way all night.

[Sir Brian]

Very cool! One last addition I neglected to mention earlier is making yourself some extra elbow padding in the form of a round small pillow. I made mine out of cotton batting and some extra really thin leather. It makes wearing the cops a lot more comfortable and fit a little better as the straps on your cops will stretch out in time. 

[Sir Patrick]

Early 14th century is what I'm going for, so thanks for the advice on how to wear the mailer. Sir Brian, good advice on the padding. I'll add it to my list of projects. Allan, my respect for your skills increases every time I put the pieces on. Thanks again for all of your work!

[Sir Patrick]

Armoured up and got few pics tonight.  Sorry if they are a little blurry, but my 9 year-old doesn't have the steadiest hands

[Sir Wolf]

awesome. and you should learn to instill more fear in your child to hold the camera steady...w a it that doesnt work either hahaha jkjk kewl pics!

[Sir Brian]

Awesome pics! Your kit looks great!

[Sir Edward]

Fantastic! It looks really good!

Does your camera have a timer mode? Some of them let you set a 10-sec timer on a tripod.

[Sir Patrick]

It was my iPhone.  Kind of an impromptu session.