I can't find a way to set the locking pins in my greaves to keep my upper leg armor from shuffling around. With smaller rivets, it was easy, I simply whacked it with the hammer a few times, straight on, and it widened the rivet enough to keep it from coming out. However, the rivet was too short and the leg would still slip off if I jump / move too far too quickly. I ordered some longer rivets, but the same method did little more than bend them over, and never tightened them up properly, they would still just fall out. I considered drilling holes and using clevis pins as a fallback plan; it would be hidden under the demi-greave, so, while not period, it would be a better solution than having my leg armor flail around.
A couple years back, a local car shop cut and replaced a catalytic converter on my car. I thought I would head over there and see if he would be willing to weld the pins on my greaves. The shop was closed, no answer on the phone. I headed up the street, and somebody was at another shop; he was leaving, and said the other guy doesn't open until 1pm, and the place I was at is closed until Tuesday. He referred me to another place down the road (yep, 3 on one road!) and after thinking "OK, just say I need something welded, ignore the 'what kind of weirdo are you' look I'll probably get" I had a rather interesting and pleasant surprise.
When asked what I wanted welded, I showed him. He asked about leather straps. I thought, wow, I had no idea anybody around here would know anything about armor. Never happened in the last 5 years. And then he welded up a pin in each greave for me. Awesome, right? It got better.
He also goes to MDRF a couple times a year. And he goes in garb. With his girlfriend - who happens to have a degree in history (focused on european), worked at MDRF before, and also does tailoring / seamstress stuff. She made both of their garb, and made some for other people as well. I might have a connection for local tailoring now too! He mentioned PARF, and I pointed him here to the forums, and thought Sir Matthew could tell some more about it. (Side note: I think it would be neat if we had some ModernChivalry cards to hand out - I had nothing to write it down with.)
He said if I need anything else welded with armor, stop by again. He even warranteed the welds, and said if they come loose or off, bring them back and he'll fix it. Very cool considering it isn't even a service that the shop offers, he was just a nice guy and helped me out. And he was very reasonable in price - dead on with what I expected to pay. Hopefully we will see him on here soon!
