Inexpensive Body Armour

[Cavaliere di Fiore]

Hello fellows,

I have been doing WMA for a few years now and really enjoy it. Recently, though, I have found an opportunity to train with members of the SCA, but find my very light armour obviously inadequate for SCA heavy fighting. If any of you have suggestions for relatively inexpensive chest/kidney protection, as well as a good gorget, I would appreciate the information and maybe some links.

I am no armouror, but I can probably bend precut plates and sew together things like lamellar. I am not looking for perfectly period, as I want to get out quickly. As long as it is protective and doesn't look like utter shite I am interested. Thank you for any information.

Regards,
Tim

[Thorsteinn]

#1) What is your budget?

#2) What is your Period?

#3) A surcoat/ Tunic covers many sins.

This is me at Coronet last weekend- http://modernchivalry.org/forum/index.php/topic,1909.0.html

-Ivan
Cynaguan Guardsman. Mixed Marshal & Heavy Fighter since 2000.

[Bernarr]

If you're going late 14th, there's a pretty good (and probably cheap) outline for making a wispy coat of plates here-
http://www.sinister.net/wisbylb.htm

I haven't done any pricing yet though, so I'm not sure how much it's going to run.

[Sir William]

It depends on what you're wanting...I've seen pickle barrel plastic armor (although anyone in the SCA will tell you to steer clear because it doesn't look period) but depending on your period, you could hide a good bit of that with a surcoat.  I've seen plastic breastplates that are used by fencers...or the aluminum ones to cut weight but give the same protection.  Are you a member of the Armour Archive?  A lot of SCA style armor gets exchanged on the Classifieds sub-board of that AA...I'd check that out.

[Joshua Santana]

#1) What is your budget?

#2) What is your Period?

#3) A surcoat/ Tunic covers many sins.

I can see that you want a 14th Century Kit, be careful and keep accuracy in mind. 

[Sir Wolf]

can't go wrong with a riveted mail shirt to start

[Sir William]

can't go wrong with a riveted mail shirt to start

Except he said relatively inexpensive, which cuts maille shirts out for the most part, unless he went butted.  It sounds like he wants a coat of plates, when I tried to link WTC's site I got 'connection refused' so I can't send him there.  Is it just me or is the site down?

[Joshua Santana]

Except he said relatively inexpensive, which cuts maille shirts out for the most part, unless he went butted.  It sounds like he wants a coat of plates, when I tried to link WTC's site I got 'connection refused' so I can't send him there.  Is it just me or is the site down?

Hhhhhmmmm, interesting, it could be. 

[Sir James A]

can't go wrong with a riveted mail shirt to start

Except he said relatively inexpensive, which cuts maille shirts out for the most part, unless he went butted.  It sounds like he wants a coat of plates, when I tried to link WTC's site I got 'connection refused' so I can't send him there.  Is it just me or is the site down?

It's up now: http://www.wintertreecrafts.com/catalogues/neckandtorso.html

[Joshua Santana]

        can't go wrong with a riveted mail shirt to start



    Except he said relatively inexpensive, which cuts maille shirts out for the most part, unless he went butted.  It sounds like he wants a coat of plates, when I tried to link WTC's site I got 'connection refused' so I can't send him there.  Is it just me or is the site down?



It's up now: http://www.wintertreecrafts.com/catalogues/neckandtorso.html

Now that Cavaliere di Fiore is a source you can use to get started with your 14th Century Harness.   

[Lord Dane]

Except he said relatively inexpensive, which cuts maille shirts out for the most part, unless he went butted.  It sounds like he wants a coat of plates, when I tried to link WTC's site I got 'connection refused' so I can't send him there.  Is it just me or is the site down?

Hhhhhmmmm, interesting, it could be.

Maille shirts, etc. w/ welded rings always stay together. Much better for heavy-fighting as they stay together opposed to butted or riveted rings when struck hard. Downside: More expense but never have to replace maille rings. Although I do wear a butted maille under my plate armor for look, I wear the welded for heavy fighting.