First plate armor piece?

[Leganoth]

I plan to get plate armor from illusion armoring, not sure what piece to get first though, suggestions?

(im getting 14th century plate btw)

[Thorsteinn]

Arms.

[Ian]

When in the 14th century, makes a huge difference... early, mid, or late?

[Sir James A]

If you can swing it, get it all at once. 20% discount, and most of the time waiting for commissions is in getting your order started, rather than made. So buying it all at once, it might be 2 years for delivery. Buying it piece by piece could take, literally, 8-10 years, depending how many separate orders you make.

[Leganoth]

If you can swing it, get it all at once. 20% discount, and most of the time waiting for commissions is in getting your order started, rather than made. So buying it all at once, it might be 2 years for delivery. Buying it piece by piece could take, literally, 8-10 years, depending how many separate orders you make.

God damn thats too long over all. And for plate armor, late 14th. Will be seperate from my teutonic kit

[Sir Edward]

Yeah, how long it takes depends on a lot of factors, not the least of which will be what you can afford. Often what happens if you try to spread it out, is that there will always be other things that need your money, and so if it takes 10 years, it's usually because you keep putting it aside in favor of other priorities. It's also harder to make everything match that way.

However, for a lot of folks, doing it a little at a time is the only way to afford it. So it can work for you, depending on how often you can afford to get a little more.

[Ian]

Illusion is known for their particularly long delivery schedule.  First, get a good arming coat or gambeson so when you submit measurements they include your arming clothes.  Also decide if you plan to wear maille underneath the plate (this is historically accurate but many modern reenactors forego this because it's heavier and less comfortable) because it will also have an effect on the measurements for your plate pieces.   If you have to go piece by piece I would probably get arms first as well.  Then spaulders (if you dont get arms with attached spaulders), then I would work on the legs.

You can save chest, gauntlets and helmet til the end.  Chest is easy to hide with a surcoat so no one knows you dont have a breastplate. And not having gauntlets and a helmet on is fine, as people would probably not wear them all the time just for comfort's sake when in camp but still in armor.

[Sir Rodney]

I'll second Ian's comments.  Like a good house, start with a solid foundation.

[Joshua Santana]

Illusion is known for their particularly long delivery schedule.  First, get a good arming coat or gambeson so when you submit measurements they include your arming clothes.  Also decide if you plan to wear maille underneath the plate (this is historically accurate but many modern re-enactors forgo this because it's heavier and less comfortable) because it will also have an effect on the measurements for your plate pieces.   If you have to go piece by piece I would probably get arms first as well.  Then spaulders (if you don'I think I mentioned that I'm basing Sir Palidor on Paladin...even stealing some of his famous quotes. Palidin had a hidden derringer...and since Sor Palidor will be Scottish...even up till the end of WWI, they alwways kept two hodden daggers (started in medieval time) one in the boot and the other under the arm.I found the whole 250? episodes real cheap and am watching them a little at a time. I always liked him as a kid...like his episodes even more now...so much philosophy and high morals. They should put it on again for the younger people to watch. It would teach them some good things.
t get arms with attached spaulders), then I would work on the legs.

What I'm getting from Sir Ian is that when doing the measurements.  First get the arming doublet (in my case), measure body length and width without the arming doublet and measure again with the arming doublet.  Is this correct on my part? 

[Ian]

What I'm getting from Sir Ian is that when doing the measurements.  First get the arming doublet (in my case), measure body length and width without the arming doublet and measure again with the arming doublet.  Is this correct on my part?

Not exactly.  Most armorer's will not require measurements without your arming clothes on because they really make no difference with regard to fit of the plate pieces.  Armorer's generally want all measurements taken with the client wearing any arming garment and padding that they plan to wear in harness.  The only time the measurements without garments come in to play would be for sizing the arming clothes themselves.  Or perhaps for things like gauntlets or helmets where you may not have anything on underneath...  I would go further to say that any armorer who doesn't advise his client on the proper fitting of the arming clothes beneath and the measurements required with arming clothes on is not a reputable armorer.

This is the danger with putting the cart in front of the horse and giving in to the temptation of buying armor before having properly fitted and functional arming clothes.  People get so excited to get the armor and measure themselves and submit the order.  Meanwhile they get some arming clothes, then the armor arrives and it's too tight and incredibly restrictive because the measurements were not taken with the arming garments being worn.  Then you're stuck with a huge chunk of change tied up in poorly fitted armor (no fault of the armorer's of course, but solely the fault of an impatient client).  Sadly, poorly fitted armor has lead to the modern misconception that armor was restrictive, clunky, and uncomfortable.

If you're going to invest in quality armor, do it right!

[Joshua Santana]

Not exactly.  Most armorer's will not require measurements without your arming clothes on because they really make no difference with regard to fit of the plate pieces.  Armorer's generally want all measurements taken with the client wearing any arming garment and padding that they plan to wear in harness.  The only time the measurements without garments come in to play would be for sizing the arming clothes themselves.  Or perhaps for things like gauntlets or helmets where you may not have anything on underneath...  I would go further to say that any armorer who doesn't advise his client on the proper fitting of the arming clothes beneath and the measurements required with arming clothes on is not a reputable armorer.

I see your point, first get the arming doublet measured (in my case), then measure with the arming doublet for the armor itself.

This is the danger with putting the cart in front of the horse and giving in to the temptation of buying armor before having properly fitted and functional arming clothes.  People get so excited to get the armor and measure themselves and submit the order.  Meanwhile they get some arming clothes, then the armor arrives and it's too tight and incredibly restrictive because the measurements were not taken with the arming garments being worn.  Then you're stuck with a huge chunk of change tied up in poorly fitted armor (no fault of the armorer's of course, but solely the fault of an impatient client).  Sadly, poorly fitted armor has lead to the modern misconception that armor was restrictive, clunky, and uncomfortable.

That was a concern of mine and is my reason for asking the question. 

If you're going to invest in quality armor, do it right!

Exactly and I am determined to get it right.   

[Lord Dane]

I pieced my armor together from different places & people so it was cost-efficient but still had the look I wanted for its intended purpose (i.e. combat fighting, jousting, theatrical, etc). Safe to say, I gave lots of medieval enthusiasts/merchants some business over the years. Make sure your armor is authentic-looking to your character (or look you want to portray) but more importantly that it serve its intended function. Heavy-guage for combat-use as opposed to light-weight aluminum for a day of renfaire theatrics. Purpose matters for armor. You can get great deals on ebay, 2nd hand or even custom finds being sold reasonably priced by previous owners for your 1st armor kit or suit. My suggestion is same.... do what works best for your wallet. However, still shop around unless you are totally committed to buying your own custom-made stuff specific to you. In that case, do it right & find a quality armourer for what you want.

I wear a combination of padding, maille, and plate armor but my intended use besides being authentic is for combat-fighting.  I'll wear different armor pieces for freedom of motion but without compromising protection.  Make sure your stuff is articulated & measured properly.  Functional armor is ALWAYS RECOMMENDED. 

[Sir Wolf]

to many words, not enough pictures!

[Joshua Santana]

I pieced my armor together from different places & people so it was cost-efficient but still had the look I wanted for its intended purpose (i.e. combat fighting, jousting, theatrical, etc). Safe to say, I gave lots of medieval enthusiasts/merchants some business over the years. Make sure your armor is authentic-looking to your character (or look you want to portray) but more importantly that it serve its intended function. Heavy-guage for combat-use as opposed to light-weight aluminum for a day of renfaire theatrics. Purpose matters for armor. You can get great deals on ebay, 2nd hand or even custom finds being sold reasonably priced by previous owners for your 1st armor kit or suit. My suggestion is same.... do what works best for your wallet. However, still shop around unless you are totally committed to buying your own custom-made stuff specific to you. In that case, do it right & find a quality armourer for what you want.

I wear a combination of padding, maille, and plate armor but my intended use besides being authentic is for combat-fighting.  I'll wear different armor pieces for freedom of motion but without compromising protection.  Make sure your stuff is articulated & measured properly.  Functional armor is ALWAYS RECOMMENDED. 

Interesting. 

My Kit is still in the drafting process but it has come quite a long way than what is posted in the Armoury Thread.  Essentially it is a Late 16th Century Half-Harness which will develop over time into a Battlefield - Tournament/One on One Combat/Judicial Dueling Garniture with a full leg harness with greaves and sabatons, Gauntlets and a Peascod Breast and Back Plate without Tassets (the Half Harness is a Close Helmet or Armet Helmet, Gorget, Breast and Back Plate with Tassets and Full Arm Harness).  This is designed from several late 16th Century Portraits and Museum Tourney Armor examples. 

The purpose to this Kit is not just the Look but to replicate authentic 16th Century Armored Combat (with Sideswords, Poleaxes or Polearms and Spadones  ) as well as for Story Telling Events in which I get the word about Renaissance Chivalry and great tales of Chivalry to the Public. 

But I agree that properly measured arming garb and armor pieces are a must. 

[Sir James A]

Yeah, how long it takes depends on a lot of factors, not the least of which will be what you can afford. Often what happens if you try to spread it out, is that there will always be other things that need your money, and so if it takes 10 years, it's usually because you keep putting it aside in favor of other priorities. It's also harder to make everything match that way.

However, for a lot of folks, doing it a little at a time is the only way to afford it. So it can work for you, depending on how often you can afford to get a little more.

Yep, the side factors can definitely influence things. For someone like Illusion, who typically has a 9-12 month wait time before they start your order, each order could have that long of a wait time between production - if you can get in with the ~1 year production wait time, then have the whole harness fabricated in about a month (I was quoted 4 weeks to make an entire harness back in '08). The majority of the wait will be in just sitting on the waiting list. It is certainly a stretch to drop for a whole harness at once, but since we're talking Illusion specifically, they do "layaway" plans last I spoke with them - 20% down to get on the list, 50% paid before work starts, and 100% paid before shipping (of course). So if it's something possible, it can drastically reduce that waiting time.

But as Ian said, foundation garments first, and they'll make *all* the difference.