Gambesons and Arming Doublets

[Sir Edward]

I figured I'd start a thread discussing a variety of gambesons and arming doublets/cottes. Feel free to share any thoughts or comparisons. There are a few pourpoints out there as well, but I haven't listed them here.

Here are a few I'm aware of:

Revival.us, 14th C. cotton gambeson: http://www.revival.us/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=83

CAS/Hanwei GDFB gambeson: http://casiberia.com/product_details.asp?id=AB0143

Historic Enterprises arming doublet, 15th C: http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=362&c=120

Revival Clothing cotton gambeson: http://www.revivalclothing.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=11 (discontinued)

Revival Clothing Agincourt Arming cotte: http://www.revivalclothing.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=221

Revival Clothing linen gambeson: http://www.revivalclothing.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=38

This last one, the linen gambeson from Revival Clothing, is really very nice. I use it in my longsword classes, though I probably won't ever use it as my primary gambeson for my plate armor. I don't want to add grommets or points to it, or get it rapidly filthy as I tend to do with my armor. It's dry-clean only. I absolutely love it for use by itself, and I'm sure I'd be happy with a second one for my armor if I felt like spending the money.

Purpleheart Armoury (woodenswords.com) used to sell a cotton gambeson as well, and this is the one I currently use with my plate armor. It had the virtue of being machine washable and inexpensive, though I find that the sleeves pull up towards being like 3/4 sleeves when I clamp all the armor over it.

[Sir Wolf]

http://casiberia.com/product_details.asp?id=AB0143 i would love to see one of these up close. if i had one i think i'd get rid of the buckles and sew it up the front leaving s plit at the bottom for walking/riding.