if you could redo 1 thing

[Sir Wolf]

or more on your kit what would it be and how do you think you'd fix it?

[Sir Brian]

I would love to go with more authentic maille but it maybe a few more years before I'll be able to afford it. 
The other is a custom made bascinet with a visor shaped like a griffon's face, but I'll NEVER be able to afford that!

[Sir Edward]

Yeah, I'd love to have truly authentic mail, but there are many roadblocks, with price just being one of them. The other is that I think for it to be correct, it needs some complex tailoring so that it will fit like a second skin. Off-the-rack mail isn't done that way and tends to only come in a couple of sizes, at most.

But also, I think I'd like a more period correct gambeson/aketon, and coat of plates. Still haven't decided what to do about these.

[Sir Brian]

The other is that I think for it to be correct, it needs some complex tailoring so that it will fit like a second skin. Off-the-rack mail isn't done that way and tends to only come in a couple of sizes, at most.

I've found a couple of places that offer such maille when you provide them quite an extensive array of body measurements but the price starts around $1000.00 

[Sir Ulrich]

Well considering I got 500 dollar mail arriving soon, I'd prefer to have a  riveted coif with that face flap similar to this cept Icefalcon mail http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1175.html I'd also like leg mail that would fit me, but considering i'm much skinnier than average I doubt a stock one would fit me. I also think a visby coat of plates would look good over my mail but thats biting off more than I can chew as of now.

[Sir William]

I'd go with period-specific custom-tailored mail with leather backing...as I'm not quite within one period or another, I'll go with being period specific altogether.  I like my kit, don't get me wrong, but it isn't all that accurate, its just what I could afford.  Templars didn't wear gorgets for starters, and I have no chausses, opting for plate on the legs since I like the look better.  The armor I've assembled will be much more in tune with my kit for next year...still haven't gotten the shield built/painted to match my new jupon.  I'd also go with a full barrel helm instead of the Phrygian-style that I currently have but have not yet worn to the Faire.  Its rather heavy and my mail coif's rusting, as such it is not attractive and I opted for no headwear at all my first time out.

[Sir Edward]

The coif and nasal helm in your avatar picture looks period appropriate for a 12th or early 13th century Templar, so that's not a bad start.

But yeah, that's one of the things I like about the 12th to early 14th styles, is that the armor is more affordable, since it's mostly mail and a helm.

[Sir William]

Thanks, but they're mostly display stuff...the helm's a Windlass KOH offering and the coif is 16ga butted links, picked it up from the King's Lance (online site).  I tell you fellas...if I ever hit the lottery, I'm gonna get the Mercedes Benz of armor, sword, assorted accoutrement and the horse, of course.  A man can dream, and I do it often!

[Sir Edward]

Yeah, my stuff is all a combination of functional armor, and costume armor. The c.1300 kit you see in my avatar photo is all aluminum butted mail. It sure is comfortable at the renfaire, but wouldn't help much in a fight. Better than nothing, but certainly not durable. The helm, on the other hand, is around 16 ga, and is steel.

My plate harness is SCA "munitions" armor, and I've started adding other components to it that make it more viable, such as riveted steel voiders and fauld, GDFB sallet and legs, and when I get around to it I'll also have a mail standard (I own the mail, I just need to line it, etc).

Now I'm also working on a mid-14th C. kit, and the legs and arms are functional armor, but I don't have anything new for the torso yet (which for renfaire purposes can just be hidden with the surcoat).

[Sir William]

Ok, so it seems we're working toward the same thing; all my plate is the same, SCA-ready munitions armor; I just can't get with the super shiny stuff like you see at Armstreet...I'm getting some thigh plates made by them; figured I can forego the knees since I don't plan on fighting in it.