Your Ultimate Kit

[Sir William]

I give you greetings, milords.

Conall's thread about fine helmets put to mind the assemblage of the ultimate kit.  If money were no object, what would you get, who would make it?

I'll start.

1. A flat-ringed wedge-riveted Norman hauberk by Erik D. Schmid - for those of you who aren't familiar (and all of you have probably heard this name before, certainly Bill has as this guy's on SFI) this guy is a demon for historical accuracy w/regard to mail and he is well-versed in the subject.  This hauberk would come with an integral coif.

That by itself would probably break my little bank...but it would suit me from the Conqueror's time all the way up thru the Crusades I'd imagine.  Something I've always fantasized about, this full-on hauberk.  Saw one on sale on eBay once, it was butted though.  Went for less than $500 too if I recall correctly.

I can't come up with a suitable plate armor choice...I mean, you can't just toss any old plate on top of that, it'd have to be top of the line, right?

I look forward to your responses!

[Sir William]

Guess you guys already got yours then, eh?  lol

[Sir Edward]

Heh, I'm waiting for everyone else to talk about it. The truth is, my kits will never be done, and I'm constantly on a quest for cost-effective ways to improve it, which is hard because I'm picky. I agree, if I could afford it, hiring Erik D. Schmid would be the way to go. For plate armor, I'd want Robert MacPherson to do it since he has the same kind of obsessively accurate approach. As to what it would look like? I have no idea, because I like so many different things. I'd need like 5 or 10 different kits.

[Sir William]

I think we're in full agreement, however- if you could only have ONE, what would it consist of?  I'm checking out Mr. MacPherson as I do love a man who is obsessive about his craft- usually, they tend to be better at it than their contemporaries.

I especially like his Field and Tilt armor, in the style of Anton Peffenhauser; I would go with that, but I have to say, your buddy that crafts his own armor, I'd want something of his too.  His stuff was just wildly attractive to me.

Kits...so time consuming (not to mention money)...but it is something I consider more important than a hobby...I'd wear it every day if it were acceptable at my job and society-at-large. 

[Sir Wolf]

for those that don't know Mac is the worlds leading armourer. he has more stuff in museums than they have finds i think heheheh.

[Sir Edward]

Yes, I heard that in one of the museums they had, for a time, confused some of his work as being historic originals, eventually straightening it out later. That says something.

[Sir William]

Indeed it does; he makes some truly jaw-dropping stuff, just from the pics I could see.  After perusing some of the armor links on this site (talk about a treasure trove) I think, in lieu of Mr. Schmid, who is probably incredibly backlogged, I'd go with a welded hauberk and integral coif from Welded Chainmail (since I know better, it doesn't feel right typing that but there you have it), Mac for the plate parts, at least some of them.  Seen some really nice helms at Armour and Castings...I looked at them all but forgot to grab pics of everything so...guess I'll just have to go thru it all again!

Not like that'd be a bad thing.

[Sir Ulrich]

I'd get a riveted mail hauberk made of flat rings and alternating solid rings made out of wrought iron along with a coif of the same style that has a chin and lower face guard. It would be blackened to give more of a dark look. I'd add a Wisby coat of plates type 1 to go over it, most likely covered with dark brown leather almost black. I'd have elbow and knee cops as well as as Wisby gauntlets. I'd get splinted bracers along with splinted greaves to protect my arms and legs. Helmet i'd want would be a black painted kettle helm of the 1200s design so it would look a bit outdated but still useful. Weapons I'd have would be an old Norman sword with brazil nut pommell and a curved crossguard. I'd also have a Danish axe along with a larger than average heater shield with my coat of arms on it. To protect my mail from the rain  I'd have a black cloak with a red cross on it.

[Sir James A]

I'm very much a fan of this harness: http://www.armorymarek.com/public/default/userfiles/image/armours/023.jpg

It has a set of full legs with sabatons as well. A good arming coat with voiders and mail skirt, and I'd be quite giddy.

[Allan Senefelder]

I especially like his Field and Tilt armor, in the style of Anton Peffenhauser; I would go with that, but I have to say, your buddy that crafts his own armor, I'd want something of his too.  His stuff was just wildly attractive to me.

He made that harness for Kelly Bailey,owner of Warhorse Production jousting troupe. They've done the show at The Sterling Renaissance Faire near here for years. I had the privilage of doing some maintenance work on parts of this harness for Kelly when we still had a booth at faire and it is a REALLY nice suit.

" Yes, I heard that in one of the museums they had, for a time, confused some of his work as being historic originals, eventually straightening it out later. That says something. "

That was The Met. The harness was a week from going onto the floor before the makers mark was ID'ed. They now keep all three of Mac's marks through the years on file.

" for those that don't know Mac is the worlds leading armourer. "

Even Mac admits that Billy Rayford in the UK is the man. Billy had a piece sold by Hermann Historica Auction House a while back http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=50899

Last I had heard Mac wasn't doing as much armour, he was dabbling in all sorts of things like restoring 16th century clocks and wheelock mechanisms.

[Sir Ancelyn]

I just don't know what I want yet. This is still early days for me. I still want to do the hounskull helm, so probably a mix of plate and mail from somewhere in the 14-15 c period.

[Sir Wolf]

im not one 2 stay w just 1 kit so this is hard....

i would say a mid 14th cent look, maybe leaning towards the end a lil.

Mac made armour with Eric made mail. hound skull with aventail, riveted hauberk with coat of plates, 3/4 steel arms, leather w/ splinted legs, greaves with mail sabatons, fingered gauntlets with small cuffs. family crested surcoat over the coat of plates. albion sword with christian fletcher scabbard and belt. hand made arming jacket with hose/ braise and pourpoint. and some custom turnshoes.

[Sir Brian]

For my ultimate I'm getting closer all the time. I like what I have so far but of course would love
a properly fitted haubergeon from Erik D. Schmid and those uber sexy wisby gauntlets with brass rivets of course...

...and eventually a CoP to complete out my ultimate 14c kit. 

and as for plate I would love it if John (the black knight at CRF) would make me a custom set! 

[Sir James A]

Ah, surprised it hasn't been mentioned, but the "Toby Capwell" harness is always at the top of my list too. (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/Nephtys/Medieval%20European%20Armour/Toby_Capwells_armour_001.jpg)

[Sir Ulrich]

For my ultimate I'm getting closer all the time. I like what I have so far but of course would love
a properly fitted haubergeon from Erik D. Schmid and those uber sexy wisby gauntlets with brass rivets of course...

...and eventually a CoP to complete out my ultimate 14c kit. 

and as for plate I would love it if John (the black knight at CRF) would make me a custom set! 

ME WANT! Those gauntlets are rather nice, but I dunno what the sizing on them is or how much they run for, thankfully my hands are rather large so I think the sizing wouldn't be a problem.