Gambeson Quest.

[Sir Brian]

Well wonders of wonders they replied to my latest inquiry late yesterday with the actual tracking number! So I guess it will all be a matter of time before I get it from the Ukraine. Once I see how the quality of the product is I will make an overall decision on whether it is worth the extra wait for their merchandise or not. One thing is certain though is don’t order from them if time is of the essence! 

[Sir Robert]

Interesting saga, and great information, I wear a fairly heavy set of plate I wear with chain under but I dont wear a gambeson or much padding at all, mostly because its all to hot. I have to wonder just how people did it on a crusade. I was in Virginia last Memorial Day at the VA Faire, it was 97, I was dumb enough to wear full plate and lasted about four hours, cant imagine that also in a gembeson. I would need if filled with ice.

[Sir Brian]

Yes "ice" is the operative word there! I don't think I'd survive in armor all day in those 80+ degree faire days if I didn't get an extra couple of hours with my wet undershirt/ice pack combination. 

[Sir Edward]

Yeah, I've learned to pre-soak my shirt under my armor on those hot VARF days.

[Sir William]

I should be writing this stuff down...the one and only time I went to VARF was in 07, in June, and even though I wore only my maille (hauberk and coif) I still felt like I was being braised.  Don't know how you guys wear plate on days like that; as for our forebears, they weren't coddled by selectable temperature control systems, running water, sweat-wicking fabrics, and all of the modern appurtenances that have softened mankind over the years...I suspect in truth, if a knight were to travel to our day and age he would be both amazed and amused...and maybe not a little disappointed?  LOL

[Sir Edward]

Oh yes, we're all wimps in comparison..

[Sir Robert]

I tend to agree with that, but its a learned trait, you can also learn to endure...or not

[Thorsteinn]

I'm aying. 3 layer of 100% flax linen in the summer and your golden! Any errant breeze will cause you to shiver.

And I live in the High Desert but also fight in the Sacramento River Delta and other oven hot parts of the Central Valley.

Ever been at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in summer? I have and I was never going back till I got this gambeseon.

100% natural materials all the way baby yeah!

-Ivan

[Sir Brian]

As I stand basting in my own sweat wearing all my armor complete with underlying padding and great helm I find it easier to endure if I think about our troops on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan where they don’t have a choice about what they have to wear in that oppressive heat and somehow it helps me.

[Sir Ulrich]

I actually prefer linen, it actually does keep you cool. My old gambeson I think was artificial cloth (rayon and polyester) and I sweat a ton in it. Gambeson I have now is 100% cotton and I don't get hot at all in it. Wish I could afford a linen one but natural fibers are better than artificial stuff.

[Sir Brian]

I was surprised this morning with this email from Steel-Mastery.

-----Original Message-----
From: v.ignatov@steel-mastery.com [mailto:v.ignatov@steel-mastery.com]
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 7:00 AM
To: Ames, Brian
Subject: Events in the US

Hello Brian!

I’m Vova, I do business development at Steel Mastery.
May I have a couple of minutes of your attention please?

This year we at Steel Mastery are planning to go to the biggest medieval markets in Europe and in the US.
So far we have planned the fair "Armi e Bagagli" (in Italy) and Pontoise medieval market (in France).
We’d like to visit popular fairs, markets and other medieval events in different countries, meet local SCA and LARP communities, hear feedback and suggestions from our clients and eventually find partners.

So I’m contacting you to ask if you could advice us important events in the US.
I found some info on the web, but would like to know the opinions of our clients first of all J

Thanks a lot for your reply!
Best regards,

Volodymyr Ignatov


Head of Marketing and PR department
Steel Mastery

I provided them with some links to several of the larger fairs on the east coast as well as PENNSIC. Hope they can establish a foothold in this market. They make a wide diversity of merchandise and it would be nice not having to pay that ridiculous shipping cost or deal with the long delivery delays. 

[Sir Brian]

Well I finally received the "in stock" gambeson and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed with the construction and quality!
It was listed as red silk but it is more like a pink...I won't bandy about it. It is pink! It is also very thick! It is armor in its own right! I plan to use it on some days when I want to go "armor-light". The  inner liner and multiple layers are linen and is very comfortable! I definitely will be ordering a custom gambeson in the future from these folks...except in green with a LOT less layers!
Here are some photos.

[Sir Patrick]

Looks good, Sir Brian!  How's the range of motion in the arms?

[Sir Wolf]

OH BOY, i don't think i'd want to be taken alive by THAT Knight. he may have his way with me instead of ransom! heheheh

[Sir Ulrich]

Nice, makes me wanna buy a new gambeson from those folk. They sell a bunch of things that American markets don't normally offer plus in my size too. Hope they do set up an American distributor. Do the arms move pretty well? I do know thats an issue with swinging swords which is why I usually go for the ones with detachable arms.