Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Everybody needs a suit of plate armor, Daughter.

Not sure why, but it's true. I know I've always felt the lack.


Daughter tries on a friend's (ill-fitting, for her) armor. All home-made. People do the damndest things, but some of them are cool.

11 comments:

DonkeyBuster said...

Assuming this suit is based on an actual historical suit, I'm just wondering if it even possible to eat OR drink w/the helmet on?

Not to mention, those plates to protect the inside of the elbow just look MADE to catch something sharp & pokey.

But as a fashion statement? It totally ROCKS!
=0D

Love this blog, love it.
Jay

Carl-Bear said...

Heh. I used to make armor (and, yeah, wear it). Till I got fed up with the scumbags who kept expecting me to build them custom armor at no charge (they even thought I should spring for the materials).

DonkeyBuster: That's most likely SCA armor, meant for looks and protection against blunt object impact. It is generally based on some real world designs. The joints beneath the plates would have been covered by chainmail over padding. Most Scadians don't bother getting that authentic due to the weight.

DonkeyBuster said...

@CarlBear... yeah, I figured, & I know about the 'mail (what I wouldn't give for a nice suit of mail) but those things in the crook of the elbow? NOooooo.... =0D

Just because it's tradition, just because it's hundreds of years old, doesn't mean it's not a bad idea....

Joel said...

She rather vaguely described it as "gothic Italian," which description means nothing to me. I'm pretty sure the maker is an SCA type, and wouldn't be surprised if he took some liberties with the design. Definitely would need more mail if there were sharp pointy things in its future. Plus of course I've no idea if the plate is anywhere near proof.

It's at least semi-cool, though. Particularly as I'm not paying for it.

DonkeyBuster said...

I'm thinkin' Joel, you're more Pict or Roman Centurion... so much cooler in the desert, those boiled leather skirts.

Rachel Ailin said...

This armor wasn't actually made by the owner (although almost all of the rest of his vast collection is)and cost him roughly $12,000. He does play in the SCA, but he's pretty disgusted with the organization in general, and this particular harness wasn't created with the SCA in mind, it is as authentic as possible, because he's a geek. More details to come.

Carl-Bear said...

I know how he feels, Rachel Ailin; I got thoroughly disgusted with the SCA 16 years ago and dropped out.

Anonymous said...

I am the owner (and maker of some components) of this suit. I wish it had been better polished for the photos.

It is based on a late 15th century north Italian armour #B2 from the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery near Mantova, Italy. The original is now displayed in the Ducal Palace Museum of that city. My suit is a pretty good replica.

The suit weighs about 72 pounds with all the components on, which is a bit heavier than the original. The steel plates range in thickness from 18ga in the greaves to double-layered 12ga through the breastplate (I intend to take part in jousting re-enactments). I have used it in SCA combat before, though it isn't ideal for that.

Armored Saint said...

I am the owner (and maker of some components) of this suit. I wish it had been better polished for the photos.

It is based on a late 15th century north Italian armour #B2 from the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery near Mantova, Italy. The original is now displayed in the Ducal Palace Museum of that city. My suit is a pretty good replica.

The suit weighs about 72 pounds with all the components on, which is a bit heavier than the original. The steel plates range in thickness from 18ga in the greaves to double-layered 12ga through the breastplate (I intend to take part in jousting re-enactments). I have used it in SCA combat before, though it isn't ideal for that.

Anonymous said...

Geez, Joel. Isn't a chastity belt a little extreme now that she's had a child?

Joel said...

For a dad with a single daughter, it's hard to stop thinking in terms of chastity belts.

Though in this case I admit it's a bit late.