More period kit part 2

As for my body protection I have gone with a hidden plastic reinforced surcoat. Tasha helped me make it, well she made it I just added the plates. Cet helped with putting the plates and and showing how to do the work, and he showed me how to do some of the belt work as well.  It is constructed of 4 layers of linen and 4 layers of canvas in the plated area.  The canvas was to reinforce the rivets and hopefully making the whole garment hold up better.

The reference picture that was used to construct the surcoat was this one to the right.   As you can see from this image that plates are riveted into the surcoat clearly and the length of the surcoat is long.  Also, you can note that the aketon is red and the reference wearing chain maile under the garment.   The image is from Wienhausen Monastery, German, c1270. David Edge calls it a “reinforced surcoat”.

For the construction of the plates I cut a 3 x 5inch plates out of barrel plastic.  I went with plastic for two reasons:1) It was free 2) I know and can work with it easily.  In the middle of some of the plates I cut holes to all air and sweat to pass though.  I am hoping it helps with cooling.   Each plate has four mounting holes in each corner and about 1/4 inch apart.

The belts on the back of the garment were sew on to the body of the garment using waxed linen thread.  The buckles are from Rayon’s Quite Press and they are set with a brass plate.  This could help is keeping the buckles and belts from being damaged quickly.

The following images are of my finished product with me in my layerd more peroid armour.  The first layer is a linen tunic, than a short sleeve aketon, maile and than the reinforced surcoat.

The dark blue / black was chose because of my household colors.  This is a bit of a side note but it is a less than historical color for this garment.
-H

More period kit

As I stated in ” Getting my First Period……. Kit together“  I have been working on a few peice of my armour to get things looking and functioning better.  I am going to start from my lower half and work my way up since I have 80% of the greaves and knees done.

So, Madog and Ivan in my house hold made the greaves from a pattern i sent them, and the knees are windrose armory. They are a straight forward set up nothing to crazy. The knee is a simple soup can like knee and the greaves are basic.  I have been working on a more late 13th century kit.  Kinda English with a slash of Italian.   I have pulled a few different pieces from all over,  I know this isnt perfectly period or correct but int he long run it is what I am hoping will work well for SCA combat. 

If you look at this Italian released you can see the greaves and knees I was going for.  I have taken a few liberties with color and form and moved the greaves a little earlier than most people like.  But, I did this for safety.  I get hit in the shin more than I get hit in the knee or thigh.   This happens because of my fighting style and the way I move with my shield, so I need greaves so I can walk after a fight practice.

I still need to add a leather garters to these, and I am thinking black or red.  Once I make the decision I can build them up and add them to the kit.  I am thinking I might punch two small holes int eh greaves and garters and lace them together.  This way they can be attached but wont be permanent.   At this point it is just a thought?

Finally, I am looking in to foot ware.  I think I am going to go with a Historic Enterprises pair of turn shoes (link).  This should work, and I might even add a mail covering for them.   I personally, need a set of shoes and why not have a set that can be used for both walking and fighting?

-H

Pourpoint of Charles de Blois

My Buddy Tasha “Marcele de Montsegur” has this great pattern that she is selling and I think you should buy one.

Here is the LD:

Here is what you get for the price of $35 plus $8 (domestic shipping/handling)/$15 (international shipping/handling):

- A complete pattern on sturdy white paper for chest sizes in two ranges: 37-44, and 46-50.
- Options to make a civilian-style garment or an arming garment.
- Sixty pages of step-by-step instructions for contemporary or historical construction – your choice.
- Information on how to pad and quilt the garment.
- 100+ diagrams showing every step of the process.
- Cutting layouts for two sizes of fabric, with and without nap. (Helpful for velvet.)
- Instructions for making and attaching hosen points just like the original’s.
- Two bonus inserts to teach you how to hand-sew historically-accurate eyelets and buttonholes.
- Fabric and notion recommendations.
- A sturdy white envelope to keep everything in.

To me it seems like a stright forward project for the people that can sew, So go for it!

here is the link (http://www.anshelmarms.com/cdb.html)

Enjoy

-H

Getting my First Period……. Kit together

I think I am going to have to blame a buddy of mine, not in a good way but in the bad way.  I don’t mean to put down a man that I respect and love but the point is he wouldn’t have what I would call a period looking kit and after being in the game now for 3 years-ish I am starting to feel that you should try to look period.   It isnt that hard after playing the game for 10 years to cover up your plastic armour with a tunic or place your sports gear under a gambeson.  It has taken me little to no effort to make my kit look the way it does today and it is taking effort to get my kit to look more period but I am only 3 years into this sport and I see the possibility for growth of the society if we look good and fight hard.

I think the best thing to do is to show were I started, than were I am at, and than what I am going to do in the end.  This will most likely be a few smaller posts.

Well I wish I had a good pick of were I started but I don’t; I have one of my second kit which I started wearing in my second year of fighting.

As you can see it was a little special but “fine” I was happy with it till I started looking around at all the great kits out there and my mind was blown away at what can be done and how killer you can really look.  So I started the long think,  and figure out what I wanted to look like.  I than went to the AA (link) and talked with Master Cet about time periods and armour.   I have started to settle in on late 13th century kit but I will have a light sport kit and a historical kit.  I will be using my “speed kit” for tourney, practice and long melees.   My “historical kit” will be used for Demos,  some Melee stuff and hopefully someday for Warriors of History Tourney (link).

My current kit is much better I think, as this kit has been working really well for me over the past two years or less. I wear leather shovel greaves, a motor cross body harness, floating elbows, a weight belt for my kidneys and a light leather around my neck.  This kit is light, easy to repair and looks ok.  It is a very “SCA” kit with no real footing in history.  Since I am wearing shovel greaves with a T-tunic, but it works for now.

My Kit has progressed a bit up to this point, and it isnt looking horrible but I could be better.  I personally am working on getting my kit to look better and a bit more period one step at a time.

I will post later with what I have up my sleeve for my kit improvements with pic of the pieces I have now and I might even put them on.

-H

Reflextions of East Kingdom Crown

It has been a few days now after i fought in crown, and to be honest I feel great about it.  I am normally a little harder on myself than that but it felt good this weekend!  Really good.  Generally, I need to throw more leg shots and fight a mid range game.  I have been fighting a range and tight game mostly that day and working on the bosses “cramp his style” actions.  But, if I can add a mid range game I could do a bit more during my step in or my step out.

There are three fights and two fighters that I fought that I just had so much fun fighting.  They would be Uncle Val and Sir Wilhelm of Bloodguard.  The fights I had with these gentlemen we the pinnacle to my day, and if I only fought three fights that day these would have been my choose.  Not to say my other fights weren’t good, or the guys weren’t good guys but I just had so much fun with Uncle Van and Sir Wilhelm.

Sir Wilhelm and I fought two times that day; first was the second round and the last was sweat sixteen.  My first fight with him was hard as hard gets.  We fought for ten to fifteen minutes, and it was a mind game.  Sir Wilhelm was as confident and strong of a fighting as you would expect to come out of bloodgaurd and a amazing guy on and off the field.  He throw this off side shot that wipped my in the lower hip / upper leg.  I couldn’t really tell the difference at the time because it hurt down to my toes.  Than he blasted me in the helm,  Kite is hard to do anything good with once you are legged but I made it a pass or two I think.

Sir Wilhelm and Horace

Than in our second fight, we joke back and forth for a bit and than got into it.  He is an inside fighting  and is very comfortable there, so I had to try and work  my out side game.  As, i was trying to do that he jumped my shorts and I couldnt get out fast enough.  So I had to fight him inside; than he throw a rap and it didnt have anything on it.  Than he stepped out and I hit him with a raising snap, such a lucky shot.   So, we went 1 – 1 for the day.

Than Uncle Val, such a great fight! He head butted me! So cool, he just has so much fun when he is fighting it is contagious.  He has switch over to fighting with a smaller kite with a boss.  He is hanging it lower so I started by picking at his should with wraps, I didn’t have the power I needed to land a few of them and I would never question Uncle Val.  Than he planted his shield side foot and I finally hit that should; Once I had his shield arm I just ground and pound.   Best dude ever

Uncle Val and Horace

I had a fun day! What else can be said.  My Consort as always make my day possible, she is right there cheering, helping with my gear and has a fresh bottle of water waiting.  With out that I dont think I would have made it that far at all.  She is just AMAZING thank you Fern you are the best

-Horace

All images taken by Simon

East Crown Tourney

I had a great saturday this weekend. I will post tomorrow with my run down but I wanted to Post the Count Konrad won!!!! Stay Strong South!

Back to Basics and to Posting

Hey all,

It has been a bit and I havent been good about posting and sorry.  I know I dont have many people reading this but I feel for the one soul out there that might be reading this is for you .

Been crazy the last few months! Mudthaw and Southern Region War practice.  All went well nothing to go to the bank with but I did well I think and I got to fight Uncle Val (his blog), and it was a fun and great fight.

Also, I am working on being on the unbelts this year.  We will see?  I have been making mistakes when I get tried and that isnt helping me much.  The good news on the point is on the first five or so runs I do well and I dont get tagged.  I am hoping that enough to make the team.

I have been working on my kit and will post a few pics of that soon.

Best

-H

Starting A SCA Youth Combat Program

Tonight is our first Youth combat night in Philadelphia, I am pumped. I think this is going to be alot of fun and a great way to get young heads in to fighting.   Right now we have about 10 kids interested and I am hoping we get about another 10.   I think we can achieve this by using the Philadelphia Recreational system as a way to allow kids to find us.   Also, it is something for kids to do in Philly that isnt… let’s say less than productive.  With things they way they are in many inner city home it is great to have a place were these kids can have a place to go and let our some energy and learn a little something too. 

If you would like more information on the SCA youth program follow this link ( LINK )

A few of the young guys from Serpentius doing going to be running this program.  One of the guys in my Squire brother (Duke Darius) and the other is a Man at arms with a Knight in our house hold.  Both of them have kids of there own that will be entering the program and I am helping out (I dont have kids).  We are rocken out so far with a good selection of gear and weapons.  We have found a line on golf tubes, helmets and pool noodles.   To me this seems to be the biggest problem so far!  We have people willing to help and donate time and equipment, you cant complain about that.   Now I just want to have t-shirts for the kids to rock out so they get the same feeling as being part of a team, because they are part of team SCA. 

I am in a 100% positive place with the program tonight!  I havnt had this feeling since I was coaching pee-wee wresting.

-H

Birka 2009

Birka is one of my favorite events of the year!  It is so much fun, you stand around fighting non-stop for 3 hours.   There is no groups of guys standing in the corner talking about the fight they just had.  People are either fighting, waiting in line, drinking / resting or fixing there gear.  IT IS GREAT!

I had an ok day, I placed 16th which is better than last year.  I was hoping to make top 10 but it didnt happen what can I say.   I feel I gave my A game when I was fighting the belts but sometimes I didnt give my A game and it cost me a few fights that would have really helped me in the ranking but I would rather fight clean than win and I never want there to be a question of whether I “should” have taken a shot.  I simple take the shot and move on, to me nothing is more important than fighting clean. 

Other than fighting I had a great time I got to ride up to the event with a few of my guys and stayed at one of there homes.  Which rocked! The whole trip was a winner. 

Here are the top 20  Birka listing.

Rank

Name

Chiv

Points

1	40	Arturius Watson	Y	217
2	79	Damon Von Drachenklaue	N	185
3	86	Brion Anthony Uriel Tarragon	Y	182
4	73	Douglas Henry	Y	173
5	58	Angus O’Niall	Y	170
6	85	Sigerod Kain Aldrich	N	162
7	136	Magnus Tindal	Y	156
8	5	Kenric of Warwick	Y	151
9	112	Colin MacEoin	N	120
10	119	Donnan FitzGerald	N	116
10	132	Edward MacGyver dos Scorpus	N	116
11	16	Matthew Moravaeous Avdenmork	N	114
11	49	Edward Grey of Lochleven	Y	114
12	11	Roger Stockton	N	113
13	142	Oscad de Segoria	N	112
13	122	Heinrich Brauer	N	112
14	42	Antonio Patriquin	N	106
15	32	Culann mac Cianain	N	104
15	50	Karl Meerstappe	N	104
15	80	Ian Macdonald	N	104
16	29	Horace of Serpentius	N	102
17	4	Eloi Abelard	N	101
18	116	Wulfhere of Stonemarche	N	100
19	53	Talen Wristbiter	N	99
19	101	Cedric of Amorica	N	99
20	19	Bysson	N	90

Low Profile Thrusting Tip Construction

Hey all,

Went to Birka this past week had a great time and did well, but the sticking point of the day was : Thrusting tip construction!  They were checking every ones trusting tip.

So, I thought I would put up my construction to help you guys out.

Materials:

Rattan (sword)

Strapping tape
Henkel CS-55 CLEAR Duck 48-mm-by-50-Meter High Performance Carton Sealing Tape, Clear

Padding (blue Foam)
1/4″ Extra Thick Deluxe Yoga Mat

Nylon Strapping (2 piece 5 inches in length)
Keeper 02923 Vehicle Recovery Strap With Loops 2″x 30′ 10,000 lbs Vehicle Wt.

Step one: Get your rattan and point the “sharp” end towards your face, and hold it between your legs.  This is much easier with a bench top clap but I am low tech and cheep. Now, we are going to apply the first piece of Nylon.  Take the strapping Tape and wrap the nylon strapping to the rattan.  I do this about 1 to 2 inches from the tip and wrap it about 10 times around.

Now get your padding, the important thing is to make sure your padding is cut larger or to the same size as your rattan tip. I cut 4 pieces of 1/2 inch foam, and than tape them in to two pillows of 2 foam pieces.  To make the pillows use the strapping tape.

Now that you have the pillows made, place them on the end of the rattan.  (Stack them ) When doing this you should have the pillows under a bit of compression.

Place the nylon strapping over top of the pillows and anchor the nylon strapping down on the rattan with the strapping tape.

Now do the say with the other piece of nylon strapping, but at a 90 degree rotation of the rattan.

Take the strapping tape and tape up the tip. This should be done under a bit of compressions, so start with wrapping the strapping tape around the radius of the tip and than tape over the tip.

Finally, cover in your favorite color duct tape!

Done and Done

-H