Armor: What is the best available today?

[Grant Hall]

Greetings, I have decided that I am going to start collecting a full set of armor, however I am curious as to what type of armor (historical) is the "best" and from what source I can aquire it?

Note: I am looking to eventually own a full harnass of Plate Male, however I can only afford it piece by piece (tho to start with I am going to buy 2 bits).

I have decide to start with a Helm and Gauntlets, these need to be up to standard as I intend to use them as my actual protective wear when training and sparring.

I am somewhat partial to the barbute style helm, and was wondering what others thought?

Any and all information available would be highly appreciated as this is the first time I venturing down this path and I do not want to end up with ineffecient items that are not historically accurate, or simply no good.

Thankyou all very much in advance, and God Bless!

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Grant,

This is a very important decision to make. When choosing a maker you need to check not only with their quality but also their timeline. Now, your distance from a lot of makers will also play in. There are some guys out there who are HORRIBLE when it comes to getting their product out on time.

One also needs to be watching to make sure that you get what you pay for. I have heard of some guys paying to have their harness made by a certain guy, then the work returned showed that they actually had the apprentice make the piece. There is a site called "Armour Archive" (that is a ".org") that is where a lot of guys who make today go. You can find reviews of guys who have not been very good with their quality or service. And you can find guys who are good with both.

It is very important, since you are piecing together a full harness, that you have a complete idea of what you want. That way when you get all the pieces together they fit, both physically and stylistically. I would encourage you to stick with one maker for this too, but that could be difficult. I would tell you too, do not get the mass produced crap. If you are looking for something to fight in as well as look cool in, get a hand-made for you only piece. It will be more spendy, but worth it.

Another suggestion, learn how to make your own It will be difficult, but you will find wonderful muscular development from it

So, come up with the full picture in your head. There are a lot of places that you can go online to find full suits. I would suggest something in the area of the time you are trying to learn to fight like. I am personally trying to make one in line with my heritage too. That way it means more. Sum and substance of this long post: Do a lot of research first, as you are doing this, keep saving money. By the time you have a full picture, you might have saved enough to buy the whole suit. (of course there is the waiting... )

I hope this helped a little.

[Brian Hunt]

If you want to buy the best then find a maker who used heat treated spring steel. Historical Enterprises carries some spring steel, and there are a few makers who also work with it.

As for basic protection for sparring, steel guantlets are dangerous to your opponent. If you come to grips, you are essentially wearing a pair of cheese graters as far as your friends skin is concerned.

Armour is for armoured combat with someone else who is also wearing armour, not for unarmoured sparring IMHO.

That is the problem with finding good hand protection, where do you get something that protects your hands without being dangerous for your sparring partner.

all the best

Brian Hunt
GFS

P.S. I would reccomend that if you are looking to eventually have a full cap a pie harness, study existing armour and then decide upon a specific time period that excites you and try to do a complete suit based upon existing historical armour.

[Grant Hall]

Well that's irratating, I just typed a huge long reply then my connection failed as I tried to post and I lost it all. I'll tpye it again later (I've been up all night and can't be bothered right now.

Here is a Pic of the Helm (style) that I like. Any thoughts?



Thanks again, and God Bless!

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Do you know anything else about the helm? (maker, time, inspiration, complementary pieces) All of that helps.

There is something to be said for spring steel, but I don't think that it is necessary. It tends to add a lot to the price, and let's face it, we don't need stuff that needs to stand up to a bullet. but those are my thoughts...

If you are looking at putting together a full suit, don't look at each piece, look at the whole kit.

[Grant Hall]

Hey, I don't know anything about that particular helm's maker, or its specs, but that is not the actual helm I'm after, I just like the style. That is to say, I like Barbutes (that is what that type of helm is called).

Do you perhaps know of any sites where I can veiw entire suits of armor?

Thanks again, and God Bless.

PS: Whilst I'm here I might as well ask, what is so good about Spring Steel? Sorry for the novice question but I've never really had the oppertunity to find out before.

Cheers!

PPS:

and let's face it, we don't need stuff that needs to stand up to a bullet. but those are my thoughts...

Emphasis mine.

Are you implying that amrour made from spring steel can withstand a bullet?

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

If you check on this site there is a European Member who took some picks that are pretty darn cool of full suits. Museum sites might be a way to go as well.

As for the bullet proof... http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... ulletproof
Check that link, I think that will let you know, and I don't believe that was spring steel.

The thing with spring steel is that it has a higher carbon content and has been tempered (heat treated) to "bounce back" meaning that a maker can use a thinner gauge steel for making the piece. This means for the wearer that he gets the same protection with a lighter kit.

This is shown in the movie "A Knight's Tale" in the part that I HATE the most. The Blacksmith says that she has found a new way to heat the steel, and is able to create a suit that lets the brave knight feel no pain AND mount his steed all by his onesy. That crappy line should actually have been more along the lines of she found a new way to quench the steel, giving it more ridgidity with thinner layers, grrr (sorry about the technical rant)

http://www.beautifuliron.com/italian.htm

Here is a link that has a Barbute (or Barbuta) helm. Starting with that helm, you are looking at a primarily Italian usage. Though technically it has been used in places such as Greece and has been known to have distant travellings as far a Gondor (a little joke for the armour designers). Sometimes the Barbute does have a nasal piece to, be aware of that.

Here is another link
http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/showExhib ... &slideid=7

I would suggest google-ing (or whatever your favourite search engine is) "Italian Armour" or some such thing, you should be able to find a harness that includes a barbute before too long.

Glad to help in any way.

[Steve Fitch]

Well that's irratating, I just typed a huge long reply then my connection failed as I tried to post and I lost it all. I'll tpye it again later (I've been up all night and can't be bothered right now.

Here is a Pic of the Helm (style) that I like. Any thoughts?



Thanks again, and God Bless!

I found this?

http://www.mwart.com/xq/ASP.product/pid ... arbute.htm