Gambeson Development

[Marc_Vousden]

Hi,

I'm a thrid year Mechanical Engineering student at Brunel University in London. For my major project this year I am investigating the possibility of developing a gambeson. An integral part of this includes trying to assess the market so that any developed design is relevant in practice. One of the reasons I was attracted to the project was the ability provide a useful service to a live comsumer base.

Though I've tried to read about the suject area, its no comparison to first hand contact with the people who actaully practice it. Not being a practicing swordsman I apologise in advance for any misconceptions I may be working from, please feel free to correct me - its why I'm here.

In the interest of market research I have compiled a survey that I would be grateful if some of you would fill out. Would it be best to post the questions in this thread or to private message people with them?

[Sal Bertucci]

Threads seem to wander, so you might want to send PMs to specific interested parties for exact information, but it might still be a good idea to put it on the forum b/c then you might get a general consensus, and see things the specifics might miss.

[Stewart Sackett]

I'd be interested. I think the technology of the gambeson has a significant effect on the art. In terms of Ringen: the gambesons I've seen are snug enough around the arms & body to allow the sort of pummelling & gripping typical of unjacketted wrestling but they still have enough material to the upper arms, shoulders, chest etc. to allow gripping the cloth in a manner similar to many other forms of jacketted wrestling. As a result there's an interesting mix of techniques & strategies available & apparent in the fightbooks.

I also believe that many gambesons & other articles of Medieval clothing were heavy enough to protect against light slashing knife attacks & that this contributes to the Medieval preference for stabbing attacks (although the need for military daggers to be able to overcome armour was certainly a more prominent factor).

[Jonathan Newhall]

Well, in terms of resistance to damages, I've seen the videos of Clements using a one hander norman era sword to try to slice and slash through a Gambeson - absolutely no injury from the edge would have occured (although getting slammed by a sword obviously would still hurt!)

[Marc_Vousden]

This is where I am at the moment.

With sharpened steel not used for sparring (and further justification from Jonathan's post) the key element to the new design will be the dissapation of the blow. The main way that I'm looking to do this is to include shear thickening fluids into the design, which harden on impact. I've got a test rigged up to measure the force from a blow of an experienced practitioner so that I can guage whether this solution is suitable.

[Jeff Hansen]

This is where I am at the moment.

With sharpened steel not used for sparring (and further justification from Jonathan's post) the key element to the new design will be the dissapation of the blow. The main way that I'm looking to do this is to include shear thickening fluids into the design, which harden on impact. I've got a test rigged up to measure the force from a blow of an experienced practitioner so that I can guage whether this solution is suitable.

Keep in mind that swordsmanship is a very active passtime. I don't have a gambeson myself , but the people I've talked to that do all agree that they should be all natural fibers so that it can breath, otherwise it's like wearing one of those vinyl sauna suits.

[Marc_Vousden]

Thanks for the advice. Several of the survey responces I've had cite dissapation of heat and the ability to "wick" away sweat to make the whole experience a little more comfortable

[Jaron Bernstein]

Thanks for the advice. Several of the survey responces I've had cite dissapation of heat and the ability to "wick" away sweat to make the whole experience a little more comfortable

I suggest making it washable in a regular washing machine. Dry cleaning isn't so desirable to workout clothing.

[Stacy Clifford]

I'll second the suggestion to make it machine washable, this is a VERY sweaty pursuit and it would need to be washed often, so you want maintenance costs to be low. There's only so much heat dissipation you can do when you're basically wearing a heavy quilted blanket.