Fun With Half-swording!

[Matthew_Anderson]

Just thought I'd share a few images from some armoured fighting we did yesterday. We have been working at this for about a year now and are really learning a lot. There is just no substitute for actually putting on a full harness and trying things for yourself, I think it's the only way to really figure these techniques out. We originally worked almost exclusively from material in the Novati version of "Flos Duellatorum' but we are also exploring German material from Ringeck, Talhoffer and others. Lots of fun!

[Guest]

Very cool.

[GaryGrzybek]

Good stuff Matt <img src="/forum/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" />

I can't wait to see you guys demonstrate at next years international event.

[John_Clements]

Great stuff, guys. Looking forward to an article from you all soon.

JC

[Tim Merritt]

Very cool, I'd be interested in hearing more of what you are doing. Also, gear looks costly, I'd be interested in what you have, why you have it, and where you got it. No need to clutter forum with commercial recommendations, but feel free to e-mail me at mindthegap@ixpres.com

[Guest]

Yeah, I could really use some replica armor, or at least a couple of gauntlets and a helmet. Maybe a mail shirt, too. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of money.

[Brian Hunt]

Hi all,

if you learn to make your own armour, it is a lot more cost effective. You need a way to cut steel, form it, polish it, and rivet it. You can do this with a saber saw fitted with metal cutting blades, an old stump or a lead filled leather bag to do your dishing with, some hammers, a shotput welded to a piece of square stock for planishing, some form of 'anvil', and a drill. Those are the basic tools anyway. Chainmail is even easier. I would reccomend learning to do riveted chainmail because butted chain doesn't hold up. It quickly starts to look like the dreaded mail moths have had at it. A great beginners article can be found here for plate. http://www.arador.com/construction/Basic-Armouring.pdf and also you can find some nice articles for learning to do your own chain at www.arador.com

just my 2 cents worth.

Brian Hunt
GFS