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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2010 1:24:20 GMT
This is going to be ongoing for a while as I cut and paste the finer points of this kit together. Anybody is welcome to play along. If you know where I can find some item that is historically preferable without bursting my already ruptured budget any further I welcome the leads. Reported a few days ago the finding of a resource for 17th Century buff coats. These are a cross between earlier gambesons and a ruff and ready gentlemans long coat turned into field armor. Got mine thru the Medieval Fight Club site of Australia. Time Seller in Spain has them also. Don't know the source. They are quite good for historical verity. The cuirass and helm arepart of a kit from the fight club (probably chinese ). Not bad for looks. Generic armor seldom works all that well. Nobody fits the mold all that well. It was a bear trying to get this stuff on the mannikin. Can't imagine trying to put it on myself ( although humans are more flexible than mannikins...)  s747.photobucket.com/albums/xx115/kelly1863/17th%20Century%20Light%20Cavalryman/Photobucket album provides some current progress shots on where I'm at with this. Just dressed up the mannikin for first blush. Damn if the mannikin doesn't look like Lunaman  Already it's pretty impressive. Will update as the filler items come in. Mannikin currently wearing my Cromwell backsword. 15 April 10 Moved model to it's display place. Sash arrived. ( Roundheads of English CW wore red sashes. The buff is regimental and non-commital as this replica isn't quite straight to period )   |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2010 2:47:38 GMT
Yeahhhhh How did Lunaman sneek in there!! Looks good so far...SanMarc.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2010 15:08:47 GMT
Nice display Dave, it's starting to look really good. That looks like the Hanwei Cromwell Sword. It's a nice choice but a little fancy for the rest of the kit or are you going to dress it up a bit? Are you going to add a gun? My only other thoughts are that he needs more facial hair and he's too clean.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2010 18:32:59 GMT
And interesting note, why were the solders of Cromwell called "Round Heads" Because they cut off all their hair! That way you could tell one from the Royalist, It took Guts and determination to do that, no turning back as it took up to three years to get yer "Lovely Locks" Back!! So not so much facilhair was on them if any at all, A very interesting time in English History.
Nice job Dave....SanMarc.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2010 19:28:06 GMT
Thanks for the interest!
I'm missing pieces yet. My Cromwell goes on the wall rack behind the mannikin. It's borrowed for the time being. Awaiting a fill. I don't collect guns. Read that the arquebus was abandoned over time in favor of extra hand guns. That's my rationale for putting a pistol belt on. ( Pistols usually were on a pommel sling. )
Can't readily find suede belts common for the 17th Century. Think I've found a source in England, but not sure I want to go the cost.
Also found out the sash is supposed to be tied off on the left side, not the right. ( sigh )
Shaving was becoming increasingly popular in the 17th Century as a sign of civilization. By the 18th it was almost mandatory. ( Haven't you ever marvelled at American History where all those patriots are always shown clean shaven... )
I'm is foreign waters doing the mannikin. Will try dabbling in veracity in time, but for now I'm just delighted to have got this far and not completely screwed it up.
If this doesn't turn out English Civil War enough, I'll just declare him a German Reiter Kavalrie... Like I said the style was quite common from 1620-1680.
I'm just having fun with this. It's still startling to walk into a room and be confronted by a life sized armed dragoon...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2010 4:05:26 GMT
Looks good. Is that sword 3rd from teh top the Arms and Armor or the Windlass Munich sword? I've been thinking about getting the Windlass version, but haven't found any reviews of it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2010 8:53:25 GMT
Looks good. Is that sword 3rd from teh top the Arms and Armor or the Windlass Munich sword? I've been thinking about getting the Windlass version, but haven't found any reviews of it.
Arms and Armor would provide you with superior blades to anything you'd routinely get from Windlass. But the Munich (and the Saxon sword above it ) are very good efforts. The Windlass Munich is well put together with excellent balance and a responsive blade. This is an infantry sidearm meant for close quarters hewing and slamming that meaty guard into someones teeth. There is an accompanying bright steel dagger that matches well with a lot of things.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2010 1:11:19 GMT
Thanks, that helps alot. The balance is what I was wondering about most of all, glad to hear it's good. If I get enough money for graduation I'll probably pick one of these up for myself.
+1 for the info.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Apr 19, 2010 7:20:52 GMT
That's an awesome kit! How is the buff coat? I have been looking for one.
I didn't know Medieval Fight Club was in Australia? How much more did it coast to ship it to the States?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2010 9:47:25 GMT
Cost factors and where buff coats are currently sold retail are here:
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=2131&page=82
The Time Seller buff coat runs $240.00. Haven't shipped from europe since last october but the airfare then was about half that of the AU trip.
The Time Seller coat varies from the MFC one in that it appears slightly darker and has no collar.
Are they realistic? I'm hardly an expert. So far I'm the guinea pig. Was hoping someone out there has some experience to bring to the table. There is no "official" buff coat. Using Osprey and museum photos as a reference coats varied in tailoring quite a bit, and there were full and short coat variants.
From the photobucket file referenced you can view some better pics of the coat itself, without the armour. It's size and weight of leather is quite good.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2010 23:42:09 GMT
Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Awesome!!!
This is also a very nice kit, good sir. Well done!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2010 12:32:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2010 0:23:44 GMT
On your rack, it looks like the 4th sword down directly below the Munich is the Cold Steel "Horseman's Basket" (Schiavona). What do you think of that sword? How is it in terms of handling?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2010 1:29:59 GMT
On your rack, it looks like the 4th sword down directly below the Munich is the Cold Steel "Horseman's Basket" (Schiavona). What do you think of that sword? How is it in terms of handling?
Hi Bryn. I'm almost afraid to answer you 'cause it will turn into an exposition; all of which is my own acquired prejudices. I own maybe 9 pieces from the 1500-1700 period and have come to the conclusion thta I really don't much care for these transitional forms. I just don't like stuffing my hand in and around the physical constraints of baskets and quillons and overguards and all the other invented contorsions of these handsome but awkward fighting systems.
The broadsword blades are offensive weapons. Defense comes with the left hand. So they tend to be percussively blade heavy. So they handle a bit slow. The basket guard also restricts the range of hand and wrist motion available to the user.
All those issues don't necessarily add up to a bad weapon. The CS blade is sound. I haven't had any maintenence problems with it. It's very competitively priced.
FWIW
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Apr 21, 2010 7:36:05 GMT
The broadsword blades are offensive weapons. Defense comes with the left hand. So they tend to be percussively blade heavy. So they handle a bit slow. The basket guard also restricts the range of hand and wrist motion available to the user.
FWIW Sorry, but I have to disagree on this. The basket hilt broadsword/backsword is not just an offensive weapon, but can also be used for defense. The broadswords masters write that it's better to defend with the sword than it is to defend with the off hand weapon. If you were going to use the dagger it is better to do a double defense with both sword and dagger/buckler. It is not true that the basket restricts the range of hand and wrist motion. I can easily do moulinets with it and the basket hilt does not get in the way. I can do anything with a basket hilt that I can do with a sword with just a cross guard. The basket protects the hand and George Silver calls the basket hilt sword a true weapon of defense, any other single handed sword that didn't have a basket he called a false weapon. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2010 9:56:15 GMT
Sorry, but I have to disagree on this.
I caveated my remarks with a warning that they are personally prejudiced. I know Silver. My own historical experience of the basket hilt is more 18th Century military applications and by then the weapon had become both feared and quaint.
Have mentioned in other posts that with size 11 hands I find 4 inch grips a royal pain to fuss with. Maybe you can do moulinets comfortably with your weapons; I can't.
I don't mean to impugn the thousands of SCA fencers who enjoy this period discipline. It just doesn't work for everybody.
In spite of these prejudices, I have a 17th Century cavalryman in my Guest room... ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2010 0:59:14 GMT
Thanks for the interest! I'm missing pieces yet. My Cromwell goes on the wall rack behind the mannikin. It's borrowed for the time being. Awaiting a fill. I don't collect guns. Read that the arquebus was abandoned over time in favor of extra hand guns. That's my rationale for putting a pistol belt on. ( Pistols usually were on a pommel sling. ) Can't readily find suede belts common for the 17th Century. Think I've found a source in England, but not sure I want to go the cost. Also found out the sash is supposed to be tied off on the left side, not the right. ( sigh ) Shaving was becoming increasingly popular in the 17th Century as a sign of civilization. By the 18th it was almost mandatory. ( Haven't you ever marvelled at American History where all those patriots are always shown clean shaven... ) I'm is foreign waters doing the mannikin. Will try dabbling in veracity in time, but for now I'm just delighted to have got this far and not completely screwed it up. If this doesn't turn out English Civil War enough, I'll just declare him a German Reiter Kavalrie... Like I said the style was quite common from 1620-1680. I'm just having fun with this. It's still startling to walk into a room and be confronted by a life sized armed dragoon... Take a look at this site Dave ! www.cavalryworkshop.com/English Civil War items section  ! Hugh |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2010 1:09:54 GMT
Take a look at this site Dave ! www.cavalryworkshop.com/English Civil War items section ! Hugh Thanks Hugh. Mr Norris has done some stuff for me in the past. My Tarleton Dragoon helmet is his work. I did find this offer. Unfortunately JN has been having some medical problems and hasn't been able to answer his mail for a few weeks. Do hope it's nothing too serious. He's an incredible equestrian and antiquarian. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2010 15:26:48 GMT
s747.photobucket.com/albums/xx115/kelly1863/Dress%20and%20Armor%20Items/More photos: My cavalryman finally has weapons...  He also has company. The mannikin looks better in the jerkin than I ever will. ( I can always borrow it).  and there are some new "heads"  The mannikins are from Roxydisplay.com. Best prices on the internet. Superfast east coast service. And they discount for bulk. ( Get 2 for $45 or 10 for $200.)
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