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Post by Ser Tim the Jailer on Jul 29, 2014 20:53:07 GMT
I was thinking in investing in some armor, mainly for ren faires but eventually when I get more experience it will be used for fighting. Probably just for SCA and training. I was curious if anybody had experience with this type of armor? Did you guys like it, can it take a few hits? I'm probably going to buy chainmail and a gambeson underneath it. What do you guys think? www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... e+-+Medium
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Jul 29, 2014 20:57:21 GMT
I know this isn't really answering your post, but the leather armor they sell looks phenomenal www.princearmory.com
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Post by A capella on Jul 30, 2014 2:06:15 GMT
That armor is hella expensive, for the price you could get a great riveted hauberk and gambeson. If you're dead set on plate, go for it and have a blast, but it might turn out to be a lot more fun actually making it. I though making chainmail would be boring as math, but it turned out to be hours of fun, and I look forward to hammering out plates as soon as I get an anvil.
Butted mail will be great if all you are doing is parading around, and I have a butted hauberk I fight in in Dagorhir, but they will fall apart if you don't buy extra rings and regularly go over it.
If you really want both, again, go for it, but it will be extremely heavy and hot. It hurts, and I can tell you it WILL suck when you're in extended battles, but you'll know that you aren't wearing lame fantasy leather stuff.
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ChrisA
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Senior Forumite
Posts: 1,240
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Post by ChrisA on Jul 30, 2014 3:16:05 GMT
I see that the armor is 18 gauge. I'm not sure, as I am not a member, but I think that is not up to SCA standards. You would have to check with your realm for their specifications to be sure.
It looks more like a costume piece than something to be used for SCA combat. It does look cool.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jul 30, 2014 6:40:15 GMT
For full-contact with rattan (i.e., SCA), 18 gauge will dent. Also with full-contact with steel. If you're prepared to hammer out dents, it can work. It isn't so thin that it'll dent too badly too often. 18 gauge is a fair compromise between strength and weight (for non-critical armour; see below).
The big question is comfort. One critical thing is you don't want the breastplate to come too far down, or you won't be able to bend over easily. Historical breastplates are usually high-waisted. A lot of repros are too low-waisted.
Most of what this armour covers doesn't need any armour for SCA combat. You need to protect head, neck, groin, kidneys and floating ribs, elbows, knees, hands and wrists (and feet, "sturdy footwear"). Except for the head, "rigid material" (plus padding) is enough. "Rigid material" is 18 gauge steel, hardened leather, 2 layers of heavy leather, or similar. Most of the torso needs no armour at all.
So the problem with this armour for SCA is that it doesn't protect elbows, knees, or neck. Or the groin sufficiently. Adding elbow and knee protection might make the greaves and bracers not fit. Perhaps better to just buy breast + back (or + pauldrons).
(Above is according to the rules last I looked; current rules might be different.)
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Scott
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Posts: 1,676
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Post by Scott on Aug 1, 2014 1:40:13 GMT
By the look of it that armour is too close to the arm as well, which will limit your ability to move your arm. If you're planning to fight in the SCA, best thing to do is talk to your local marshal, as different groups have different standards.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Aug 1, 2014 15:28:58 GMT
And most SCA groups have loaner armor for you to fool with, just to get a feel for what you like and what you need...
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Post by Ser Tim the Jailer on Aug 8, 2014 0:44:10 GMT
Well I did get my armour, and I havent tested it in battle yet. I do say it fits very well, I bought a gambeson to wear underneath it. The only problem is one pauldron is higher then the other one and you can see some of the straps on the pauldron because it sits higher. Other than that I'm pretty happy with it. Just curious does anybody have an idea of where and when my armour I bought would of been worn?
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