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Post by mountainsylph on Jun 21, 2023 11:38:25 GMT
So whereabouts can you get a functional gambeson? I've looked on etsy but all the sellers I've found claim that it had to be worn with chainmail which we know wasn't necessarily the case, because they did defend from sword cuts and etc right? What are the best places and what would you look out for? Is this a good seller or not? (If link doesn't work just google "burgschenider gambesons") burgschneider.com.au/medieval-gambeson.html
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 21, 2023 12:52:06 GMT
I’ve discovered what I call two classes of gambesons. One being thinner than the other and is best worn under armour for protection from the armour. The other being thicker and best suited for protection from incoming blows. The former is much more comfortable while the latter is hotter, not that the first is cool. Also, the latter is more tiring due to the weight, heat, and effort just to bend the arms. Although mine has detachable sleeves. Not only that there are two sets of sleeves, one being long and the other half sleeve. I’ve only used the long sleeves. One was made for me by a forgotten vendor on ebay and the other a peg item from KoA. www.kultofathena.com/?s=gambeson+&post_type=product&dgwt_wcas=1 www.amazon.com/s?k=gambeson&crid=1EWDG7N548UUV&sprefix=gambeson%2Caps%2C165&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
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Post by larason2 on Jun 21, 2023 18:36:02 GMT
There are a lot of places to get gambesons from, and I agree they don't necessarily need to have mail with them, even if they are thin. Fabric is hard to cut through at a baseline. Personally I'd look at the ones from MRL. I've bought from them before and I'm happy with the purchase.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Jun 22, 2023 13:53:18 GMT
define 'affordable' Because if you are cheap in this, you'll get junk.
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Post by Lord Newport on Jun 22, 2023 17:04:32 GMT
So whereabouts can you get a functional gambeson? I've looked on etsy but all the sellers I've found claim that it had to be worn with chainmail which we know wasn't necessarily the case, because they did defend from sword cuts and etc right? What are the best places and what would you look out for? Is this a good seller or not? (If link doesn't work just google "burgschenider gambesons") burgschneider.com.au/medieval-gambeson.htmlWhere are you located and what size are you?? I have a couple Lord of Battles Gambeson's from Cult of Athena that I have never used I would like to sell...PM me if you are interested.
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Post by mountainsylph on Jun 27, 2023 15:40:19 GMT
define 'affordable' Because if you are cheap in this, you'll get junk. What about around the price range of Museum Replicas' Gambesons or those in the links posted such as Kult of Athena's? If those ones do count as real gambesons? Although if not then what would be the lowest range for 'real gambesons' available?
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 27, 2023 16:12:39 GMT
This is my heavier gambeson mentioned above. I really don’t think you should worry unduly about a cut getting through. To tell the truth I find it a bit much for me and tire rather quickly mostly due to the sleeves. Of course, I could change these. My preference is the lighter gambeson with addition protection in spots. Such as a padded collar, mail mantel, and bracers preferably splint. One advantage in particular that I find with the lighter gambeson is that the sleeves are a bit long for me. Which is a blessing as I can cuff them, giving the bracers, whichever I’m wearing a pocket to rest in preventing them from sliding down. www.kultofathena.com/product/modifiable-gambeson-with-optional-half-sleeves-natural/
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Post by blackprince on Aug 3, 2023 0:44:09 GMT
You asked about “Real” Gambesons:
Per my understanding, medieval and renassiance European gambesons varied quite a bit based on fashion and intended function. Gambesons were made primarily made of linen canvas and wool. The outermost and innermost layer were linen canvas. I’ve heard of gambesons containing as little as three inner layers of wool blanket. I’ve also heard of gambesons consisting of 15 layers of linen. But generally, they had some combination of linen and wool. Arming jackets worn under plate armor could be very thin, perhaps only an inner and outer layer of linnen canvas. Whether or not the gambeson was intended to be the primary defense would impact the thickness. If the gambeson was intended as your primary defense, it was typically made thicker. If the gambeson was intended as a layer to be worn under armor, it was typically thinner. The shape of the gambeson was also cut fashionably, consistent with the time period. So a gambeson appropriate for 1200 is going to look old timey to a knight circa 1350.
All that being said, here is my opinion: I wouldn’t sweat over the thickness (pun intended). For historical re-enactment purposes, no one other than you is going to notice that the gambeson is made from cotton canvas and not linen canvas. You’ll spend more on raw materials acquiring enough linen canvas and wool fabric than you would buying any gambeson from Kult of Athena. Since you intend the gambeson to be the outside layer of your armor, find some artwork from the time period you want to re-enanct. Pick a gambeson that looks consistent with the style you see. That is far more noticeable than thickness and materials. Also, I recommend sticking to all natural materials. Synthetic fill is warmer than cotton batting.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Aug 3, 2023 1:38:49 GMT
To add to what prince has said I’ve read to what would be a prep order today the wife of a country peasant would make a gambeson with whatever scraps she could muster. I’ve also read that an English king in preparation for a coming campaign was more specific specifying the material and the number of layers of filling. This was in the earliest days of the government supplying arms rather than leaving that up to whatever the individual could muster or afford. It seems like the filling in that case varied somewhere around 15 layers. It was not clear to me whether that was for a single gambeson depending on the area such as torso or arms or good be applied from jacket to jacket, my guess is the former. My guess is that it depended on a multiple number of things such as location, time, fashion, availability and no rigid uniform pattern regardless. Prince’s suggestion of finding art work is a winner. Look for something showing the location and time period you desire along with what slot you are trying to fill, infantry man, bowman, man at arms, etc. then try to match.
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Post by mountainsylph on Aug 23, 2023 4:27:41 GMT
So I tried getting some gambeson chausses from these guys who call themselves "The Medievals" on eBay/Amazon and they didn't seem really good at all. Its way too thin, do their gambesons that they sell also have the same problem? www.amazon.com/dp/B09D9W3QNRThis is their gambeson top btw: www.amazon.com/dp/B08VS132C7
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Aug 23, 2023 13:58:32 GMT
I think your problem is that you don’t have a clear idea of what you want. In the OP you want to guard against cuts. The last vendor that you referenced, and you believe the padding too thin. Their ad states designed for SCA and HEMA. Neither use sharpies. You seem to be opposed to wearing any plate or mail over the gambeson indicating that you want a stand-alone gambeson. Battle/armour grade gambesons are thick as the one I suggested earlier. On the other hand, you can reenforce lighter gambesons with additional padding such as a collar. www.kultofathena.com/product/padded-gambeson-collar-black/ I also have a leather belt that measures 9” wide in places and up to ¾” thick depending on overlap, belts, etc. that also offers good back support that should offer good protection from cuts and blunt trauma.
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