I'm looking at a kit for reenactment, it's placed at the mid 14th century and I was hoping to use segmented plate Gauntlets from Visby

Hey everyone,

Following from my previous post on HBC Armors Gothic armor pieces https://www.reddit.com/r/ArmsandArmor/comments/1glo4uh/what_are_your_thoughts_of_hbc_armors_gothic_pieces/ ) I have decided against it not only due to all your advice but actually looking at Gothic harnesses made by reputable armorers under a microscope, the difference is night and day. However though I can technically afford it I have bigger financial responsibilities and instead I am thinking about starting a 'English War of the Roses not so rich man at arms kit' based on my current brigandine, helmets (sallet and kettle helm) and throat protection (bevor and mail standard).

And once again HBC Armor does produce more generic European style armor pieces which once again SEEMS like a good compromise for its price for fitted armor in a LARP context since I won't being doing any Buhurt or SCA fighting.

My current brigandine, helmets and throat protection: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArmsandArmor/comments/1g2k2u1/some_variations_of_my_war_of_the_roses_inspired/

The 'European' arms and legs I am interested in: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/collections/armour-set-reenactment/products/armour-set-arms-legs-combo-set-offer-medieval-european-style

The other arms I am interested for the couter if I remove all the Gothic fluting: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/gothic-style-arm-armour-set?_pos=3&_psq=gothic&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Milanese plate gauntlets: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/collections/gauntlet-mittens/products/milanese-plate-mittens

Pauldron I am interested in: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/collections/arms-shoulder-protection-buhurt/products/anatomical-pauldron-shoulder-armour

'Spauldon' (is that even a word) I am interested in: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/collections/arms-shoulder-protection-buhurt/products/buhurt-spauldron-shoulder-armor-ultimate-mobility-flexibility-and-full-covered-protection

And finally sabatons: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/collections/leg-foot-armour-buhurt/products/buhurt-plate-sabaton-2

Again what are your thoughts and opinions ? No go once again ? Or 'you get what you pay for' ?

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Hello,

Having snagged, at a great price, a gothic leg harness, I'm beginning my journey to assembling a matching, at least somewhat historically and visually coherent costume of armour for LARP and dressup. The problem is, most affordable gear I see online is firmly rooted in the 14th century style and I'm forced to mix and match.

In the interest of balancing historicity, visual coherence and price, I'd like to ask what date range are certain tropes in armour construction appropriate for and if it's at all reasonable that they would appear together. In my own research I could hardly find any sign of gradual transition between one style and the other and could use some advice.

The piece I'm matching for is a fluted leg harness, similar to this, with undecorated greaves:
https://www.medievalware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gothic-leg-armor-1.png

I'm planning to match it with a Munich-style brigandine, such as this:
https://armours.pro/d/img_20220627_124315.jpg

The most contested part are the arms. I have my eyes set on a piece with fluted rondels attached to the elbow cops, such as this:
https://pinterest.com/pin/tailors-catany-waffenrock-part-1--320388960985925799/
This part is particularly interesting. I like the look, with the floral-shaped rondels, but as far as I can tell the practice of using rondels instead of fully or partially enclosed elbow cops is more associated with the 1300s.

Alternatively, I could get a more expensive, classically 1300s set of arms, like this:
https://files.ekmcdn.com/11b299/images/15th-century-arm-armour-512-p.jpg?w=600&h=9999&v=6F108A36-F1E5-44E7-AC3B-8E08A8DBCBDC

More expensive yet, I could put together a set with more classically gothic couters - the rest of the arm would look much like the other options.
https://www.themedievalstore.com/cdn/shop/products/1740-medieval-couters-elbow-armor-2-600x653_600x.jpg?v=1571711572

Thank you in advance for your help!

Should I buy anything off ETSY? I know some are suspicious but i need input and recommendations, if you guys know any other site besides Allbeststuff, already ordered some from them

A question for any potential shield makers in this sub. What's your favorite method to bend plywood for shields? So far I've only used rachet straps to bend them, tho I feel as if it doesn't achive an even bend, but more of a really really wide V.

What bending method has worked best for you?

(Hope this is the right sub)

I have always been interested in getting a Gothic full harness but that dream died very quickly upon finding out how much it would actually cost (anywhere from $20 000 - 30 000 AUD).

Then I found HBC armor who offer custom made Gothic pieces of armor. At first glance it obviously does not compare to say Tabor armory, Old World armory or Elthien armory (or any well known reputable armorer) but for the price and in a LARP context it seems like a acceptable compromise especially since a lot of off the shelf Gothic armor pieces either do not fit me or look nothing like any existing surviving Gothic armor.

Sallet, bevor and cuirass: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/gothic-body-armour-with-sallet-helmet-and-bevour?_pos=4&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Arms set 1: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/gothic-arms-armor-set-gothic-knight?_pos=1&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Arms set 2: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/gothic-style-arm-armour-set?_pos=2&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Upper thighs: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/gothic-style-thigh-armour?_pos=3&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Fingered gauntlets: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/handforged-gothic-gauntlet-from-wallace-collection?_pos=5&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Mitten gauntlets: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/gothic-augsburg-mitten-armour-hand-gauntlet?_pos=6&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Pauldrons: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/hand-forged-gothic-knight-pauldrons-with-rondel?_pos=8&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Spauldrons: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/handforged-gothic-spauldron-shoulder-armour-late-15th-century-reproduction?_pos=9&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

Sabatons: https://hbcarmorshop.com/en-au/products/hand-forged-gothic-15th-century-sabaton-foot-armour-for-buhurt-reenactment-sca?_pos=10&_sid=b1f79e2a7&_ss=r

I've never actually seen a Gothic full harness upfront so I wouldn't know the extra fine tiny details and have never ordered commissioned made armor myself and wanted to see what you all thought of these product. On one hand I hear other armor enthusiasts say never buy Indian made armor while others say HBC armor is one the better Indian armorers. What do you think? Is this a rip off ? Or acceptable for the price ?

Thank you very much and have a nice day.

Assuming historical accuracy isn't important at all. Could a set of thickened (2-4 mm AR500) plate armor, maille armor, modern gamebsons (kevlar/padding?), and fake skin and blood, be constructed to make one nigh-invulnerable in a street fight? Assume "Street fight" means 1-5 attackers, weapons used are handguns, fists, batons and short or long knives, and the police are 5-20 minutes away.

This is a fantasy of mine, layering so much armor on oneself that regular attacks would not do anything. Not that I'd be able to actually *fight*, but assuming the attackers don't give up until I'm dead, I could totally keep them occupied with hitting me over and over and over until the police show up to arrest them, even if I was just flailing about on the floor for the entire fight.

It'd be the ultimate "frick you" to street robbers/killers (which are RARE in my country yes, it's just a fantasy.) It's usually not recommended to go "frick you ****" to someone or a group of people holding a knife or a gun at you, but in this case - would it be unwise? How exactly would they breach the armor, assuming all 3 layers have 100% coverage?

Assuming the weather is temperate and all that. Yes I'm aware it would never be useful in actual combat etc etc, assuming a competent, motivated and equipped enemy. And one that isn't just 1-5 guys with pointy sticks. Hell let's assume their first move is to push me over, and I can't get back up myself, but I continue to resist with language and by flailing about so they can't grab my wallet. And if it worked it'd look so goofy and funny on security camera if there was one. Guys shoot, punch and stab a really wide guy. Wide guy falls over and flops on the floor. Gets stabbed and shot 50 times. Continues to flop and swear. Gets back up a few times only to topple over immediately. Tries to use a baton in self defense only for it to fall out of his hands. So on so on. Like in a comedy show. Would it be "safe" for the armoured guy though? LOL.

Does anyone know if there's any historical precident for wearing a wenzel Bascinet (with aventail) and a Brigandine together?

With the arms, they are fitted under each other from the harness, whereas the tights are fitted over each other.

The arm layout makes the most sense to me, as I could see a weapon catching on the legs, where it would simply glance off the arm

Picture is from the YouTube channel robinswords.

Hello all,

I am in the process of building my first kit. I have not narrowed down a specific region, but I would like to create an impression of an early 15th century rugged lower-middle class infantryman serving in a standing army or garrison. (Around the time of the Hussites)

What books or sources are available regarding common armories during this period? What feedback do you have for my existing and future kit below?

I currently have the following items:

-Gambeson/Aketon (unsure on if thickness is period accurate. Also need some advice on if arming points are necessary)

-Splinted/Brigandine bracers

-Heater shield

I plan to purchase the following:

-Chainmail haubergeon (more forgiving in terms of fit and cost than plated torso armor like a cuirass or brigandine)

-Chainmail collar

-Basic gauntlets

-Kettle helm/Open faced bascinet

-Soft kit

I am especially worried about the period accuracy of my gambeson (to be worn under only maille), particularly its thickness and the presence of arming points.

Any feedback and advice would be tremendously helpful :)
Below is my gambeson:

https://preview.redd.it/7q1cd2gvyzyd1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1f2d0a5751c5f95635ddc989b160d576678e4e0

So I found this illustration from one of the Osprey Man-at-Arms series books ("Carolingian Cavalryman AD 768–987"), where they have this picture of a supposed 10th century frankish cavalrymen carrying a large oval shield that has a boss in the front but also arm straps and a guige in the back. Now I know nothing about shields (that's why I'm here lol), but I thought that the typical boss/center-grip shields were the norm for early medieval cavalry all across europe (and ofcourse infantry aswell), but were the shields such as the one in the picture used aswell (in 8th to 10th century west europe)? Do we have any archeological proof of these designs being used?

https://preview.redd.it/29bf1pyrywyd1.png?width=713&format=png&auto=webp&s=62fcdacadb0f4aebf4aba5a2bc55066aa5b4cc79

Hey yall, I have seen this type of spear design multiple times in anime and video games and was always curious if it was based off something real. Thanks in advance for the help.

Was early celtic chainmail superior to the classic Greco-Roman muscle cuirass? If so why?