NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/rec/org/sca/17050

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-25 | 3.0 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!usc!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
From: [e-mail] (Jay Michael)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: On the Nature of Armor ...
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 25 Dec 92 08:59:42 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX
Lines: 43

Tom Perigrin writes:
>I write with a heavy heart.  This topic and the discussion has lost all
>semblence of joy to me.  I have received email from more than one person
>that can only be called hateful.  I have been told that I am a clueless

Ach!  I find this news rather distressing--I don't relish the idea of
trying to win an argument by demoralizing the opponent, were that the mailer's
intent.  One also should be careful in disagreeing over e-mail, as the
words, without personal expression to back them, could drip more venom than
intended.  I for one have read Tom's postings with interest, even if I
haven't agreed with some of what he has said.

Here in Austin (I'm new to this barony, and haven't seen the name written
down so that I could hazard a guess at it's spelling, I think it's Welsh . . .)
We have within our company an excellent armorer (by the name of Conner), who
helps direct our interests towards an authentic look, and works mainly with
sheet steel.  He is able so supply period looking arms, legs, helmets,
even body pieces (for an appropriate cost, of course).  This is excellent
for later personas wanting the plate look.  However-we have usually been
short on body armor.  Meaning, it isn't used much.  While wearing a tabard,
the body armor isn't missed much either.  I believe the reason for this
is that for most of the year, fighting in full armor would be too unbearably
_hot_!!!  On the other hand, this means that we aren't wearing full period
armor, and aren't  learning about how the mundane medievalist had to deal
with body armor.  This also means that chainmail seems to be shunned like the
plague . . . not only is it heavy and not as effective as desired, it too is
hot, and makes fighting in the sun unbearable.  So what we usually end up with
is a bunch of fighters wearing an armored kidney belt and nothing else for the
body (this also, indirectly, speeds their learning how not to get hit ;).
The alternative is to make body armor that is lighter in weight, and perhaps
is better ventilated than true period armor.  Since my persona would not
have worn a tabard, I'm planning on making a hauberk of aliminum scales.  It
will essentially look period, and I won't have to suffer and endure wearing
a heavy steel coat.
    One aside:  If you _buy_ your armor from an armorer, you're not
learning anything about construction that way.  So which would be better,
to buy a suit out of period materials and make, or to make your own suit
out of non period materials but in a period make? ;).  I suppose at this
point the best you could do is either watch it being made, or go to a
meuseum . . . .

Aelfgar von Echternach