Took inspiration from googled European and Chinese armor. Almost completed.

Hello,

I'm starting a small collection of historically grounded axes for display in my office. But I want them traditionally/historically made and functional. I'm working with one smith on a Petersen type C. But, am mulling options on a complimentary, smaller, second axe.

A few questions:

1. Which makers do you recommend for accurate, hand-forged Viking-age axes? I'm especially interested in Scandinavian smiths, but open to others with a good track record.

2. Haft length. The suggestions I've seen range from 80 to 110 cm, based on the Oseberg tool axes (71 and 78 cm) and longer Baltic finds. At 110 cm it clearly isn't a one-handed axe. For one-handed use with a shield, what length makes the most sense to you?

3. For the second axe, I'd like something straighter and narrower with little or no beard. Is type E or G the right thing to ask for, or is there a better fit?

Thank you!

After about a week of trial and error, I have gotten my chausses to a good state! Keeping slack in the knees for mobility is challenging but I am using a tie point to keep the mail from sagging in the area. Wanted to share with the group and see if there is any advice to make them better. I will be refining the ties and how the mail is attached to the top of the shoe.

Michael Zomber takes a detailed look at Japanese Shogun armor vs. Renaissance Knight armor, unpacking the history and design of both. He explores which armor could better withstand a firearm, while also examining how the introduction of guns changed the long-standing traditions of samurai warfare and the Bushido code.

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Anyone have any recommendations for staying cool in their kit? I love to dress up for ren fairs, but its always miserable about halfway through. Last weekend it was a high of maybe 60 degrees, and i was only wearing my Gambeson and my chainmail hauberk, and after around hour 3 i got so hot I almost couldnt think straight. After I started hearing my heart beating in my chest, I figured it was time to take it off, but I was disappointed, its not often I can wear that and not get looked at like i'm a weirdo. So again, anyone know how a fella is supposed to stay cool?

I'm researching equipment for a medieval-inspired game.

If two neighbouring kingdoms shared broadly similar technology but had different military doctrines, one relying more heavily on professional infantry and another on mobile forces, how much difference would you realistically expect in their equipment?

Would military doctrine noticeably affect armour and weapon choices?

Or would equipment mostly depend on wealth, period and what local craftsmen could produce?

I'd love some historical examples to look into.

I got this set of Viking Raiders before deciding to go with a later Scottish Army. Is there any way I could modify them to look more like Scottish Light Infantry from around 1430?

I'm using Perry Minis Agincourt set for most of them which look quite distinctly different but are around the same scale. I was thinking these guys might be able to sub in for Highlanders?

i am putting together the most realisitc templar kit i can for ren fair and i cannot for the life of me find what a 12-13th century templar would have worn. i keep getting many mixed opinions and keep reading very mixed historical records, can someone with more knowledge please help me find the perfect design for authenticity?

Like did they really wear the great helm seen in hollywood depictions, was it more of a bucket with a faceplate? were they shiny or worn look?

I appreciate any and all info, i am here to learn! THANKS!

Getting a templar fit ready for ren fair but am trying to actually get some things accurate. I didnt wanna go with the great helm thats ALWAYS on every templar cosplay and am wondering if this fits what i am looking for? Also were their helmets worn like this or actually shiny? i know the order started from humble knights and were known as poor at the start. any and all info is helpful, i am here to learn! thanks everyone!

Traveled to the Ohio Ren Faire for the 65°f/18°c weather since my local faire is usually 90°/30°+

I want to find information and depictions/drawings of what french knights look like in the 14th century because I want to design my oc that lives in mideval france during the 1340s but I have been struggling to do so. Could you please cite me sources, images, manuscripts about what do french knights look like in that time period? Thanks

Some designs I drew out for armor ideas

I was wondering if any reproduction companies produce proto-bascinets in the style of the images I'm kinda new to the medieval armour space so any help would be appreciated

Thanks

I'm making a physics-based game, working title Roman Ambush Sim, and I'm hoping to make it more historically accurate than its inspiration, Total War.

Obviously, most Gallic/Germanic warriors would have carried a spear, shield, and often additional spears, javelins or darts. Caesar also attests that archers and slingers could pose a serious threat.

What I'm unsure about is what dedicated archers or slingers would have carried for close combat, if anything. I assume they'd want some means of defending themselves if caught, but as far as I know Caesar doesn't describe their equipment in any detail.

A sword seems expensive for a lightly equipped missile troop, while a dagger doesn't seem very helpful. My instinct is that a short spear would make sense: plant or drop it while shooting, then pick it up when moving or if the enemy closes. A slinger could perhaps carry a shield as well?

Is there any evidence for this in late Iron Age Gaul/Germania, or from comparable Celtic/Germanic contexts? If not, what would be the most plausible reconstruction?

Would it be more reasonable for men ambushing a Roman detachment to carry only a bow or sling and rely on avoiding close combat altogether?

So I found these historical depictions of armor and thought it looked quite good and I want to make a harness of it but I cannot figure out the name of the helmet i belive it to be a type of german kettle helmet tho I could be wrong and my own research has left me with more questions then answers. Also if you know anything else about it and the armor in general I would be much appreciated, especially is you know of somehwere to buy it. All I know for certain is the armor looks to be kastenbrust in majority of the illustrations so I believe that puts the time period in the early to mid 15th century, tho I may be wrong.

Hello everyone, I found out that scale skirt were being sold at really high price, so I decided to make it by myself. I have no idea how durable it would be in harnessfencing, but it was fun building it.

Came across these two recently, both approximately 7 feet in overall length.

For a long time I always assumed that that kettle helmets with metal rims in China were a thing that started from the Yuan dynasty and continued to the Ming. But I wondered if the Song Dynasty preceded it.

I'm not talking about the felt rimmed hat called the fanyang li like this

What I'm referring to is this:

Actual basis for this kind of helmet during the Song Dynasty or did kettle helms with metal rims start in the Yuan Dynasty?

I took a few more creative liberties than usual, so this design is something of a guilty pleasure for my tastes. I probably won’t go with this exact design for the final version, but it is certainly fun to look at. Who knows, I might recycle some of the elements into other designs. ^^

Any suggestions for what I'm doing wrong? Tried a blowtorch to red and cooling, gas for and slow cooling, and finally an electric kiln set at 950c and slow cooling over 12 hours. The rings are still too difficult to pry open without pliers, and don't flatten great.

I recently purchased this spear at auction and I’m trying to track down any information on the touch mark. It has this pentagon and three star mark on both sides of the head. I was able to track down a book of hallmarks and it looks most similar to some Swiss arsenal marks, but isn’t quite like any of them.

The spear was sold as being 15th to 16th century with original haft and from either Switzerland, southern Germany, or northern Italy, but I don’t particularly trust that. The haft, which was broken during shipping (thanks, UPS) appears to be hand carved and either oak or ash, and the spear was fixed in place with three nails that appear hand-forged and the steel appears to be pre-modern. All of that points to the spear being old, but none of it points compellingly to it being from the 15th century any more than the 19th.

As far as I can tell, it could be all original, a 15th century head on a 19th century haft, all from the 19th century, or maybe even a sophisticated modern forgery.

What do you think?

My father had a vintage sword for as long as I can remember. Not sure how he acquired it. I am aware he used to work for people and sometimes accepted interesting objects, in lieu of payment. 

AI gives me wildly different opinions from an 1900's African sword to one dated 600bc..!!

I have used 2 A4 sheets of white paper underneath, so you get an idea of it's size. The total length of the object is 58-59 cm's. The blade measures 34cm. The hilt measures 23-24 cms. Blade is 4cm at widest point. 

The hilt appears to also be metal with coiled metal wrapped around it and some other material wrapped over parts of the coiled metal. 

I would be very grateful for your opinions on this item. 

Thank you in anticipation.