Buying Armour

[Niv]

I'm considering buying some chain mail armour and maybe (not essentially) a sword and shield, but I'm still unsure if I should go through with it. My main issues are finding times that I'll actually wear it, whether arming jackets/gambesons are completely necessary (because they're as expensive as the armour itself!) and indeed the cost. What I'm asking from the armour owners of Taleworlds is if it's really worth it, a few fun things I can do with it, and any other information that'll help me quell my doubts.

I'll post some pics of my list:

http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/mail-european.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/costume_crusade_templar.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/frame_armour_gauntlets3.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/medieval_boots_frontlace.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/templar_shield.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/archers-sword.jpg

This is my first time buying anything of the medieval sort, so all help is appreciated



(Sorry if this has been posted before, I couldn't find it in the search bar, only one about online armour shops from mid last year)

 

[Pharaoh Llandy]

If you can buy it and enjoy it without having to wear it very often, then go for it. Just keep in mind that you're going to have to store it and keep it clean, so if you're short on space or time, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Seff]

Gambeson is pretty important if you're wearing maille. Maille isn't really the best armor to wear to be comfortable; it has rotten weight distribution.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Sleep on it. Might be your thing, might not be. It'd be a shame to fork out then decide you didn't like it.

 

[Niv]

If you can buy it and enjoy it without having to wear it very often, then go for it. Just keep in mind that you're going to have to store it and keep it clean, so if you're short on space or time, I wouldn't bother.

It does look awesome, and would make for some pretty epic yet nerdy photos.

Gambeson is pretty important if you're wearing maille. Maille isn't really the best armor to wear to be comfortable; it has rotten weight distribution.

Would some normal thick clothing (jumpers or raincoats) suffice? I won't be doing anything overly flashy with it after all.

Sleep on it. Might be your thing, might not be. It'd be a shame to fork out then decide you didn't like it.

Well I can't afford all of it yet, I've still got another couple of weeks work to think about it.

 

[Seff]

A proper gambeson is made from 10+ layers of linen, and nothing in a normal wardrobe even comes close

 

[James]

Go Viking. There's really no evidence they wore gambesons, and even if some did, it's likely not all of them.

Plus, they're Vikings.

 

[Seff]

They wore thick wool, and several layers of it - IIRC.

 

[Dudro]

Gambeson is pretty important if you're wearing maille. Maille isn't really the best armor to wear to be comfortable; it has rotten weight distribution.

That can be remedied by a few belt and whatnot though.

And look around your area and on the internet to see if you can find out about any historical fairs in places you could travel too easily.

 

[Æon]

http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/mail-european.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/costume_crusade_templar.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/frame_armour_gauntlets3.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/medieval_boots_frontlace.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/templar_shield.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/archers-sword.jpg

That stuff looks like cheap ****. Buy your stuff from a real blacksmith who knows what he's doing *cough* James *cough cough*

 

[Seff]

Are you polishing his knob or something?

 

[Kobrag]

I wonder if james would do a schiavona for me...

 

[Seff]

I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a real forge, so doing blades is probably a little difficult for him. Besides, getting one from within England is MUCH easier for you.

 

[Kobrag]

Quality is everything, I can't go to just anybody!

recomendations?

 

[Seff]

If you're crazy loaded with money, Albion is said to make excellent blades. They have an European vendor in Denmark.

 

[Kobrag]

They seem to dull down some of their blades and focus on earlier models, I have an inkling that a custom blade would cost alot extra...

 

[LordOfShadows]

I've bought from medieval fightclub and I can say this, before you buy ask questions, lots of them. I bought shoulders, breastplate, gauntlets and a shield blank, the shoulders needed a bit of modification to the strapping cause the leather was crap but they do look pretty. The breastplate I've had to give to an armourer to get it to fit, because it was incredibly narrow over the hips but hugely wide over the chest, but it should look good once its finished. The gauntlets were impossible to use due to the back being rounded so that if you tried to bend all your fingers at once they would stick. The shield blank was excellent, nice, thick and tough while very light for its size.

As for a gambeson just pop in to a bedding place whenever they have a sale and get an all cotton doona or heavy quilt. Mark your pattern out (vest is easiest to start and can be added onto later) sew the pattern into the quilt, so that it doesn't fall apart when you cut it, and find a nice materiel to sew to the outside so that it doesnt look like a cut up quilt.

hope it helps

 

[James]

I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a real forge

Yet. That's next, basically. Of course, next means perhaps when I own my own house, so maybe 5-10 years?

 

[touareg]

I'm considering buying some chain mail armour and maybe (not essentially) a sword and shield, but I'm still unsure if I should go through with it. My main issues are finding times that I'll actually wear it, whether arming jackets/gambesons are completely necessary (because they're as expensive as the armour itself!) and indeed the cost. What I'm asking from the armour owners of Taleworlds is if it's really worth it, a few fun things I can do with it, and any other information that'll help me quell my doubts.

I'll post some pics of my list:

http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/mail-european.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/costume_crusade_templar.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/frame_armour_gauntlets3.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/medieval_boots_frontlace.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/templar_shield.jpg
http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/images/archers-sword.jpg

This is my first time buying anything of the medieval sort, so all help is appreciated



(Sorry if this has been posted before, I couldn't find it in the search bar, only one about online armour shops from mid last year)

Hello. important is what do you want to do with the equipment. What I saw from the pictures, those items are made for hanging at the wall for decoration, a thing to keep in mind. Also it is important to know if you want to have authentic equipment and if yes what period of time. I don't know what time you want but in general you can say that steel shields and chrome armor is not authentic ( ). When you also want to train with your armor and such, do not buy any of those on that pictures, please, also for your own safety.
I do not know where you live, but there are many good equipment providers in europe and I am sure also the states or elsewhere.

 

[13 Spider Bloody Chain]

They wore thick wool, and several layers of it - IIRC.

It looks like Romans did fine with less: