I haven't been dead- another project on the G-O (lotsa pics)

[yeoman]

Contrary to assertions in recent threads, I am fortunately not dead. I have been working on other stuff though (but have lately been getting back into the bowyery).

I thought I might share what else I've been working on. Not specifically archery related, but certainly medieval.

It's meant to be a harness as worn by knights and men-at-arms of southern/mid Germany in the 1460s. It's taken way too long, however I've learned a real lot on the way and the next one will be much better.

I still have quite a ways to go. I have to polish, strap and finish the bits you see below, as well as make the legs, bevor (for neck and chin), and helmet. More work than you might think.

Enjoy the pictures. Or not, as is your wont.



















Dave

[bigbob]

Holy cow you are an industrious fellow! Absolutely fantastic. Man, the man hours that would have gone into that. Sure hope it fits you! Be a right bugger if you slaved away making it for yourself and find it didnt fit, eh?

[yeoman]

Thanks mate.

I thought if it was too small it might stretch out over time. I guess not, eh?

Dave

[Stickbow Hunter]

Wow you certainly have spent some hours in making those bits. Congrats on ya workmanship.

Jeff

[Nephew]

Amazing work, mate! You must be very proud!

Imagine when they were living in a world where you had to wear THAT to work if you wanted to see the day out! Hard, tough men, for sure!

[Gringa Bows]

Looks good.

[hazard]

Man thats some fantastic workmanship! I can see what tied you up for so long!

Grand effort mate Grand effort!!

Hazard

[bigbob]

One extra good thing yeoman may be if you did put it on and it felt a little snug just a couple laps 'round the house and betcha it would be a better fit! Again I dips me lid, great effort and very nice result, something to be well proud of.

[perry]

WOW, Very impressive. What more can I say !! The depth of talent and skills on display in Trad Archery circles these day's is amazing

regards Jacko

[yeoman]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

You really wouldn't believe the number of mistakes, the amount of blundering in the dark, and the steepness of the learning curve.

It seems to be though if you make it shiny enough people may not notice the blemishes so much.

Cheers again,

Dave

[Curvemeister]

awesome stuff , well done

[stickbow]

Might fit me can you shoot a bow with it on?

[greybeard]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

You really wouldn't believe the number of mistakes, the amount of blundering in the dark, and the steepness of the learning curve.

It seems to be though if you make it shiny enough people may not notice the blemishes so much.

Cheers again,

Dave

Just tell people that the blemishes are a result of battles.

As Perry said 'WOW.'

Do you need a certain grade of metal sheeting to produce the armour and is heat needed to form the shapes?

Well done.

Daryl.

[yeoman]

A source of heat, such as an oxy torch or small forgee would help a great deal. As I dion't have either of those I just have to hit it more and more times. The elbows, shown here:




each have about 5000+ hammer strokes each to get them where they are. Would've been significantly reduced with heat as the metal moves a lot quicker.

As for the grade of steel, this harness is made of a mixture of 1.2 and 1.5mm thick steel. It is all scrounged, found and rescued steel from all over the place so the actual quality of different bits varies greatly. I've tried to put the lower grade steel in places that won't get hit so often.

Ideally, I would've made this from 1050 carbon steel which would allow me to heat treat it, and use thinner steel for the same or better strength. That's what I intend to do on the next one, which I will start as soon as I finish this one.

Dave

[yeoman]

Oh yeah.....I meant to addd in the last post - I think it would be possible to shoot a bow wearing this. Perhaps not with wearing the elbows, but the breastplate - certainly.

Dave

[Brett Finger]

A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK RIGHT THERE !!!

congrats, i play with tin a bit myself and i can appericate the hours gone into that!!!
Bretto...

[kimall]

Verry nice work mate but it would be more comfy without the vice grips in that area...
Cheers KIM

[Steven J]

Hi Dave, glad your not dead

I used to spend a bit of time in the Medieval Reinactment circle and have not seen too many sets of armour of this size. Chasing out all that fluting would require a steady hand and an exceptionally large measure of patience.

I'm impressed.

Steve

[Steven J]

Oh... one question.

Are you working to a pattern, historical or other wise, or have you designed this one yourself?

Steve

[yeoman]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

I don't know about patience, but there's certainly a lot of stubbornness in making this armour ('No, I won't give up yet!').

I'm making my own patterns as I go along, and trying to make it look like a bit like what these gentlemen:

http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/File:MS_Thot ... BA_85v.jpg

http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/File:MS_Thot ... BA_84v.jpg

Dave

[looseplucker]

Nice work Dave

Hey - I have a bunch of armour pix for you taken at the Louvre. CD or DVD?

[yeoman]

DVD I'd say. Either way it'd go straight on the hard drive.

Looking forward to it!

Dave