Rebuilding Armor

Well I managed to replace the buttons I lost off my Gambeson. They had come off over a couple fighting practices and it was looking pretty sad. I sewed them back on using four times more thread than was strictly required. I wanted to make sure they would stay on this time.

Next to replace rivets on my coat of plates.

Equipping Robert

Robert is one of the men at arms in my household. He has approximately eight months before he reaches the age of 18 and we are putting together his armor kit. We are hoping that he can authorize in heavy combat when he turns 18.

In the effort to get his kit together I have taken one of my old helmets and have padded it for him. I put a coat of silver paint on it to cover some of the rust and expect him to repaint it when he picks some livery colors. He has also been gifted with an old gorget. My old coat of plates needs a couple plates replaced and we will both work on this to get it ready for him. His sword is done and his shield has been pressed and needs to be finished.

We will need to work on legs and arm armor to get him fully equipped and also add gauntlets. That should prepare him for his first practice and see him through to his authorization.

Part of the agreement we have in the household is that He will have to make at least one piece of armor for those following behind him.

Another Standard Stand

Erevon’s standard stand completed!! Only 5 more to go!!

Gift of Chairs

Also in the last 6 weeks, I worked on two of the gothic camp chairs. They are complete except for the armrests which I still have to make. I thought that Eron & Erevon should have these chairs after all their years of hard work and in appreciation of Eron going to War and being camp master. At the recent Friday Populous meeting at my home, I presented them with the chairs. I believe they were well received. Arm rests have been added to my SCA to do list!!, also Mark II of the chairs. I failed to take a picture so I will have to track them down when they are being used and get one.

Shields

In the last 6 weeks, I have pressed several shields. Three very light shields for Balian deBrionne, Two shields for members of my household and one for a potential member. One for Drogo (that’s was several weeks ago and I still need to get it to him) Also 3 more loaner shields in addition to the rest. I made a couple extra shields as I am about to take the shield press out of service.

It is about time to make a new shield press as the one I am using is starting to show its age and wear and tear has taken a toll. One more item to add to my growing list!!! I think the new version will need a base to catch the dripping glue so I don’t have to either put down newspaper or scrape glue off the floor.

Equipment Update

Since I am attending events with more frequency these days, I have tried to pay attention to the changes in armor and weapons that have happened over the last couple years. Comparing my now several years old fighting kit to the current standard, I find that most of my armor is acceptable but that I do need to make some adjustments. So I have added several projects to my list, both to update my kit and also add some elements of fashion that I had frankly never bothered with.

For example: Back in the day, a shield had to have an edge wide enough to prevent them from being inserted into the bars of a helmet. That is now a thing of the past, a shield edge now needs only to protect your opponents sword from undo damage and to do the same for your shield. I knew that but still built massive shield edges out of habit and because that was the material that I had at hand. So the last couple events I felt like I was wearing the big hair and shoulder pads of the eighties when compared to other equipment being used.

So to start with, in the last six weeks, I have reworked all my swords to be the minimum diameter and as light and fast as possible. The shield I had recently painted and rebuilt needed a smaller sleeker edge and that has now been done as well. I now have to paint this new edge to match the design on the shield.

Troubled Times (written Thursday July 12th)

Well I must apologize for not having posted recently. I should be posting more regularly again. Three main issues have kept me off the SCA list field and missing most of the local activities as well for the last six weeks.

First, my mother has been in and out of the hospital since last November. Her condition has become more troubling and she has not been home since mid May. We have had a couple scares and most of my family’s free time has been spent at the hospital. She has developed a long list of stomach and intestinal issues that have no apparent cause or solution. She is having an exploratory surgery today with the hope that something can be discovered to explain her condition. We are all keeping our fingers crossed. Otherwise the Doctors seem to have run out of ideas and are advising some kind of managed care or visiting nurse and to hope for a recovery. In fact this is being written while waiting at the hospital.

In June my wife went on sick leave, partly as a result of all this stress in dealing with my mom’s problems ( and also from living with me). So I have been trying to spend more time (when not at the hospital) helping my wife out around the house and generally being supportive. She seems to be doing better now and is almost good as new. This is at least one bright spot on the horizon.

Lastly my local SCA group is in the process of melting down. Since very early this year some long simmering problems have all simultaneously boiled to the surface to cause the local group to explode into yelling, screaming and finger pointing. I must admit that one individual seems to be involved or has been involved in every flap we have had for the last 2 years. He is also deeply involved in the present unpleasantness. In point of fact he is the central item being fought over. A dozen plus people have decided they have had enough of his trouble making (myself included). As near as I can figure another 6 people actively support the troublemaker ( I think many have not known him long enough) and another dozen or so are trying to stay neutral and out of the whole problem.
While normally I would be in the neutral group, I must confess In this case I had already concluded the best thing to do was ignore him. However after having two problems in dealing with kids, it was clear he had to go before he actually hurt someone. He has also alarmed several people with his temper and lack of control. His behavior seems to be the opposite of everything the SCA stands for. We are supposed to act with honor, chivalry and protect the weak.

So with all the problems outlined above there has not been much time or incentive to attend local functions. With things on the mend with my Wife and Mother, its time to help work out things with the local group.

In subsequent posts I will catch up with what has been done in the last 6 weeks SCA wise.
Skalla