France C 1340. Ranulf de Sainte-Croix, knight, prepares in his modest encampment for the days tournament.

Cleaning his sword of war (Albion Duke). Leaning against the trestle table is my blunt tournament sword (Peter Lyon blade).

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Equipment for the days sport.

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A wine before mounting up ;)

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Checking his destrier for the days sport.

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Great looking gear Rod!

Man I need a horse. :D

Wow! Fantastic kit! I love the helm...One of these days, I need to figure out how to contruct a crest for a cheap sugar loaf helm I picked up.

Man, that's impressive. Living History event, I presume?

Thanks guys.

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Living History event, I presume?

Actually it is my back yard :D I have just purchased the chairs and was keen to see how they looked with all my other gear and it just sort of snowballed ;)

I have not done a living history event in years due to being so preoccupied with jousting as sport. I miss re-enactment and am getting back into it. This is one of my favourite periods so I am putting it back together.

I have also ordered a new 15thC gothic harness and have formed a late 15thC company at war as well as a brotherhood at tournament to combine the jousting with re-enactment/living history to give it more depth.

Very impressive: Words fail for once! And to prove it .................... :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

Very cool, Rod. Hope to see you stateside again sometime soon :)

I don't suppose I could trouble you for some detail pics of your hauberk - I remember you saying you used an expanding yoke for the shoulders and I would like to see how/where the arms and torso were attached. I know it takes a lot of adjustments that are variable to the body of the wearer, but seeing the details of a completed piece just helps grasp the whole concept.

Thanks for the photos, Rod. The whole arrangement looks wonderful.

Hey, nice to see the Duke with a period appropriate kit. Alas, I doubt I'll ever get a kit like that to go with my Duke. :\

Rod,
It's nice to see someone actually using ailettes. :) What are yours made from?

An enjoyable series of photos.

Are there any of the day's sport?

Regarding seams and authenticity, I have two pieces of info. First, from my researches (including some statements by the men you mention), seams in a mail garment appear to be the rule rather than the exception in existing pieces. Second, as documentable evidence for the yoke-top hauberk is limited to illustrations (no surviving physical examples, if memory serves) I don't think you would be too far out of line gussetting the armpits. If it improves how the piece moves (and your overall safety as a result), I say go for it, especially because you use your equipment for protection as much as appearance.

Thanks again and hope this helps :)

Jonathon is correct. Mail garments were made much like fabric ones. My recent work has shown me that a hauberk is much more than a tube with sleeves. A period piece of mail would have had whatever seams required to achieve the desired fit, and it was accomplished in any number of ways.

Just, bloody, great! Now, thanks to my Kithound of a brother, I have to get an entirely NEW early 14th century kit just to keep up!

Will the madness never cease!!!!!!

Actually, if any of you know Rod personally, both he and his wife, Mish, have the most exceptional kits in a variety of historical periods. I just don't know how their house holds it all ;) .

By the way, Brother, which horse is that?

But, great looking kit as always (and, as almost all of the sales are going through for lances and my "old" kit, I will be able to get my beloved Duke back shortly! - Russ, be looking for a money order and put me down on your que twice!)