[Craig Shackleton]

I'm pretty sure the red straps going around the backs of the helms are holding on the throat collar/gorget thing. There are two guys wearing the collars, and they are the same two guys with those straps.

[Sean Flynt]

Thanks for the image and the book tip, Mark! I've just ordered a used copy of the book for $45. Next step up was $80 and a new copy was listed for $245! I'm making it a policy to jump on these things when I can because the prices go nuts after they've been out of print for awhile.

[Mark T]

[Craig Shackleton]

I think that the reason that the throat collar works in this instance is that it isn't really a bevor at all. It looks more like the kind of thing we see on grand bascinets like this one, except I've never seen one held on by a strap before. I'm not an expert on this by any stretch, though.

[Ben van Koert]

Hi everyone!

I'm somewhat back from the grave, after a 4 day camp, 2 day tourney, work and a trip to the veterinary, but now I can finally write you guys back. Thanks so much for the book link! This is indeed a book I'll appreciate, one can never have too many information.

About Sally, well, I can sum it up quite like this: She's a mean tough babe!
It was wonderful fighting with her. For the tournament I chose another setup than in the photos I posted earlier in this topic, without the maille standard and voiders, but with brigandine spaudlers and spring steel lightweight armpieces. Sans the standard, the bevor fitted much closer and better, although I'd still like to have it more up, so probably I'm going to add the spring to keep it up.
In the videoclips I made, I noticed that in my fighting position, the sallet comes down a lot more and the protection is much better, while allowing for a lot of breath.

The weight of the sallet is marvellous, as mass comes with it's own protection. Due to a misunderstanding I recieved two solid polaxe blows vertically to the head, and I felt very little of it. Damage: a tiny dent in the crest, almost invisible to see.
After the hits I was mortified, but after I saw how well she took the blows, I had the guts to wear her in the rougher parts of the tourney too.





Here are some more photos of the event:
http://www.oypo.nl/pixxer.asp?id=C562DE4FA1D646C6

http://www.oypo.nl/pixxer.asp?id=5FCC718FA1E3233A

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60338&a...b04679b0f6

[Sander Marechal]

[Ben van Koert]

I hope this'll work:
http://www.facebook.com/v/1421839622711
This one's a bit rough. In my role I was defending one of the ladies' dog's honour, so that explains the dishonourable blows at 1:30..

I'm in this one as well, fourth fight:
http://www.facebook.com/v/1422465718363

[Mark T]

But you redeem yourself with a nice disarm!

[Sander Marechal]

Great videos Ben, thanks for posting them.

[Wayne Norman]

Those chaps with the leather strap around the helmet look like are wearing wrappers on the front of an armet, the date of the painting, and the style of armour depicted, would put it bang on to when armets were in common usage, those raised visors look just right for an armet too.

this armet has 2 straps, but I've seen some with only 1, I'm off to the royal armouries in Leeds on Sunday, I'll have a look there, I seem to remember they had a few armets last time I was there e few years back.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/20.150.1

[Robert Hinds]

Thats....an awesome...awesome helmet ben, your'e a lucky guy to have her.

I've got to stop talking about peices of steel like there women...

[Colt Reeves]

[Ben van Koert]

Hi Colt,

It wasn't a historical reference, I was actually defending the honour of a dog of one of the ladies involved in the tournament. It was an actual tournament, but we spiced it up for the audience by playing a role, with historical basis and we're trying to be as chivalrous as possible. It was all spontaneous improv, so some weird situations did occur.

The point was, one of the competitors had made an insulting remark about this dog and the lady who took care of it for the weekend was 'offended' by this. The dog had been called a pig. When word got out, I couldn't help bu to chastise the other knight for it. Too bad he wasn't experienced with polaxe, so it's a bit sloppy.

Here's a far better fighting video of me and a friend at the same event.
Legal targets in this fight are the armpits, behind the legs and the top of the helmet. It didn't wear the sallet for this fight though, but at the end of the fight I wish I had. I didn't get enough air with the other bevor.
http://www.facebook.com/v/1426359735711

Here's another fight in which i do wear the sallet, same targets:
http://www.facebook.com/v/1465698039144

[Blaz Berlec]

Ben, haven't you bought some large pauldrons? I see you're using brigantine spaulders here.

[Ben van Koert]

I do have a pair of pauldrons and two pairs of spaudlers. one of this pair is cloth covered like my brigandine and the other pair has besagews. I've found the pauldrons to be a tad restrictive while on foot and in combination with the brig. It also tends to scrape over the brig, and I don't like this unnecessary wear.

When my cuirass will be ready next year, it'll come with another pair of pauldrons. I hope both pairs will be better when used with the cuirass. I'm planning to eventually do more horse related stuff, so that's then they'll really come in handy more.
I prefer mobility over protection. To give some more protection I'm waiting for my 6 mm riveted maille to arrive this december. Hopefully these will fit under my spring steel arms, unlike my 9 mm maille.

[Blaz Berlec]

Cuirass also by Albert Collins of Via Armorari?



I'm also in waiting list for a cuirass and arms, but from Ukraine. Since I have at least half a year before my armourer begins working, I'm spending my time researching.

[Mark T]

And riveted 6mm mail from where?

[Ben van Koert]

Due to budgetary considerations the cuirass and pauldrons will be made by Mark Vickers, but he does a great job too. Last weekend at Tournament of the Phoenix I saw Toby Capwell's new cuirass by Per Lillemund-Jensen and it was absolutely stunning. It's the same cuirass as I had in mind, so I hope mine will not be dissappointing, as Per is just about the best armourer I know.
Fitting sessions are planned at Sterckshof and Tewkesbury next season.

I've ordered the maille from malienkolders.nl, I know and like these guys, so if I'm going to spend money anyway, I prefer to give it to people I like.

[Johan Gemvik]