Scale Skirt project

Just a quick update.

I did not get the scale horsemans skirt done by Blackstone Raids. The cutting of the plates and the punching of the holes moves rather quickly once I get into the rythm but, hammering each plate to get the slight curve and to work harden the metal is a slow process.

I will continue to work on the skirt but I will bounce to other projects with more instant gradification. I will start on the curaiss this weekend. I will also work on the vembraces, too. there are also the sheaths for swords, belts, baldric and other things needed for the full armor.

I am excited about the whole project.

The Scale Skirt - Part 2

Yesterday I did more work on the scale armor. I rounded the ends marked out the places to punch the holes and finished up 5 complete plates. I planned to use some of the rings I cut for my chainmail to attach the plates. At this point I discovered why they call it experiential archeology.

With only photos of originals to work from it is hard to make out the details. I will explain this in a moment. First lets see what the scales look like.



Here are the originals.




Looking closely you can see the hole pattern and connection "staples". Well I was wandering why they refer to them as staples. Well I found if you make the holes for round links at the proper distance and then stack the plates it does not go together well. A more squared off staple shape works better. You get movement between rows of scales and a little side to side movement but not much, just enough to allow for body movement and muscle flex. The thing that was surprising was how strong the piece becomes when held together with 14 gauge brass wire. It is like building a semi -flexible plate armor. It would take a very good and well aimed upward thrust to get through this armor. The slight curve of the individual plates does not leave a flat surface and it flexes enough to absorb force and transfer it across the armor.

It is not going to be as flexible as I thought but it is much stronger then expected. I will see about getting a round link to work and see if it adds to the flex.

Here are the five plates that I connected.



The tools used.





More to follow as I get the full skirt assembled.

How to armor a 4th Century Jute

So, I am on the path to creating a 4th century AD jute warrior persona for the SCA. If you want to know what the SCA is check out www.sca.org.

I decided to make my kit as period as possible. It is a personal goal and challenge. I am starting my blog trip with armor since this has been the hardest thing to get hard information on. Most sources start with the Vikings and group all other things from Jutland in with the Celtic and the Roman Iron Age. Most finds of armor are listed as Roman since the Romans wrote that the celts did not wear armor.

So, we know that there was heavy trade with the Greeks and the Romans by the people of Jutland. The armies of the rest of the nations in the known world had armor so, why not the Jutes?

Next what would be possible period armor for a Jute and be protective for SCA combat.

The answer is a combination of armor that could be in the price range of a mercenary.

For the legs greaves. The Greeks used them and so did the Romans. Not hard to make.

The body will be a leather breast piece and belt with bronze plates and bronze lorica segmentata style shoulders. It would be something that could be made by imitation of items used by enemies. This will offer good protection, better than chain, and it will be lighter than other options.

The upper legs will be scale mail or Lorica Squamata. It was know to a wide range of cultures and was found in digs in Denmark dating to the 4th century. Very flexible and lighter than chainmail.

So that leaves the Head. I already wear a spangen helm but is it period?

That would depend on the spangen style. Mine is similar to one found in Deurne. It is a ridge spangen. Period for 4th century and know of in Jutland.

Well that is the plan for the armor of a Jute warrior in the SCA. I will post additional blogs as the armor comes together.