Shelagh posted this link to DAS:
http://www.kongensborge.dk/index_uk.php?pageid=seneste_nyt_uk

I think it's great, and it's spurred me to ask some questions. I now know that at least one shield existed in 10C Denmark (it's like the mathematician and the sheep). I know it was made of fir wood, had a diameter of 32", and was painted. I'd like to know more about the paint and design, any weapon marks in it, how the hand attached to it, and more about the boss, but maybe more of that will emerge over time.

So this is a much better piece of evidence than thorsbergs, which are wrong era and possibly wrong location.

But it's still only one piece of evidence. I was wondering if the historical scholars amongst us could furnish ferny with more finds of shields (to keep me happy about the physical dimensions etc) and other sources which depict them as being in use, and to what extent, and info on their bosses and paint designs.

Our wiki on shields currently has this info:
http://wychwood.wikidot.com/kit-shield
It links to two very good sites, one on construction, the other on finds. Can we better the second, or do we not really want or need to as his is top-notch? (It really is a very good looking and reading article).

Our wiki on helmets, done by Bunni, is IMO one of the top resources for this type of question which I have found (on the internet):
http://wychwood.wikidot.com/kit-helmets

I'd be happy to write up the outcomes of this thread onto the wiki if we can round up some good info.

Cheers very much,

Ferny

Basically I figure that I'm going to have a lot of spare time this year, and I've been asked by a number of people if I'm willing to make some maille for them. So far, I'm making maille bikinis for V, Abbey, and Helen from RPGSoc, and Joss has asked for a byrnie. If anyone else would like maille items, I'm quite willing to do Wychwood a special rate (basically materials and a little for my time, nothing near to commercial rates) so just ask if you're interested. Remember since I know you guys and I will be around lots, customisation and tailoring is really easy; and of course it means that should you have trouble with anything I'll be right at hand to help or fix any problems.

I also believe Dom may be taking commissions too, so I would suggest that you check with him as well since his waiting list may be shorter.

this looks fun :)

Breastplate (C15th)

I'll be using wool and also wool to line it (two different shades of green), but the material is quite thin, so it should nevertheless be comparatively light weight. I haven't started worrying about silk cuffs or fur around the edges yet. … Yet.

http://www.paul-binns-swords.co.uk/Seaxes.htm

I asked him about them in general, and he wrote ''if you are in regia you are not allowed
a hollow ground blade but must have a flat ground, slightly heavier one as
it is more authentic. also you are not allowed bronze bolsters. I am
guessing you are not in regia.''

So.. can anyone point me in the direction of what resources there are re. langseaxs so i can decide what I want? Chris - what was that saxon book you mentioned, and do you know who has a copy? What is the evidence for the different types - and how come regia are so specific?

if anyone has any pointers or advice it would be much appreciated :)

Thanks a lot!

xj

And secondly, who currently has a copy of the exact Thorsbert pattern after which e.g. Ferny's Thorsbergs (which fit me) were made? I think there were two around, one with Shelagh (?), and one somewhere among the rest of Wychwood (Ferny? Freya?). If YOU have it, could you please bring it to the next bp/km please, my other trousers are somewhat ripped and I want to get proper ones, like decent Thorsbergs!

I'm at a point where I need to attach arms to what is currently my chainmail vest. I have done the some fancy underarm pit making and that's all fine, so I now have a more or less circular opening for the arm. However, to actually attach arms I looked at different mail-making sites (English, German and Spanish ones) and most of them don't mention which direction the rows go on the arms. Those which do, either imply that they just continue down over the shoulder (i.e. horizontally when holding the arms straight to the side), while I also found diagrams where it appears that the rows go round the arm and there's a kind of seam by the shoulder where the horizontal rows of the main body (from neck to arms) meet the circular ones going round the arm. How did you (Dom, Jeannie, whoever else has chainmail) do it? How do findings of Saxon/Viking short-sleeved chainmail have it?

Thanks

I just got back from the Outer Hebrides, where i found most of a sheep fleece that had fallen off a sheep on the hillside. so being thrifty i collected it. now i have a huge fluffy sheep fleece full of crappy bits of vegetation and lanolin and spray paint. How do i find myself some cards (?) and then create it into something beautiful?

aaaaand i bought lots of blue harris wool, and am now wonderign whether anyone out there has ever done knitting with harris wool, and whether i should wash the wool before or after i knit a jumper?

we should take a mystery trip to the outer hebrides, it is amazing! we went to the stones of callanish, on Lewis, which are over 5000 yrs old and laid down before the peat was created, and were super cool. definitely worth a visit.

emxx

sooooooooo we can now repaint all the shields. i reckon by adding white emulsion to the vile green shelagh pppp and i found we may be able to match the original wychwood green, or make a new version of it…

also, WW needs a banner. buuuuut to do this i need a sewing machine and some intelligent use of applique (which i can'tdo/have never done). sooooooo anyone out there with knowledge pls let me know!

the result of this is that i feel we need a kit day/evening some time in the new term to sort it all out (new committee hint hint). and large amounts of black and green cloth. will see what i can do to get that before i come up, but if anyone has either WW green or black fabric at home/college, could they let me know please, so i don't buy masses of it unecessarily?

c u all soon!

emxx

What do we need and where can we get it? There are various scrap metal merchants around Oxford who may have suitable steel…

now… off to a pub lunch…