Plessis Armouries

Been playing with raising some pointy floating elbows today. Roughed out and ground ready to be finished.

Only two weeks of frantic making left before TORM! Don't forget to pop by and say hello. https://www.facebook.com/693858023966259/ posts/2278277548857624/

When raising helmets I try and get the pattern cut to just the right size so I don't work a piece of steel just to cut it off. These are the trimmings from a pair of Norman conical helmets I came across as I cleared out some scrap from the workshop.

This is a helmet based on a surviving example in the Victoria and Albert Museum reserve collection. It is one of the few surviving examples from the 15th century attributed as English. My reproduction is raised in a single piece from low carbon steel with an overall thickness of 2mm. The visor (also raised in a single piece) is 1.5mm thick. It is unusual for a sallet visor slit to be joined in the centre like this one. The helmet has an attached quilted liner based on surviving examples.

Another Sunday in the workshop. Today I have been sewing a quilted liner for the latest raised sallet. The liner is four layers of fabric with wadding in the centre. Eyelets are sewn at the top of each point to attach a draw string. Tightening the drawstring lifts the helmet on your head. A leather strip is sewn along the edge and the whole thing is riveted into the helmet.

Here is the next project to leave the workshop. Leather covered armour based on several funery brasses from the mid 14th century. Over 100 decorated studs and cusped applied brass strips went into the construction of the armour holding in place the hand dyed vegetable tanned leather. Ground steel buckles and brass strap ends have been used to finish the job.

Sunday fun in the workshop. Cutting brass trim for a set of 14th century arms and legs.

The first bloomery demonstration 5 years ago at Tattershall Castle. Definitely need to do this more often. Anyone need a demonstration?

Here are some pictures of a pair of milanese half mittens. They are made on fully hardened and tempered cs70 spring steel and weigh in at 420g including the gloves. Each of the finger plates is secured with two rivets pushing up the number of rivets per gauntlet to 64! The finger plates are attached separately to the glove. This pair have been made to fit the small hands of my daughter and can be seen next to a gauntlet that would fit my hand in the pictures so you can see the size.

I've been a bit rubbish lately and haven't posted for a while so here are some photos of a pair of hardened and tempered spring steel elbows I've just finished.

Playing with the fires from hell! Heat treatment of a pair of greaves and knees.

This helmet is one of the very few items that I have in stock! Pm me if you would like further details.

Been a while since I shared this beauty.

Just thought I'd share a before and after picture of a barbute.

The final preparations for torm are done. These four bucklers will be available on my stall so pop by and say hello.

Just finished gilding the pomme for this kettle hat. 24 carat gold leaf on the pomme and brass starburst and plume holder. There should be lots of pretty things on my stall at Torm next weekend :-)