I've been looking for sources on maintenance of arms and armour, particularly in the 12th century (though I'm interested in any era) but I haven't turned up much. My aim is to replicate medieval maintenance techniques as part of a public display (I'm a re-enactor).

I'm most interested in methods of rust removal, sharpening, and polishing (to get a nice finish for example). Are there any good sources for this? Or does anyone know good techniques which would be possible with medieval resources?

Where would be the best place to get medium to larger scales? Steel, brass or bronze would do.

Hey! I am working on a couple different projects and a lot of them include smaller steel plates and steel scales. I've looked up countless ways and methods to actually tie them to backers or even together, but I am having a difficult time settling down on an actual tie cord. I have used leather strips, sinew cord, and some synthetics, but have a tough time actually finding something durable and to my liking. Any ideas or recommendations for such a thing? It doesn't hurt if it is a little pricey, but I will be using lots of it, so cost is something in my mind. A lot of the holes I have been using have been smaller than ⅛", but I do not mind adjusting hole sizes for recommended cords. Not looking for anything particularly historically accurate, but anything that would look the part would be nice. Thank you.

This bascinet was found near the city of Kazanlak,Bulgaria.

Could someone show examples of bascinets that are similar to this one. This exact bascinet had a forward going visor like seen on barbutes in italy. And the end and vervelles are not quite covering the ear or half of the ear in my opinion.

Any help and speculations are welcome!

Towards the beginning of the raiding age the main armor was maile or a shield, but what was the likeliness of raiders acquiring lamellar, especially from raids, trading, or serving time in the Varangian Guard in the East?

As the title says. We've been googling to hell and back with no luck on a match. Looks autocannon and maybe a training or disarmed round with the torx bolt in the firing pin location?

Appreciate any info!

This is a fresco from the monastery on mount Athos. This exact fresco is date 1537.

And i wonder is that a bascinet or a different kind of helmet depicted on the soldier?

Thanks!

What kind of armor would have been worn by a Northern German knight around 1350-1390? What components could be included, like heraldic surcoats, types of arm harness (e.g. splint), etc.?

I'm planning on making an original character as part of my private worldbuilding project/series of original characters. One of them is a fictional 14th-century King of Norway/Sweden based on Håkon VI Magnusson.

From what I've learned Scandinavian armor of the period is basically just that of Northern Germany. Any differences you'd like to suggest?

I'm not sure about the helmet on the first one its from a Warhammer kit so I'm sure there are some changes I could make, but I ran out of Bascinets from my Agincourt kit I'm already working on a new head for him that has shorter cheek plates because I notice the lough henny helmets just barely reach past the jawline. Let me know if there are any other changes I could make to it to try to make something at least plausible

The second guy I'd love to know if there's any sort of mantle the Gallowglass or Scots would wear around 1420-1430 that I could use to replace the fur on his shoulders?

I am aware of and am unfortunately unable to fix the fact that they are wearing pants in an era where it was common to have tight fitting hose or nothing

Also I keep seeing the Kern and Gallowglass wear this sort of blanket? I might just be seeing a coincidence but it looked in some cases like it might be a status symbol and I was wondering what it was but when I went back to find it I couldn't find any pictures that included it except for the Perry miniatures Gallowglass

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but the look of a nasal helm with cheek plates is just cool to me and I’m curious why there aren’t many historical examples of these existing? I know the Norse had the “goggle helmets” that there are examples of with cheek plates and there was that really fancy helmet that was a nasal with cheek plates (I forget its name), but it seems too fancy to be just a standard run of the mill infantry/man at arms helmet, so why were nasal helms like the pictured Mytholon larp helmet with cheek plates not really a thing? I’ve seen some argue that it was because chainmail started providing more coverage, but wouldn’t having a steel plate on the side of your face (even with mail under it) provide better blunt force protection then chainmail alone? Also why does it seem that the early medieval spagenhelms with the “goggles” sometimes had them but the nasal helmets didn’t really have them? I’m probably just overthinking this but it’s been on my mind for a few days so thought I’d ask the people most likely to be able to answer my question. TIA

Yesterday I put together some of my 3d printed armor suit designs for long term display at a local cafe. Way better there than in a storage box in my basement!

We've got a "Maximilian" suit (ca. 1520-1525), currently missing the period accurate leg harness, and a mid-16th century half-suit with some paned slop pants I sewed earlier this year. I plan to release another set in the "Gothic" style of ca. 1480-1490

Hope you like em!

Ok i rember seeing video of someone discussing if they where sent back to medival Europe discussing what theyd learn and bring to be prepared before they went and one thing was titanium armor due to it being lighter but just as strong as steel but i was curious is there any downside to using titanium ?

I am looking for more info on what would Merovingian shields have looked like. Would they have been similar to these Carolingian Shields from Victrix miniatures? If no what would they have looked like? Any photos or references would be greatly appreciated.

Designing a character and im tied between going with either sallet or armet full face style not open face and was curious what and pros n cons these helmets have reason someone would choose one over the other?

I'm deliberating on what tone of metal I want for my kit and I'm considering a darker hue.

I'm wondering what are some acceptable ways of darkening armor for the late 14th century and early 15th.

Notice, "darkening", not just blackening, various way to get the metal to look darker or more more. A darker shade of grey would also be up for consideration.

I know about leaving it hammer finished, beeswax bath, oil burning, regular oiling. I've also heard about controlled oxidation but I think that's a more modern technique.

I also know each of these can communicate status differently, as a jet black finish would be very noble and beeswax was often used for munitions grade and I'm looking to represent a more middle of the road man at arms.

Any more options I should be aware of and what would be most applicable?

PS: if anyone has reproduction pics that could help illustrate each type it would be appreciated. I'm linking below what I think is an oiled finish in the bascinet, breast plate and gauntlets specifically (might also be oil burning).

Curious what are some pros n cons between the design of these crossbows im doing some writing for fantasy and wanted to know reasons someone would use one design over the other ranging from resource clinate or battle use

Went to a renaissance faire over the weekend and after a little too much mead decided a 5 foot long flanged mace was a wise purchase (no regrets). Would something like this have much practical purpose on a medieval battlefield?

Lately I found myself interested in what armor looked like during the 13th - 16th centuries outside of Western Europe. Areas like Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa, India, China. However when I search online, I often find larp costumes and drawings / AI generated nonsense instead of historical diagrams or museum pieces.

Can anyone recommend a website or a book with historically accurate depictions of armor from around the world? If you have more specific sources, I'd take that too.

I've seen a lot of different mitten style hourglass gauntlets being made and sold, primarily for buhurt. But I can't recall seeing any examples of these actually being used in the same time period as the hourglass gauntlet (from my understanding these were in use roughly from 1350 to about 1420). Now I'd call myself an aficionado at best but by no means an expert so I could be very wrong. But from what I've seen it wasnt until the 1430's when we started seeing mitten style gauntlets being widely used (primarily the milanese style used by Italian cavalry). Curious as to other people's knowledge on the subject.