[Ansteorra] Rapier Armor Question

[Chris Zakes]

At 05:21 PM 2/27/2011, you wrote:
>Greetings Ansteorra!
>
>I thought I'd solicit some opinions, please forgive me for the
>bandwidth if your interest does not lie in rapier combat. I'm working
>to construct new armor from linen. I am to understand that 3 layers of
>5.3 oz linen is suitable for that purpose.

Well... that depends on the linen. You'll want to get a sample of the 
fabric tested by a marshal with a drop-tester after it's been washed 
a few times but *before* you start any sewing so you don't end up 
with a lovely new outfit with a small hole in it.


>My preference is a tunic in
>the "cotehardie" style, rather than a later period doublet. Where I'm
>getting into a pickle here is whether or not I should look at a linen
>"undergarment" that would be either 2 or 3 layers, and then a separate
>outer cotehardie or tunic that would cover it. I like this approach
>for the convienence it offers, I could change the outer look of my
>armor easily, and provide a more secure closure, in the form of a
>zipper on the undergarment.

Well... bear in mind that cotehardies went out of fashion about a 
century *before* rapiers were developed. If that doesn't bother you, 
then there's no reason not to go with the style you've described.

You might want to consider making the undergarment a single layer and 
the cotehardie or tunic of however many additional layers are 
necessary to pass. That way you can take off the outer garment to 
cool off, but still be covered.


>I'm mostly curious if anyone is using the above approach, and if so,
>how it's working out for them.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Andrewe Bawldwyn

My rapier armor is a single layer shirt and three layers in the 
doublet. I've used that technique for the last <sounds of thumping 
and bumping from the closet> five doublets I've made, so roughly 
twenty years. Yes, it works.

         -Tivar Moondragon