[Ansteorra] painting fencing masks

[Stefan li Rous]

I want to thank everyone who has already replied to my inquiry. Several aspects have come up that I originally never anticipated.

If I remember, without going out and digging out my fencing mask from doing some SCA rapier combat some ten years ago, the wire mesh is black. I thought *all* fencing masks came with the wire mesh painted black. Is this not true?  And as I think about it, mine may be a gloss black rather than a flat black.

Thanks,
  Stefan
PS: Yes, I am saving some of these comments for a future Florilegium file on this. :-)

On Mar 29, 2011, at 6:12 PM, Chris Zakes wrote:
> The basic dilemma is this: To the best of our knowledge, fencing masks weren't developed until a century or two past the SCA's period. Nevertheless, SCA safety rules (and common sense) require proper face and head protection. So you're left with two choices, a modern fencing mask, or a rapier-legal period style helm.
> 
> Both options have problems. A fencing mask is, indeed, a glaring modernity on the field, but I'll ask the purists: is it any less anachronistic than a Norman or any other early-period fighter wearing a full helm--also required by SCA safety rules--instead of a pot-helm? And while period-style helms looks good, how often would a 16th century fighter be wearing *just* a helm along with "street clothes"?
> 
> As for painting them, personally I don't have a problem with it, although some other folks do. One painting option that hasn't been mentioned yet is using a flat black paint to make the grillwork easier to see through, so it looks less like a mask and more like a face.
> 
>        -Tivar Moondragon

--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
   Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****