[Bryn-gwlad] Combat archery prep (was Re: Would-be combat archers?)

[Sir Lyonel Oliver Grace]

Salut cozyns,

Well, I still haven't received too many responses. So far, looking over the 
messages of the past few days and adding those to the direct replies to my 
query, I see four would-be combat archers:

Caladin, Rhiannon, Sosha, and Ysabeau.  Any others?

Of these four, I know that Caladin has all the necessary armor and that 
Ysabeau has approximately none. I'm not going to address obtaining the 
weapons and ammo, but I think I can guide Ysabeau (and any interested, 
lurking would-be combat archers) to the required materials together without 
over-stressing her checking account. Corrections, additions, and 
counter-recommendations are most welcome.  :-)

After reviewing the minimum requirements in the participant's handbook, 
you'll undoubtedly conclude that you must have:

- a helm with chin strap and padding
- a gorget
- couters (elbow cops) and elbow pads
- vambraces, bazubands, or similar forearm protection
- leather gloves or equivalent
- demigauntlets
- lower torso armor (covering the kidneys, floating ribs, and bottom point 
of the sternum
- groin protection
- poleyns (knee cops) and knee pads
- sturdy shoes or boots

For a fighter who intends to stand toe-to-toe with an opponent on the field 
of battle, I would usually recommend at least greaves, rerebraces, 
spaulders, cuisses, and chest protection.

For an archer who does not intend to do any such close-range combat, I 
reduce that recommendation to high-topped boots and chest protection. I 
think chest protection is extremely important in any situation where you 
might take a fibreglas spear to the chest, and even an archer who intends to 
drop and yell yield will occasionally find him- or herself turning around 
and walking chest first into an enemy spear point. You might choose greaves 
over just boots, but that's primarily to protect your shins from low-lying 
branches and the sprawled arms, legs, and weapons of the dead.

So, here are my itemized get-'em-on-the-field recommendations:

- a helm with chin strap and padding:

Contact my squire, Martel. She located a Ukrainian dealer who supplies 
inexpensive helms that don't look like crap. Otherwise, most of the 
half-decent helms I've seen on-line of late start at around $200.

- a gorget

Make your own from boiled leather and a sleeping pad (blue closed-cell 
foam). Talk to Don Maelgwyn or Martel for guidance.

- couters (elbow cops) and elbow pads

Sir Gaston could possibly tell you how much money and time it will cost to 
make your own, or you can buy. The best combination I've found of price and 
quality are at http://spiers-saddlery.stores.yahoo.net/cops1.html

- vambraces, bazubands, or similar forearm protection

More boiled leather. Same references.

- leather gloves or equivalent

I like deerskin. It's cheap, lightweight, sturdy, readily available, and you 
can launder them. Street hockey gloves add a little extra padding (if you 
don't mind the mundane look).

- demigauntlets

- lower torso armor (covering the kidneys, floating ribs, lower spine, and 
bottom point of the sternum)

Leather and padding again. At least 12 ounce leather (minimum of 3/16" 
thick) or lighter leather reinforced with solid plates. Allow me to restate 
that I strongly recommend extending this protection up over your chest (a 
leather, plastic, or metal breastplate).

- groin protection

For men: sporting goods stores. For women, you're probably better off making 
your own out of 1/2" thick padding. A thin layer of leather or suede glued 
onto the outside will make it last.

- poleyns (knee cops) and knee pads

Sir Gaston could possibly tell you how much money and time it will cost to 
make your own, or you can buy. The best combination I've found of price and 
quality are at http://spiers-saddlery.stores.yahoo.net/cops2.html

- sturdy shoes or boots

I'd recommend ropers, motorcycle boots, or logging boots.

Cowboy boots have too high a heel, and most hiking boots are too low to 
protect your ankles. If you add a pair of greaves, hiking boots, tennis 
shoes, or football cleats will work. Of course, most of these choices won't 
look too medieval.


lo vostre per vos servir
Meser Lyonel
_________________________________
Micel yfel deth se unwritere.
		--AElfric of York





>From: "Ysabeau" <ysabeau at mail.ev1.net>
>Reply-To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>To: "'Barony of Bryn Gwlad'" <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] Would-be combat archers?
>Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:23:52 -0500
>
>I am interested in combat archery on an occasional basis (can we say, Gulf
>War?). I'm a complete newbie in that regard...I've never participated in 
>any
>martial arts but watched the archers last year and thought "Now that I can
>do!".
>
>So, I would be starting from scratch...but no hurry as Gulf War is only six
>and half months away ~eek!~.
>
>Ysabeau
>~off to research minimum armor requirements and to check my checkbook~
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: bryn-gwlad-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org
>[mailto:bryn-gwlad-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org] On Behalf Of Sir Lyonel
>Oliver Grace
>Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 5:07 PM
>To: bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org
>Subject: [Bryn-gwlad] Would-be combat archers?
>
>Salut cozyns,
>
>Okay, so now that most of the smoke has cleared, I have a few questions
>about combat archery preparations:
>
>1 - How many folks here in Bryn Gwlad are asking to be authorized as combat
>archers?
>
>2 - Of those interested in being authorized as combat archers, how many 
>have
>
>sufficient armor?
>
>3 - Of those interested in being authorized as combat archers, how many are
>currently authorized for chivalric combat?
>
>I'm afraid my weekends are booked until October, but if any of my plans for
>a Sunday fall through, and if I make it to the Round Rock practice, will
>there be a combat archery marshall present to make the practice official? 
>If
>
>not, I don't mind coming out just to provide a moving target, but it's
>pointless if you're not armored.
>
>Meser Lyonel
>_________________________________
>I love combat archers--especially Trimaran combat archers--preferably
>stuffed with truffles and sauced with galingale and pepper.
>
>
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