There has been a good deal of discussion around building kits. During these discussions, elements concerning buying vs. making vs. buying with intent to work to improve/alter the piece have come up. To help give more information on what's "invested" in this kit, here's a summary:

Soft kit:
Braies - I sewed these in linen, using an old pair as a pattern. $10, 1 hr.
Wool chausses - I sewed these in wool, using an old pair as a pattern. $10, 1 hr.
Shirt - I sewed this in linen - again, using an existing one as a pattern. $15, 1.5 hr.
Boots - low boots from Revival Clothing. $75.
Leather pouch - I made my own pattern and fashioned this one myself... $5, 2 hr.
Belt - from Historic Enterprises. $40.

Soft kit total - $155, 5.5 hours.

Military garments:
Surcoat & cloak: $125, 15 hours.

Armour:
Maille (hauberk, chausses, 2 coifs): I made everything in it's entirety, starting from 1 mile of galvanized electric fence wire. $120, ~ 400 hours.
Kettle helm: Unknown, since it's not actually mine, but retails for $175, I think.
Shield: Made myself, $35, 5 hrs.

Armour total - $330, 400+ hrs. :eek:

Arms:
Albion Next Gen Ritter: $680
Spear: Unsure of maker, estimated retail including shaft - $90, 1/2 hr.
Scabbard for Ritter: I made myself - $50, 15-20 hrs.

Arms total:
$820, ~20 hrs.

So... adding all this up, that yields $1430, and ballpark 440 hours - 11 full work weeks. :eek:

Future work will involve some minor sewing (1 hour max, free scraps), forging and fitting a dagger (estimate 20 hours, $50), and making a replacement for my out-of-period belt ($20, estimate 10 hours). If I make the proto-barrel helm like Patrick posted, I'm guessing 20-40 hours, $40 materials?

One thing to remember though - I already have the anvil, materials to make stakes and mandrels with, the forge is being rebuilt, sander, grinder, drill press, sewing machine... all of these tools are available at any time, no waiting, no expense. I also have a job that has a lot of down time, so I can work on some of this stuff (like weaving maille) while I am "working". No, it's not a government job... this isn't your tax dollars hard at work! It's putting mom and dad's sacrifice to put me through college to good use. :p

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from a galaxie far far away from a time before i knew better and did research..... ehhehehe (i'm in the black)

Congratulations Aaron.

Very nice work. I envy your skill and courage to undertake the mail! I hope to have a similar kit myself someday (after my kids go through college!)

I also appreciate your detailing the estimate of what it all took as one who is quallified by having actually done so much of it himself (as well as demonstrating good capability in your other posts such as the scabbard making projects.)

I would claim that in today's prices your kit has an approximate economic value of $10,000 U.S. (assumming you value your labor at somewhere around $20 per hour as a versatile but skilled "apprentice level" craftsman..... no offense intended/ compliments very intended.) With practice you could undoubtedly produce things faster, but then I would say your labor would be worth more per hour....! This cost is relatively consistent with estimates (yes some of them by game producers) that I found when attempting to research costs for equipping a basic foot soldier in medieval times. If you plan to go on and acquire a horse, pay for training, and equip a retinue...your pocket book has my condolences!

I fully support the helm choice too. I hate the constriction, discomfort, and limitation of vision from helms. You have enough to share that being able to communicate with the public is an admirable priority.

Greetings All, I ran into Aaron and his friend John at TRF this year. I probaly would not have seen them if it wasn't for their kits. ;) I was thinking "Gee, check these guys out" as they were walking towards me when all of a sudden "Hey I know you!" :eek: I have done TRF for quite a few years now and they were hot. Somebody was wanting a picture every time we turned around. They brew some fine mead too. ;) Sincerely, Patrick Fitzmartin

Cool outift Aaron, thanks for the pictures! I have a few questions:

1. How did you get the sleeves to taper so nicely? Is there a website with instructions and patterns?

2. How are your chausses held up?

3. What is appropriate hand protection for this era? Mail mittens? Leather gloves?

4. When your coif is unlaced, is it possible to push your head completely through so it sits on your shoulders, like a hoodie?

Propper hand protection, acording to the illustrations, is mail mitts.
Sheepskin gloves are worn by nobles, and used for Sword/buckler fencing as well, but I can't remember seeing them on armoured men.
Many have bare hands.

When it comes to the chauce, I don't have mail under my padded "leggings". The tights are allready covered by the hauberk, anyway.
The mail is riveted to a strip of belt leather, which is then sown onto the padded leggings.
It works quite well, and saves weight.

the Kingsmirror (1250) states the following about the equipment of a knight:

"The rider himself should be equipped in this wise: he should wear good soft breeches [hose] made of soft and thoroughly blackened linen cloth, which should reach up to the belt; outside these, good mail hose which should come up high enough to be girded on with a double strap; over these he must have good trousers made of linen cloth of the sort that I have already described; finally, over these he should have good knee-pieces madeof thick iron and rivets hard as steel

Above and next to the body he should Wear a soft gambison, which need not come lower than to the middle of, the thigh. Over this he must have a strong breastplate made of good iron covering the body from the nipples to the trousers belt; outside this, a well-made hauberk and over the hauberk a firm gambison made in the manner which I have already described but without sleeves.

He must have a dirk § and two swords, one girded on and another hanging from the pommel of the saddle. On his head he must have a dependable helmet made of good steel and provided with a visor. He must also have a strong, thick shield fastened to a durable shoulder belt and, in addition, a good sharp spear with a firm shaft and pointed with fine steel.
Now it seems needless to speak further about the equipment of men who fight on horseback; there are, however, other weapons which a mounted warrior may use, if he wishes; among these are the "horn bow" and the weaker crossbow, which a man can easily draw even when on horseback, and certain other weapons, too, if he should want them."

Thanks for the replies Aaron!