Hi all,
first post on this forum. ive just been getting into this whole collecting deal, so im still full of questions, one of which is as follows:
For SCA and other forms of live combat, what do you wear underNEATH your plate armor? And how do you lace it all (meaning leg plates, arm plates, spaulders etc.) up to stay in place?
Sorry if the question is a bit vague, but im just starting.
Thanks

Hi Will,

If you head along to a local SCA meeting I'm sure there'll be plenty of people willing to show you how they do it. A lot of SCA gear is designed to be quick and easy and as such won't be particularly historical, but will be practical (such as those kneepads used for skateboarding). The answer to your question really depends on the style of armour you have in mind and the degree to which you are willing to compromise historical accuracy.

A basic answer however, could be that you'd wear a padded gambeson or arming doublet, to which almost everything is laced. A simpler method, is to join all parts of the arm and shoulder protection with leather straps, up to the gorget, creating a one-piece system which is quite quick and easy to put on. The legs could be hung from a belt (as is common in the SCA) or form a pourpoint (more comfortable and historical, but more effort to make too).

I hope this helps.

Darren.

appreciate the advice. Are there groups of historical fighting reenactors apart from the SCA? Because I would definitly want to be able to do something a little more... realistic.

Greetings & Welcome Will. Here are a few websites to help put you on the path to historically accurate Western Martial Arts training. As for fantasy groups like SCA I'm afraid I would be of little help. Sorry but I'm not computer literate enough to provide links to the sites.*
Training:
www.thearma.org
www.aemma.org
www.scholasaintgeorge.org
Clothing:
www.revival.us
www.historicenterprises.com
www.revivalclothing.com

*[Ed.—Mr. Beck, simply writing the link as I have done above works fine. Note that you need spaces between your links for them to be readable, which is why they were not automatically working before. Regards, -Gabriel L.]

For plate armour of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, you want an upper body undergarment called an "arming doublet". On the lower half, you want leggings called "chausses" for the mid-late 14th c, split hose for the late 14th-early 15th c, or "joined hose" for the 15th c into the 16th c.

Generally, these garments are NOT padded, but designed to support the body, fitting closely, and providing the foundation to which the armour pieces are "pointed" or tied with laces through pair of eyelets, at the shoulders, upper arms and lower hem.

This site will interest you:

https://www.historicenterprises.com

Thanks for all of that. to answer where im located, I am currently in Greenfield MAssachusetts, a very small town closest to springfield then anything else.
Mr. Flynt, i see that most of the armor pieces on Historic Enterprises are very high priced, yet similar items on other armory sites are much cheaper. by the descrption I know that they are all made of the same material and to a similar degree of craftsmenship, so why the large price tag?

You're also not that far from the Higgins Armory in Worcester (www.higginssword.org).

You're also about two hours from a couple of groups in the Boston area, such as my own. If that's too far even class once a month is far easier than trying to figure it out on your own.

I also suspect that there is SCA at UMass Amherst.

Cheers,
Steven

I appreciate all the feedback, but as of now i am not mobile enough (trapped at school) to actually go to anything but the closest meetings. But, I am going to start saving money now so that when i am finally free I can really get into it!