Gday,

i have been wanting to get a Brigandine

i have found these places that sell them custom to your sizes

http://www.loricamos.vizz.pl/?l=
http://steel-mastery.com/en/brigandine-armour/brigandines

has anyone had any experience with these guys at all, or can anyone reccomend a good place to get a decent Brig from

Cheers
Mick

Get what you pay for and postage outside AUZ may kill you.

Might try:

http://www.whiteroseapparel.com/brigandines.htm

http://www.armour-services-historical.co.uk/

Thread:

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...mp;start=0

Did not seem to be a whole lot of real good suppliers for historical brigs lst time I was curious about them Have seen one at Arma Bohemia at one time. Can also be expensive if you want the good stuff. If accuracy is lower on you priority lists then there are more options.

Greetings from downunder as well

I have ordered stuff from Steel Mastery and am just about to order some more. Joe is right the postage is pricey but the gauntlets I got (Wisby type) are excellent. Frankly, the postage is pricey from anywhere!

If a really basic style brigandine will do and you're prepared to customise it yourself to size, Ryan at Kult of Athena is the place to go.

If its a Coat of Plates rather than brigandine, try Wintertree crafts. I got the Wisby coat of plates and although basic, its very well made and Erik makes sure of the sizing.

cheers

mike

What Joe said.

White Rose Apparel and ASH are the two main suppliers. Michal Plezia on this board has also made a couple of nice ones, and Armoury 'Al-Master' (http://aldwarf.io.ua/) has had a couple over the years: http://io.ua/22328737

Yannick Epiard used to occasionally get mentioned in threads a few years back; his brigs were much more expensive.

Steel Mastery's look pretty ordinary; and the ones KoA stock are pretty horrible. I've heard (but haven't seen for myself) that the plates don't actually overlap. You asked for a 'decent' brig; like any armour, it really should be customised to you. Brigs are meant to be close-fitting just like plate; and off-the-shelf option is unlikely to cut it.

thanks for the reply guys

yeah off the shelf isnt goign to work for me... i am a big bastard, so it woudl have to be made to fit me

got a few options to look around with but more wouldnt hurt

Cheers
Mick

By the time you track down a manufacturer, show up for proper measurement, wait through completion and pay for the work and shipping, DIY might look a lot more viable and attractive. There are patterns online, including this: http://www.eskimo.com/~cwn/brig_craig1.html Material is widely available--steel sheet, linen, leather, velvet or fustian, brass rivets...

I'm not suggesting it would be easy, but anybody you'd hire to do the work learned just by doing it.

I'm keen to try a brigandine project soon!

Here's an Italian example of ca. 1470 in the Royal Armouries. Cover is dark brown or black fustian.

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Polar Bear Forge is now making brigandine kits, with all the plates laser cut and rivet holes predrilled. They are still on the first generation of manufacture, but a kit would be cheaper to buy and to ship, and then you can size it yourself.

Steel Mastery brigs used to be ok. I think they have lowered their prices and are using pop rivets for fastening the plates now. I have one of the old ones and it may not be top shelf but it's hand riveted and all plates are overlapping properly. It also has a proper waistline. Most of the cheap brigs are barrel shaped.
I have handled one of ASH's brigandines and even though they are in the upper level of the price scale you get a lot for your money. The attention to detail is outstanding.

I'm about to order a brig's from Whiterose myself. The price with shipping to AUS is about $1100AUD if my calculations are correct. Which seems reasonable after considering the cost to make having no materials and tools.

What turned me off making it is cutting the steel plates, which turned out to be the most 'costly' part of it. I figure once you have a brigandine you can re-use the plates to rebuild it yourself in future.

Would anyone have any pictures showing examples of ASH's brigandines?

Good luck with your decision!

Some ASH brigs: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1732...8707150785

Go with Ash. I got mine a couple of weeks ago. And it is truly a work of art.

ASH anyday. His work and understanding of the subject is exceptional as is his quality.

Tod

Both White Rose and ASH brigs are very good quality. I own an old White Rose brig, and it is very well built. I have tried on an ASH brig and I have to say, they are very impressive. Superb detail and very well built, with the plates hand tinned, and a lot of attention to getting the look right.
If you want a brig that looks authentic, fits properly, and will last, then I would recommend you buy from either of those two.