Well, it is almost complete. I won't say finished as I don't believe it will ever be finished as I add bits, tweak bits etc.

Today I had the full harness on and rode in it. I ran some dummy passes with Michelle and it was wonderful. There are some bits that still need a tweak but all in all it was great.

Just a bit of background to my going 15th C.

Many years ago, when I first started this whole re-enactment lark, well before I decided that I even wanted to joust I joined a group in Newcastle that was mainly Dark Ages. I was never that keen on Vikings but it was the only group anywhere near me, (it was a 5 hour drive round trip every second weekend to train) one of the guys (Darren) had a 15thC Gothic harness. This was my idea of what a knight should be and one weekend he let me try it on. I thought it was the most wonderful thing. This pic was taken about 15 years ago and I am all of 20.
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Over the years I have done a lot of different periods and I have tried to do them as well as I can, but the 15thC and that Gothic harness has always been my dream. Well, maybe not that harness :D

I would like to thank Jiri Lucius for making me a beautiful harness. It truly is gorgeous. It fits like a glove and the workmanship is amazing. Jiri is amazing to work with, he is committed to bringing to reality the vision of his customer. I cannot say enough good things about Jiri.
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All layed out ready.
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The spurs are a pair of the Deepeka 15thC. I pulled off all the crap fittings and leather, made some new fittings, polished them up and did some subtle file work on the rowels. I was pretty happy with how they came out.

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Turn shoes from Historic Enterprises.
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The saddle is a 15thC saddle that a friend (Luke Binks) and I built. Next one will be better.
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With 'Acorn hat' that I made a few weeks ago.
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Luke Binks made this for me, it will be here next week.

Isn't it gorgeous.

Luke is becoming a very talented armourer in his own right.
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A huge thank you to my wife Michelle for helping me realise my dream. I couldn't do this without her, she is my inspiration, my rock, she keeps me sane. Love you babe

That looks great! Very sweet indeed. I am happy for you.

Jaw-dropping gorgeous harness, Rod! I'm very jealous! :p

wow (pauses to wipe drool from chin) im sooo jealous


-james

Congratulations and very impressive: It's always nice to see someone making his dreams a reality ( Or a semi-reality assuming that you are as sane as you say. :p :lol: )

I'm almost embarrassed not writing pages and pages of praise as the above seems too short considering all the money, waiting time and effort in you're getting such a nice kit put together. :cool:

Thanks guys. But really the praise should go to those that have the skill to be able to make the above. All I did was order and pay for it :D

I love the gothic look but most harnesses made in that style seem to busy to me. Yours is very clean but still captures the look very well. Congratulations!

Thanks Patrick, I do intend to have the brass buckles all gold plated and some gold plated fittings made for it.

The Great Bascinet will be here Wednesday and I will be setting it up ready for the weekend. Photos on Sunday in full tournament rig.

Great kit! Looks amazing! What's the sword?

It's a Windlass Towton (there is a review on this site). I cleaned all the lacquer off it as well as stripping the grip and redoing it. I also made the wood cored scabbard and belts for it.

Rod,

Excellent suit! Not much more to say but it looks great.

Randall

A very nice kit. I do have a question though. I'm not horribly familiar with all the ins and outs of armor, but in the pictures where you are on the horse there seems to be a noticeable gap between your sallet and the top of your neck defenses (gorget?) Is that normal? How much does the whole ensemble weigh? Do you think you can do any handsprings or vaulting into the saddle with it? :)

The gap between the sallet and bevor shouldn't be much of a problem. In the pic he is sitting upright but when you lean forward into a charge the gap should close up. Also, he has a beautiful great bascinet on the way so I don't think he is too worried about how his sallet sits.

-James

P.S. I love the acorn hat, do you have instructions on how to make it?

Within certain limits a gap can be an advantage since one can tilt the head back to get a bit more air to breathe and tilt forward to close the gap: Sort of turtleling the neck. ;) :eek:

With the jousting frog shaped great helm one would not want to risk a gap, but with a fighting helm the gap might be an acceptable compromise.

Fit would be critical in that one wouldn't want the lip of the bevor extending too far forward and blocking the lower rim of the visor from closing the gap: How one tightens the bevor close to the face should be adjustable.

With my off the rack armour from Mercenary Tailors ( Not the same level of fit obviously compared to a measured and fitted custom armour. ) I find that adjusting the bevor makes a lot of difference when I use my MT articulated neck sallet: Visor getting or not getting hung up on the bevor lip.

With my Valentine eyeslot kettle hat the much wider brim doesn't need a closely fitted bevor.

From below though I can see that there would remain a possible gap in the defence were a spear or sword aimed from below could get between the helm and bevor.

Just my personal impressions with very limited wearing of my armour. ;)