Ever since I wrote my article on the Normans for Albion I've been getting e-mails regarding questions on how to manufacture items or modify existing ones. I certainly don't mind the questions, in fact I encourage them. However, I've noticed a trend that I don't care for. Far too many people seem to want a step-by-step run down on how to do something. In effect, they want their hand held throughout the entire process.

Anyone involved in this field of study for any amount of time can tell you, for years, if you wanted something you were going to have to make it yourself because there weren't any available, no matter what it was. In that sense we're very fortunate now, with all sorts of weapons and items of kit being available off the shelf, with much of it ready to go. Unfortunately, this seems to have stifled the "do it yourself" attitude in many circles. I've told many people, you're not going to ruin it. The worst you'll do is have to start over and that process in itself will be an educational experience. So don't be afraid to give it a try, in the end it will be very satisfying.

I don't mean this as a criticism, nor do I want to discourage people from asking questions, far from it. I just want to encourage as many people as possible to "Do it yourself!" After all, that's how the entire replica industry got its start, from people with just that attitude.

:D

Agreed. However, I don't see any problem with, for example, a first time scabbard, that someone would want all the help they can get. The problem is where people keep coming back and asking question that they should figure out on their own, or is entirely personal preference. eg. What color leather should I use? How wide should this be? How many stitches should be used? How many yards of fabric is necessary?

All of these questions are things people need to find out for themselves. I am going to be undertaking a scabbard project when my Albion Ritter (thanks to a lot of people here for helping me decide) comes in march. I'd like some advice and whatnot (still applies now, by the way, any opinions or necessary advice is by all means welcome, feel free to pm me) but, as partick said, it's a do-it-yourself prject, not a "follow a set recipe" project. You get so much satisfaction doing something yourself. I don't see why anyone would want to just follow the same guidelines and designs that somone else has already made. Be creative, try things out, it won't kill you to attempt projects without having your hand held the entire way and being spoon-fed ;)

I recently started making my first sword (my first endeavor into metalwork entirely) and I have to say, it has been a really rewarding experience. I agree that people should really just get out there and give it a try. Not to say that asking for help here and there is a bad thing, when I first started my sword project my uncle gave me some tips as to how to work the metal to get it to the desired shape, but after that he mostly left me to myself. Theres no reason to be afraid of messing up, in fact, I melted a small chunk of the edge off my sword during forging ( I wasn't paying attention) but I was able to salvage it by just making the blade more slender. Even if I were to ruin the sword irreparably, I would still be proud of myself and happy with the experience I was able to gain.

I understand that the objective of this great forum and its founders (who do a phenomenal amount work to maintain and moderate it as a high quality site) is not to create a "how to" tutorial on an infinite variety of weapons and armour.

That said, there may be room for some aspects of fabrication such as; traditional methods of craftsmen during the era when objects of interest to the forum were made, historical features of construction in accepted artifacts, and mechanical properties of real historic pieces that depend on the "how to" of heat treat, shape, joint construction, and whatever other fabrication aspects that happen to come up within the forum. My gut feel is that there is an inescapable element of "how to" that will overlap the primary subject matter of interest to the majority here.

It has been particularly rewarding to me that theories of forging techniques, materials available and utilized in medieval times, and the complex subject of manufacturing of swords and armour has been something I have been able to post questions about, and have authoritative and historical manufactuer-historians such as Peter Johnson respond to. I hope this can continue.

Check out the first installment of a new myArmoury.com featured article series:

[ Linked Image ]
The Workbench: An English Tuck (Estoc)
An article by Sean Flynt

Cheers

Well said, Patrick. :!:

I get a bit annoyed at numerous requests to "borrow" my hard researched patterns and give lessons on how to use them. Research is half the joy of reproducing historical artifacts. Just jumping into making the thing using someone else's studies can't help a student learn, IMHO. :\

I'm happy to share research including sources but the spoonfeeding thing is just not on.

Kel

The new Workbench series here should answer lots of common questions. I originally figured these would focus on arms upgrades, but they've already branched out into other areas and we've only just published the first one! I'd love to see somebody write a Workbench article about mail, clothing or other non-arms topics. We're not looking for experts, necessarily, just folks who have figured out how to do something or solve some common problem. Once these questions and answers have a permanent and formal home here, maybe that will take some heat off of individuals.