Help Needed for reenactment expenses -- myArmoury.com

Alessio J. Orlandi

My reenactment group is probably going to re-enact two different time periods: 1360-1390 and 1470-1500 (both north italian)
The question is always the same: are there any kind of helmets, protections, breastplates and so on that match both periods? For example, the kettle hat is widely used from 1200 to end of 1400 with just small differences occuring. I think that there also is some kind of bascinet in this relief that could really look like a celata of late XV century

Is there any piece of armour that could be "recycled" for both periods?
Thanks[/img]

Bruno Giordan · Posted: Wed 10 Jun, 2009 4:20 am Post subject:

A one hundred years span is an enormity in military costume It would be like reenacting ww2 in 1860s military uniforms.

Martin Wallgren · Posted: Wed 10 Jun, 2009 4:24 am Post subject:

If you got a good maille it will hold up for both periods.

Chuck Russell · Posted: Wed 10 Jun, 2009 7:11 am Post subject:

ya a short sleeved or 3/4 length mail shirt will be about the only thing that will cover both time frames

Bruno Giordan · Posted: Wed 10 Jun, 2009 10:17 am Post subject:

The basinets depicted are clearly proto-sallets, but the structural differences with a classic milanese sallet of the late XV century would be striking to an expert.

Clearly none in the public that attends our events at this stage of evolution of reenacting would take the slightest notice of your errors, neither most italian reenactors would or care for.

It all depends on the level of authenticity you have chosen, if you are stile the fair style of authenticity stage, as it is for most of our groups, you will be able to go with a lot of options that will appear already marvellous "knightly" to the general public so assuring applause.

I have noted that most groups do not really care for even a basic level of authenticity while the level of authenticity awareness of the general public is close to zero.

You could go with helmet "gotic" n° 9 here,a s for an example of a generalist helm

http://www.fabri-armorum.cz/helmet_gotic.htm

Or this "archer sallet" from Agincourt (fresh from the field ..)

http://www.battlemerchant.com/Helmets/Late-me...:1729.html

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 10 Jun, 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

One option is to do military living history with one group and civilian living history or off-duty soldiers/guards with the other. You could have two sets of nice soft kit and one set of accurate infantry arms and armour. Much of the civilian kit you could make yourself--purses, daggers, knives, professional equipment (medical instruments, for example), pots, tools, wooden items like boxes, shoes, etc.

That would probably be preferable to having two sets of mediocre or anachronistic arms and armour.

By the way, a simple spear with medium-size leaf-shaped head is inexpensive and appropriate to many different cultures and periods. Spears plus homemade daggers appropriate to each period would be one way to start doing your living history without a huge investment. You can add equipment over time as budget allows.