Late 14th C Knightly Harness (Jeff Wasson) -- myArmoury.com

Ian S LaSpina · Last edited by Ian S LaSpina on Thu 15 Sep, 2011 1:43 pm; edited 1 time in total

Ladies and gentlemen, as some of you know, a few months ago I had the privilege of meeting with Jeff Wasson at his home and workshop in NY to have measurements and casts done for a late 14th century harness. Jeff was kind enough to send me some of the progress pictures yesterday, and with his permission I would like to share them with the community. Seeing the pictures for the first time has made me incredibly excited for the finished pieces, as I think they look spectacular. Jeff is wonderful to do business with, does amazing work, and is a great guy, I can't recommend him highly enough!

I'm working on an impression of a late 14thC English Knight. I decided to go with an arm harness with integrated shoulders as can be found on most English effigies of the time. Jeff is creating the arm harness, a pair of hourglass gauntlets, plate cuisses, and cased greaves for me. All the pieces are made from 1050 hardened spring steel.

I will post more progress photographs as they become available. So far you can see the beginnings of the assembly of the arm harness, the cuffs and metacarpals of the hourglass gauntlets, the knee poleyns and the unshaped cuisses.

Joe Fults · Posted: Wed 14 Sep, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject:

That's going to be nice.

Real nice.

Randall Moffett · Posted: Thu 15 Sep, 2011 6:35 am Post subject:

It is going to be great. Jeff is an awesome craftsman. Some day I hope to have him make me some armour as I am very impressed with his work.

RPM

Ray Guethler · Posted: Thu 15 Sep, 2011 8:10 am Post subject:

Absolutely beautiful work! It is making a lot of us envious!

Greg Mele · Industry Professional

Ian,

You are in good hands. Jeff made my arm harness and gauntlets and they are *superb*. He has done arms and gauntlets for a number of CSG people now, and a fabulous leg harness for Christian Tobler. Honestly, I think he is doing some of the very best work in North America. And he is a *fabulous* guy, to boot.

Greg

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Sun 09 Oct, 2011 10:54 am Post subject:

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Mon 31 Oct, 2011 1:45 pm Post subject:

I just received a new batch of progress photos! These photos feature mostly the greaves, and then the gauntlets at the end, so close I can taste it now!

Job Overbeek · Posted: Mon 31 Oct, 2011 3:33 pm Post subject:

Drool..
Could you give an indication of the price of this suit?

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Mon 31 Oct, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject:

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Thu 17 Nov, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject:

Jeff sent me some more progress photos earlier in the week:

Just out of heat treat:

Grinding:

Buckle / Strap Attachment:

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Wed 23 Nov, 2011 9:52 am Post subject:

Today I received the photos of the completed pieces! I'm totally stunned and blown away by how they turned out. I should have them early next week, and simply can't wait to see them in person. Jeff did a stellar job with everything! Without further adieu:

arm harness with integral shoulder

hourglass gauntlets

cuisses and greaves

everything together

Ray Guethler · Posted: Wed 23 Nov, 2011 12:40 pm Post subject:

Stunning! Share a few action pics once you get it!

Greg Mele · Industry Professional

Ian,

I told you that you'd be stunned! Now, we need to see that beautiful harness on a human next!

James Anderson III · Posted: Sun 27 Nov, 2011 8:50 pm Post subject:

Beautiful armor. Congratulations!

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Sun 18 Dec, 2011 9:30 am Post subject:

Here are some shots of the harness on it's proud new daddy! Still waiting on my sword / scabbard order to be complete so I've got a stand in for now, when I get the Crecy I will take some more shots for the Kits and Harnesses thread.

edited to include list of artisans who made this harness possible:
Jeff Wasson - Vambraces with Integral Spaulders, Hourglass Gauntlets, Cuisses, Cased Greaves
Jeff Hedgecock - Late 14th Century Breastplate with stop-rib
Halberds of the Armour Archive - Sabatons
Armstreet - Houndskull Bascinet

I'm also editing together some short video clips of a mobility demonstration in harness. Should have a link up later today.

Till J. Lodemann · Posted: Sun 18 Dec, 2011 10:22 am Post subject:

Congratulations, very nice, I espacially like the arms!
How are you coming around with the breastplate, can you bend over easily, how's the mobility around the shoulders? And how much does it weigh altogether?

Ian S LaSpina · Posted: Sun 18 Dec, 2011 11:02 am Post subject:

Gregory J. Liebau · Posted: Sun 18 Dec, 2011 11:19 am Post subject:

Ian, I was hard-pressed not to comment until now. The harness turned out wonderfully! At first I didn't realize that it would be a composite work, and was under the impression Jeff would make everything. Now that it's all come together, I'm very pleased to see that the fit and finish on the various components matches so well. You shall be pleased with it for a long time! Let's just hope that we stay young, or our armor may quickly get a bit tight, ha.

I got to meet Jeff at Pennsic this last summer, but didn't get a chance to talk to him for more than a couple of minutes at a party. Seemed like a nice chap, and I'll have to bother him more the next time I have the opportunity. Cheers!

-Gregory

Thomas R. · Posted: Sun 18 Dec, 2011 2:38 pm Post subject:

Hi Ian,

your harness looks great. Congratulations! Have fun with it. Are you going to to some sparring in it, in other words: risk scratches and dents?

Thomas

Quinn W. · Posted: Sun 18 Dec, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject:

That looks great, and the custom fit is immediately apparent. Everything looks like it hugs your body very closely, especially on the limbs. It certainly doesn't look bulky at all.