[Gabriele Becattini]

i'm putting together a late XIIIth century impression, my goal is to re-create a common foot soldier, apart from the soft kit, i have planned to buy the following items:


gambeson with full sleeves

padded coif

mail coif

mail covered gloves or mittens (required by my living history Group)

kettle hat of cervelliere

i need an help to select the most realiable vendors, they have to be based in europe and in to the mid price range

thanks in advance!

[Shahril Dzulkifli]

I am not sure where they are but I bet there are lots of companies that sell reproductions of late 13th century armour out there in Europe, be it in Italy, England, Spain, Germany, France etc.

[Baard H]

Nice selection of stuff, hope you'll post your finished kit when you get it.

The gambeson pieces should be available from http://www.gambeson.pl/medieval-on-line-shop.html for fair prices, I've only heard good about this place (mind that you do not buy from others reselling/taking commisions on behalf of them, then the results decrease drastically, if you want one of their gambesons this is the correct page).

The maille bits I'd suggest https://www.battlemerchant.com/Chain-Mail/Flatring-Round-Rivets:::5_115.html or http://gdfb.co.uk/chainmail-flat-ring-dome-riveted-38-c.asp depending on where you live, it's mostly the same products but one is EU the other is UK so the postage and customs might change which will be the cheapest for you. I'd also suggest go for flat rings mixed half solid half riveted rings, it saves you a little bit weight a little bit price and is just as inauthentic as completely round rings... I'd also suggest buying extra rings and the tools to work with them to customize the products to your own body and future repairs, one size might fit most but you need something that fit you!

Helmets, really depends on what you need it for. Both of the maille vendors listed also has helmets that's not too bad for looks in the time period you're after and they're cheap, but they only come in standard sizes that may or may not fit you (if you need a lot of padding for it to fit then no it does not fit) and their usefulness for receiving hits to the head is also an issue worth considering, you always get what you pay for but not much more.
I've heard this guy is reputable, but do not have any personal experience with his goods, but that should fit the mid-price range at least: http://www.tomala.lublin.pl/index.php?strona=...mp;lng=eng
http://www.tomala.lublin.pl/index.php?strona=...mp;lng=eng

If you can go up another price range and outside of Europe I can warmly suggest http://www.royaloakarmoury.com/, great service and great product.

[Mart Shearer]

[Gabriele Becattini]

HI Baard,

thank you for the suggestions, the polish maker that you have mentioned was already among the ones that i'm considering, the other one is Matuls, also from Poland

Toamala is a good recommendation, i know that he's a good maker, unfortunately i cannot afford commission from outside EU, otherwise Royal Oak would have been one of my first choice. for sure the helmet must be functional for re-enactement purposes and made to fit my head, so the only route is to go for a custom one, the mass production models are a way too big for me, as i have experienced in the past.

Mart. do you have other suggestions for the gambeson?