The Production of Medieval Arms and Armour

To produce the various types of arms and armour used today by the various Medieval groups many tools are required. These tools are available from most hardware stores for about $100-$500 dollars for good equipment. Some tools are very specialised and hence are not cheap to obtain or maintain, but one or two of the armourers will have access to this sort of equipment so there is no need to worry about buying them.

For creating the equipment for combat you need to have a reasonable size shed or large room to keep all your tools in. Then you need to purchase many tools and machinery, most of which are standard metalwork and woodwork tools. The tools and machinery can be seen in the photographs of various workshops below.

Workshop photo 1 (26973 bytes)1  Workshop photo 2 (19433 bytes)2  Workshop photo 3 (16209 bytes)3  Workshop photo 4 (23135 bytes)4

Workshop photo 5 (22906 bytes)5  Forge (15816 bytes)6  Workshop photo 6 (28696 bytes)7  Anvil (8732 bytes)8

Also, there is an Armourer's Guild in the Anealan SCA which meets every Saturday from 2pm to 5pm and it costs $3 per session unless you are a member of the Armourer's Guild. If you want to find out more about the SCA Anealan Armourer's Guild send an email to Tony Swallow (Joachim) or ring him on (08) 9472 5234

  1. General metalworking tools

  2. Bench Drill

  3. The workshop

  4. Metal and wood lathe

  5. Metal and wood grinders

  6. Forge

  7. The work bench

  8. An Anvil

Below you will find the various methods for creating the arms and armour used today in Medieval combat. The techniques and skills that I have learnt may not be the same as the techniques and skills you will learn as each armourer has their own way of producing equipment, and that will mean that each piece of equipment is unique in its creation.

Armour Production

General Armour

  1. Splint mail**

  2. Chain mail

  3. Leather armour**

Plate Armour

  1. Breast plate**

  2. Back plate**

  3. Spaulders**

  4. Gorgets**

  5. Elbow Cops**

  6. Knee Cops**

  7. Vambrace**

Shields

  1. Heaters*(**)

  2. Bucklers*(**)

  3. Archery Shields - SCA*

  4. Rapier Shields - SCA*

Helms

  1. Great Helm**

  2. Sugarloaf Helm**

  3. Sallet**

Weapon Production

  1. Long Swords*(**)

  2. Broad Swords*(**)

  3. Short Swords*(**)

  4. Daggers*(**)

  5. Axes**

  6. Maces**

  7. Hammers**

  8. Flails**

  9. Spears**

* - These weapons and shields use the same production methods with the only difference being in the size of the weapon.

Creating scabbards or 'sheaths' is also another skills which is very handy and that is covered here.

 

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