[MR] cheap armor

[Thomas E. Jackson Jr]

Greetings Duke Logan!
I will agree that almost all plastic armour looks attrocious (except the
really well done versions of Japanese armour I have seen), but you can't
beat the price of plastic as opposed to leather or steel. For someone who is
just starting out, it is just too darn expensive. I know... Dead Horse... I
will stop beating....
You are very correct when you state that by it's nature, plastic cannot and
never will be safer that steel. It takes more force to move heavier steel.
Thusly lighter plastic will only tranfer more energy to your body, and cause
greater pain, bruising, and later swelling and moaning and begging for
messages from loved ones. That and plastic is really hard to polish.
I am currently writing a paper on the application of current sports medicine
and athletic training techniques and guidlines for use in the SCA. I hope to
have it done in a few months. I have worked/volunteered for the last 15
years as an Athletic Trainer and am currently attending school (and trying
to get into med school) to become a doctor in the field of sports medicine.
I could spend hours arguing that of all the joints to cover, the shoulder is
te most important. It is vastly more complex and fragile (have you ever
acually seen on a diagram how small the rotator cuff muscles are? we're
talking Milimeters here!) But this is a topic for another thread.
I commend the push to be more realistic on the field, but for me, I have to
ask, is it worth the cost of excluding people based on their economic
status? When I first started fighting 13 years ago here in Misty Marsh, I
put on the carpet armour and fought the likes of Duke Sir Olaf and Sir Kane.
Because I was a lowly little airman in the dorms without the resources to
buy some of Lupus' stainless armour, I settled to fight in the carpet and
get pummeled and bleed. The constant teasing from my fellow combatants was
enough for me to try to get my armour little by little, piece by piece and
now am the proud owner of a GAA set of mirrors and a Master Johann von
Bruckenhiem (sp?) helm.
My minor (as of right now) is Sports Psycology, and I already knew one thing
they tried to teach me: Not thinking about how bad you look is more time to
think about how to play. In other words, When you look good - you feel good,
and when you feel good - you play even better.

I am sorry to have to disagree with you on price. Would you please get me in
contact with your leather and steel supplier? I go to the scrap yard and
steel is about 30-40 cents a pound and stainless is about 2-3 bucks a pound
(if you can find the right guage - hard but not impossible). The leather
factory I get my leather from for my belts ( I make leather belts 8-10 oz
Oak tanned) and we no longer get the SCA discount (except for bulk orders to
companies) and the last hide I got was over $300.00 dollars. Latigo and Sole
bends are way out of my price range.  I get 55 gallon drums for 5 bucks. I
bought my heat gun for $45.00 and rivets and nylon webbing is cheap (I use
football pants straps for $1.99). $95.00 is the cheapest helm and used
hockey glove are everywhere on ebay (but I don't recommend them due to the
fact that finger tips are still unprotected... ask any hockey player!

Oh God... I have seemed to rambled on here. I am sorry. I would love to talk
more with you on the subject of sports related trauma and anything dealing
with SCA combat and armour. Thank you for taking your time to pass on your
kowledge to others on the subject.

Ld Angus MacDoughall Mhic Comyn, OSB
Seneschal of Misty Marsh

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "logan" <dukelogan at bellsouth.net>
To: <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 8:13 PM
Subject: RE: [MR] cheap armor


> lord dieterick, the owner of dark victory, offered to include fabric to
> cover his hdpe "armor" for anyone in atlantia that purchases his stuff
after
> an online discussion came to pass about our law.  while this was/is a kind
> offer i would warn against buying his stuff.  it is substandard and
> inadequate.  his wild claims of it being safer than pieces of steel armor
> are outrageous.  ultimately it is your call but i would suggest that you
> bear in mind that armor is worn to provide some safety for its wearer.
> plastic knees, elbows and others simply are not as safe as heavier
materials
> when it comes to joints and their protection.  dark victory armor also
looks
> atrocious.  while you may well be able to simply glue fabric on it to
comply
> with the letter of the law the shape of his stuff is just bad.
>
> armor can be made out of metal and or leather for the same price as
plastic.
> those that insist that isnt true simply havent tried.  whatever you can
make
> out of plastic you can make out of leather and you dont need to heat
leather
> up.  same tools to cut and shape the leather as you would use with the
> plastic but no heat.  matt, ask around for some assistance in getting your
> gear together and i am sure that you will find many willing an
knowledgeable
> people to help.  if you are in the charlotte area feel free to contact me
> and i will give you a hand.  i am available on wednesdays and very rarely
on
> a weekend.
>
> regards
> logan