09-28-2005, 05:25 PM
John wrote:
"You can construct your subarmalis of leather and felt and wear it next to me, while I am wearing mine of hemp and wool filler. Then let's see who passes out first. Let's see who's is more durable and cleanable."
I like your suggestion to test different attempts at reconstructing a subarmalis.
After all, this is a part of what reenactment is all about!
Try to reconstruct something and test it, then talk about your experiences and probably make it better the next time.
You are right that we do not know exactly what kind of felt the term 'felt' meant. On the other hand, a subarmalis does not only keep armour from chafing but should also absorb blows.
Now what is more suited for distributing the shock of an incoming blow ?(let's say on a coat of mail). I honestly just don't know, and I have never tested this, but I think 'felt' or several layers of felted heavy wool fabric stitched together might be safer than just two layers of fabric filled with wool.
As to the danger of overheating - I have to admit that I do not have much experience with wearing subarmales. The one I have is a so called "medieval gambeson" ( :oops: ) for amateur reenactment ( :oops: :oops: ) which I converted to my use (it's now short sleeved and ends at the waist, not at the knees). This "gambeson" is made of two layers of fabric with a filling of synthetic wool.
(I know this is not authentic, but guess why I want to make a new one!!!)
The "gambeson" keeps my Newstead in place and prevents chafing, but I still think it is too thin and I wish it would be more dense at the shoulders, where the weight of the shield (carrying strap), of the helmet (fixed to the lorica), of the furca, of the spatha, and of some of the lorica is concentrated.
It does NOT breathe very well (you might even say not at all), probably because the fabric has a large content of synthetic fibre. When I take off my equipment, this gambeson is usually soaked with sweat, regardless whether I walked for some hours or just stood around in the sun. Nevertheless, I did not drop down dead (yet). Perhaps even if the torso is completely covered, evaporation is sufficient as long as the legs, the arms and the head are bare.
Just my two denarii...
Caius: I'll do what I can to be present at the next meeting ! Looking forward to it - and the shaft of my lance is still at the provincial capital.
"You can construct your subarmalis of leather and felt and wear it next to me, while I am wearing mine of hemp and wool filler. Then let's see who passes out first. Let's see who's is more durable and cleanable."
I like your suggestion to test different attempts at reconstructing a subarmalis.
After all, this is a part of what reenactment is all about!
Try to reconstruct something and test it, then talk about your experiences and probably make it better the next time.
You are right that we do not know exactly what kind of felt the term 'felt' meant. On the other hand, a subarmalis does not only keep armour from chafing but should also absorb blows.
Now what is more suited for distributing the shock of an incoming blow ?(let's say on a coat of mail). I honestly just don't know, and I have never tested this, but I think 'felt' or several layers of felted heavy wool fabric stitched together might be safer than just two layers of fabric filled with wool.
As to the danger of overheating - I have to admit that I do not have much experience with wearing subarmales. The one I have is a so called "medieval gambeson" ( :oops: ) for amateur reenactment ( :oops: :oops: ) which I converted to my use (it's now short sleeved and ends at the waist, not at the knees). This "gambeson" is made of two layers of fabric with a filling of synthetic wool.
(I know this is not authentic, but guess why I want to make a new one!!!)
The "gambeson" keeps my Newstead in place and prevents chafing, but I still think it is too thin and I wish it would be more dense at the shoulders, where the weight of the shield (carrying strap), of the helmet (fixed to the lorica), of the furca, of the spatha, and of some of the lorica is concentrated.
It does NOT breathe very well (you might even say not at all), probably because the fabric has a large content of synthetic fibre. When I take off my equipment, this gambeson is usually soaked with sweat, regardless whether I walked for some hours or just stood around in the sun. Nevertheless, I did not drop down dead (yet). Perhaps even if the torso is completely covered, evaporation is sufficient as long as the legs, the arms and the head are bare.
Just my two denarii...
Caius: I'll do what I can to be present at the next meeting ! Looking forward to it - and the shaft of my lance is still at the provincial capital.
Florian Himmler (not related!)
