Not sure why, but it’s true. I know I’ve always felt the lack.
Daughter tries on a friend’s (ill-fitting, for her) armor. All home-made. People do the damndest things, but some of them are cool.
Will Blog for ISP Time, Glaucoma Meds, or Cheap Booze.
Free! (and worth every penny)
Scary Manifesto that keeps getting pushed down on the sidebar by filthy capitalism!
They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means “The Ultimate Argument of Kings,” and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. “We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it’s about: You’ll do as I say or I’ll send my goons to kill you.”
I thought about that for a long time. If there’s an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I’ve got bullets – he’s got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that’s not going to happen. So if there’s an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain’t bullets.
It finally came to me – and that’s when I abandoned the city and most of my stuff, and gave all that was behind me a good stiff Randian Shrug.
The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.
Our Founder
Our Late Editor
Little Bear 2009-2018
Our Late Cattle Wrangler
Laddie the Amazing Torso Boy 2011-2020
Blogroll
- 357 Magnum
- 5 Acres and a Dream
- 90 Miles From Tyranny
- A Day in the Life of a Talk Radio Blogger
- Adaptive Curmudgeon
- Armed & Non-Violent
- Bayou Renaissance Man
- Bill St. Clair
- Borepatch
- Carl Bussjaeger
- Claire Wolfe
- Commander Zero
- Dio's Workshop
- Eaton Rapids Joe
- Forgotten Weapons
- Freeholder
- Home on the Range
- Instapundit
- Irons in the Fire
- James Zachary
- Kent McManigal
- Nails and Sawdust
- Never Yet Melted
- Resistance Library
- Say Uncle
- The Price of Liberty
- The Smallest Minority
- The View from North Central Idaho
- The Vulgar Curmudgeon
- The War on Guns
- The Zelman Partisans
- True Blue Sam
- View from the Porch
- Weer'd World
- Wendy McElroy
- You will shoot your eye out
- Zendo Deb
Previous OPSEC Violations
Assuming this suit is based on an actual historical suit, I’m just wondering if it even possible to eat OR drink w/the helmet on?
Not to mention, those plates to protect the inside of the elbow just look MADE to catch something sharp & pokey.
But as a fashion statement? It totally ROCKS!
=0D
Love this blog, love it.
Jay
Heh. I used to make armor (and, yeah, wear it). Till I got fed up with the scumbags who kept expecting me to build them custom armor at no charge (they even thought I should spring for the materials).
DonkeyBuster: That’s most likely SCA armor, meant for looks and protection against blunt object impact. It is generally based on some real world designs. The joints beneath the plates would have been covered by chainmail over padding. Most Scadians don’t bother getting that authentic due to the weight.
@CarlBear… yeah, I figured, & I know about the ‘mail (what I wouldn’t give for a nice suit of mail) but those things in the crook of the elbow? NOooooo…. =0D
Just because it’s tradition, just because it’s hundreds of years old, doesn’t mean it’s not a bad idea….
She rather vaguely described it as “gothic Italian,” which description means nothing to me. I’m pretty sure the maker is an SCA type, and wouldn’t be surprised if he took some liberties with the design. Definitely would need more mail if there were sharp pointy things in its future. Plus of course I’ve no idea if the plate is anywhere near proof.
It’s at least semi-cool, though. Particularly as I’m not paying for it.
I’m thinkin’ Joel, you’re more Pict or Roman Centurion… so much cooler in the desert, those boiled leather skirts.
This armor wasn’t actually made by the owner (although almost all of the rest of his vast collection is)and cost him roughly $12,000. He does play in the SCA, but he’s pretty disgusted with the organization in general, and this particular harness wasn’t created with the SCA in mind, it is as authentic as possible, because he’s a geek. More details to come.
I know how he feels, Rachel Ailin; I got thoroughly disgusted with the SCA 16 years ago and dropped out.
I am the owner (and maker of some components) of this suit. I wish it had been better polished for the photos.
It is based on a late 15th century north Italian armour #B2 from the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery near Mantova, Italy. The original is now displayed in the Ducal Palace Museum of that city. My suit is a pretty good replica.
The suit weighs about 72 pounds with all the components on, which is a bit heavier than the original. The steel plates range in thickness from 18ga in the greaves to double-layered 12ga through the breastplate (I intend to take part in jousting re-enactments). I have used it in SCA combat before, though it isn’t ideal for that.
I am the owner (and maker of some components) of this suit. I wish it had been better polished for the photos.
It is based on a late 15th century north Italian armour #B2 from the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery near Mantova, Italy. The original is now displayed in the Ducal Palace Museum of that city. My suit is a pretty good replica.
The suit weighs about 72 pounds with all the components on, which is a bit heavier than the original. The steel plates range in thickness from 18ga in the greaves to double-layered 12ga through the breastplate (I intend to take part in jousting re-enactments). I have used it in SCA combat before, though it isn’t ideal for that.
Geez, Joel. Isn’t a chastity belt a little extreme now that she’s had a child?
For a dad with a single daughter, it’s hard to stop thinking in terms of chastity belts.
Though in this case I admit it’s a bit late.