From Wang to WoW!

I am delighted to say that the blackening of my Burgonet has been completed and for a first attempt at blackening some armour, in a (semi) traditional method, I am really chuffed. It was a very lengthy, and extremely smelly process but the results were well worth it and have turned a bit of cheap kit that was quietly rusting in the garage into something that is unique and I will be proud to wear it.

If you remember my burgonet before Christmas looked like this...


Now it looks like this...


All the brass fittings were taken off, cleaned and replaced after the blackening. On the neck guard I have added an extra band of brass as the guard was recessed to take one.


The inside of the helmet has also had a whole bunch of work done to it too. Being a cheap Indian helmet it didn't fit very well and I was always trying to find ways of stuffing it and had to wear two arming caps to make it work at all, most unsatisfactory. Now I have sewn in an arming cap, which is riveted back and front to leather. The cheek guards have leather linings which are also stuffed to make the whole thing fit more comfortably. I have even gone to the lengths of making each brass washer that the rivets are peened into on all the leather work, even the ones that can't be seen.


This now looks great and is comfortable to wear. I am now going to get on with the gorget I have and then will start on my medieval kit. All of this should be far more straightforward than this helmet.

Now all I need is the time to blacken all my armour and make my brig. Busy busy:0)

PS
I need to thank Erasmus Hyll for his excellent assistance in making sure I didn't cock it up!

Norfolk Living History Fair Mannington Hall

The Norfolk Living History Fair was back in October. The Suffolks went in Tudor kit. Usually we will be quite specific about which year we are recreating and therefore what clothes we should wear. However at this event we all chose different kit (our favourite outfits) so we could represent a living timeline of Tudor fashions.

Ant and me in Elizabethan kit, (there were several other Suffolks present, but we were the only Elizabethans, hence why there is only two of us in the photos. There are other photos of the Suffolks on Adrian's website, follow the link at the bottom of this article.)



Two fantastic shots of my musket in action. We did this several times over to get the flash but it was well worth it.


Sword action. The sword of choice at the time was the Sidesword a transitional weapon, evolved from the arming sword of old but not a full rapier as it has two cutting blades. The English couldn't give up hacking at each other.

I have only recently received these photos from a photographer who attended the event: the very excellent Adrian Buck of Adrian Buck's Photography and I am so pleased with them I wanted to post them here. Thanks for the great pictures Adrian.

We are already looking forward to getting out next season to start developing our company of Elizabethan musketeers.

Elizabethan Military

Right last time there were no military pictures so this time they all will be:0)


So here are a few more images from our recent event at Kentwell. Although we were aiming to spend the weekend in medieval attire, some of us also took along our Elizabethan kit so we could take advantage of the great setting. When at Kentwell we are what we call year specific, and for several years at a time we may not be doing an Elizabethan year. However as I recently acquired a musket and with my further interest in 1588 And All That and Border reivers we decided to see if we could get some action shots, so here we are.



Give Fire! Bendy, our photographer was rather pleased with this shot.



It's not all musketry though. We went at it with sideswords too.




Frankly can't wait for another Elizabethan year at Kentwell, we plan to create a musketeer regiment with lots of guns. I already have the new hat that would be required. More medieval stuff next time.

Thanks should go to Ant and Dangerous Pete for dressing up and playing and Bendy for the terrific photos, yet again.