Modern Hacks for Medieval Problems
Modern Hacks for Medieval Problems
Arming Points
Few things set off a great looking harness like a new set of arming points made of fine thread and capped with riveted brass chapes (aiglets). Unfortunately, they endure a lot of abuse, especially if worn in conjunction with maille, and rarely last more than one season. It is a problem no doubt experienced by every medieval knight. A review of the household expenses of Sir John Howard published in Manners and Household Expenses of England in the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Centuries shows numerous entries over the years for the purchase of points. For examplet, in 1463 a servant for Sir John Howard paid 3 pence to a London cordwainer for a doseyn off armynge poyntys. He spent another 4 pence for 2 dozen red (dressing) points. In 1466, he spent 2 shillings for 6 dozen arming points. Why buy them from a cordwainer? According to How a man schall be armyd at his ese when he schal fighte on foote (Sir John Astley's Ordonances of Chivalry [MS M.775]):
...the armynge poyntis muste be made of fyne twyne suche as men make stryngis for crossbowes and they muste be trussid small and poyntid as poyntis. Also they muste be wexid with cordeweneris coode. And than they woll neythirrecche nor breke.
A modern hack is to make your own strong arming points from low cost supplies easily obtained from Amazon. A 1-pound spool of #60 Twisted Tarred Nylon Bank Line Twine is $20. These make heavy-duty arming points. 1/4-pound spool of #36 Forever Black Tarred Twisted Nylon Twine is only $8 and makes good dressing points. A 20-count set of Lord of Battles Medieval Solid Brass Aiglets is $17. Cut your points about 18 to 20 inches in length. Smear on a drop of Super Glue on the each end and insert it into a brass chape with a twisting motion. Let dry a few minutes and they are ready to use. Run them over a small hunk of bees wax for added tackiness. Average cost is about $1 per arming point.
Thanks to Colton C. for the recommendation.
Maille hidden 10mm rings and leather tabs
Maille was historically worn to cover the gaps in plate armour. Many modern organizations require practicioners of HEMA (historical European martial arts) to wear maille for personal safety when fighting with blunt steel weapons. A vast majority of all maille produced today comes from India, and the most popular size of maille ring on the market is the 6mm inner diameter riveted rings.
While the small diameter rings look great, they pose a number of problems for those who wear maille under their armour. The most frustrating issue is that the 6mm rings are barely larger than the brass chapes (aiglets) used in making arming points. It makes it almost impossible to remove them from the maille garmet without pulling off the chape in the process. A modern hack is to swap out a few of the 6mm rings with 10mm rings, it will create a slightly larger opening for your arming points that is virtually indestinguishable to the naked eye unless you know to look for it. Of course, you will have to have some spare 10mm rings as well as pin or wedge rivets and maille riveting tongs.
Another issue is that the smaller rings also chew up the threads of the arming points from rubbing against the edges of the maille rings as the arming doublet moves. A modern hack is to cut some black leather tabs with pairs of holes that line up with the eyelets on the arming doublet. The tabs will reduce the wear and tear on the arming points.
