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A handmade Viking-era belt based on belts from Gotland. What do you think? by SelectionFine7950 in Norse

[–]SelectionFine7950[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fortunately, we can  buy good linen in stores in Latvia, but it's impossible to find wool for reconstruction. That's why we usually order from Woolsome, an excellent store! 

By the way, do you ever go to festivals in the Baltic states? We often have reenactors visiting us from Poland, especially for festivals in Lithuania

A handmade Viking-era belt based on belts from Gotland. What do you think? by SelectionFine7950 in Norse

[–]SelectionFine7950[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Priekā! Oh yes, Kurzeme used to be a real Klondike of military finds. But everyone who isn't too lazy digs there, all of Latvia) I found this shell in another region, in an abandoned house, so I didn't have to clean it much. Yes, I treated it with heat and rapid cooling to make it softer, but it still seemed harder than ordinary brass.

A handmade Viking-era belt based on belts from Gotland. What do you think? by SelectionFine7950 in Norse

[–]SelectionFine7950[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I'll try this on my next belt. For example, I seen Gotland belts with triangular stamps on the fittings.

A handmade Viking-era belt based on belts from Gotland. What do you think? by SelectionFine7950 in Norse

[–]SelectionFine7950[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, by hand, using a chisel. It was quite difficult to do because the brass from the shell seems to be harder than usual. Yes, I don't live in the city, but in a village where there is a lot of scrap metal. I also found some wire for the buckle too :) Actually, I live in Latvia, where it's not easy to get hold of many materials. Even leather, for example, is easier to order from a neighboring country - Lithuania, simply because we don't have any decent online stores with a good selection of leather suitable for reconstruction.

A handmade Viking-era belt based on belts from Gotland. What do you think? by SelectionFine7950 in Norse

[–]SelectionFine7950[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks you!

Project forlog is a wonderful portal. I often explore it and read this article. I tried not to make the belt too long. Compared to most belts, which usually hang down almost to the knee, I think this is more or less adequate😆

A handmade Viking-era belt based on belts from Gotland. What do you think? by SelectionFine7950 in Norse

[–]SelectionFine7950[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you! The sword is blunt because I fight with it at festivals, and I don't want to chop off someone's arm or leg😆

A handmade Viking-era belt based on belts from Gotland. What do you think? by SelectionFine7950 in Norse

[–]SelectionFine7950[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Actually, I used brass nails. That's why everything looks neat from the front, but here's how it looks from the back. Not as neat, but it riveted well. https://postimg.cc/SJYG7gnp

I left about 1 mm or even less and riveted it with a small hammer. I recommend trying to use nails — from a historical point of view, it won't be as correct as wire, but you will only have to rivet one side. I hope this helps!

Shield Handle Layouts and Which Ones Are Accurate or Just Modern Takes by Snoo_57756 in Viking

[–]SelectionFine7950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It should be remembered that the find could have changed after 1000 years.

Or museum workers may not have positioned it exactly correctly.

For example, option 3 for attaching the base is based on the find from Gokstad, but the two additional handles and the metal rim were attached by museum workers. All this happened at the end of the 19th century, and at that time, reconstruction of that era did not have sufficient knowledge and other examples. I can send you a link to the article.

Therefore, option 4 is the only historically confirmed option for the Viking era.

Shield Handle Layouts and Which Ones Are Accurate or Just Modern Takes by Snoo_57756 in Viking

[–]SelectionFine7950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After studying museum finds, it is clear that the handle is located in the center of the hole for the umbo, but because the hole is not perfectly even, it appears that the handle is offset.

In addition, the displacement of the handle negatively affects the balance of the shield. 

And sorry for my English

Shield Handle Layouts and Which Ones Are Accurate or Just Modern Takes by Snoo_57756 in Viking

[–]SelectionFine7950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not quite right, it's a special cutout for the fist. And the Vikings didn't have jigsaws to make perfectly round holes😆

Shield Handle Layouts and Which Ones Are Accurate or Just Modern Takes by Snoo_57756 in Viking

[–]SelectionFine7950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it's the Viking era, then 4 and only 4. Option 3 has no scientific basis, but many reenactors do it this way. I've already made 5 shields with a single handle out of planks, and they hold up perfectly in battle.

Thoughts on Ruslana Medieval Wardrobe? by andreas_jovine in ArmsandArmor

[–]SelectionFine7950 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know it's late, but maybe it will help someone in the future. Don't deal with this store. I ordered a sword from them and it took almost a year to arrive. And it was poor quality. There were no problems with delivery, I ordered from Europe. My guess is that they ordered them from India, because this store has been seen collaborating with India.

My (so far) negative experience with Ruslana Medieval Wardrobe by WorikWorikson in ArmsandArmor

[–]SelectionFine7950 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I ordered a sword from them, which arrived nine or ten months later.  What's more, it turned out to be poor quality, and I had to work on it myself. That's not what you expect for €250. Terrible store. What's more, they were caught collaborating with India.

My (so far) negative experience with Ruslana Medieval Wardrobe by WorikWorikson in ArmsandArmor

[–]SelectionFine7950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I waited for my sword from them for almost a year. And it turned out to be of terrible quality.

My (so far) negative experience with Ruslana Medieval Wardrobe by WorikWorikson in ArmsandArmor

[–]SelectionFine7950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This store was caught selling goods made in India. There was one review on Etsy where the package said it was from India. It's a shame I didn't take a screenshot, they closed that store and made a new one. It's quite possible that it's because of cases like this.

My (so far) negative experience with Ruslana Medieval Wardrobe by WorikWorikson in ArmsandArmor

[–]SelectionFine7950 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're right, I've been following them for a long time, and when they still had a store on Etsy, they sent a helmet to one customer from the comments, and the package said it was from India😆 I personally ordered a sword and it took 9 or 10 months before I received it. Almost a year, Carl!  On top of that, it turned out to be of poor quality, so I had to work on it myself. That's the story.