Armouring and Blacksmithing

Although each member of the Days of Knights staff enjoys historical research into an amazing range of activities and crafts some of us have one or two "pet" areas. For Jason it is blacksmithing and armoring. Jason is a member of the Victorian Blacksmiths' Association based at the historic homestead of Mont de Lancey in Wandin East, Victoria and maintains a workshop at home dedicated to reproducing the armor of the Middle Ages. Jason's expertise in this area is unique amongst medieval education organisations in the south of Australia.

Jason has just returned from Europe where he has been undertaking first hand research into the skills and artifacts of the armorers trade. He's started off in a small village in eastern Germany to talk to blacksmith's about the forging of hammers (the essential tool of the armorer, and an armorer might have dozens of hammers, all specialized for a given task). He travelled to the Royal Armory at Leeds, Yorkshire, UK to talk with the curator of the massive and extremely historically significant collection there, and wound up being offered a position as a full time armorer there! Jason also examined armor in Austria, italy, Switzerland, france and Belgium, and observed first hand the techniques of working metals by hand in Egypt (where the methods haven't changed much in centuries).

In the image to the left (click on it to see the larger image) Jason is heating a sheet of 2mm cold rolled mild steel over a coke fired forge in order to raise it into the skull shape for a 14th century bascinet helm. You can see a finished bascinet in the background to the left of Jason that is fitted with a "sports grill" for use in SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) combat. The SCA use rattan "behourd" like weapons rather than steel weapons, which allows them to fight at full speed and power as well as removing the need to limit blow direction and target areas that most live steel groups institute for safety. Raising can be done hot or cold (if done cold the metal will need to be annealed several times to avoid cracking and brittleness), and is done using specially shaped stakes that fit into an anvil or a purpose built stake holder, and raising hammers, which are purpose built hammers with a rounded, rectangular face on a long shank that moves the metal to achieve the desired shape.

This is a close up of the metal being heated on the forge. The tongs holding the metal are forged for the purpose. Much of the blacksmith or armorer's craft involves being able to make the speciality tools required to undertake a project. Metal is surprisingly forgiving to work with. With practice you find that you can move the steel in 3 dimensions, thickening and thinning it where needed and creating complex shapes. At one end of the scale, you can pound it with massive sledges, and at the other end very light hammers and a gentle tapping finesse the desired shape. Temperature control of the forge is critical, too, and is one of the subtler parts of the smith's art.

In this picture Peter demonstrates the angle one strikes the steel at to raise it. The raising stake and the raising hammer were hand forged by Jason. Understandably, armoring is a fairly esoteric art, and requires specialist tools beyond even what your average balcksmith needs. It is sometimes possible to source these tools online or through auctions, but most of the time the only way is to make them yourself. Of course, tool making is a complex skill in itself, requiring skills in steel selection, forging and, very importantly, tempering the steel to an appropriate hardness by heating it and quenching it (usually in oil).

Jason cross peining the edge on an early 14th century style poleyn (the piece of armor that protects the knee) at the Ballarat Medieval Festival 2006. Using the sharp adge of the anvil and a narrow faced hammer the metal is stretched and rolled at the same time to create a ridge that strengthens the over all piece as well as enhancing the look of the piece.

An important part of our demonstrations is explaining the history, techniques and skills the medieval person would have needed as well as putting it all into an historical context. On the table are several helms ranging in style from the 9th through to the 15th centuries. Members of the public have the opportunity to try on pieces of armor and really get a feel for the weight and constriction of the armor. Then, when they see the demonstration of fighting they have a greater understanding of the physicality, fitness and skill needed to be a knight. Medieval education and fun, and at the same time Jason is reviving and keeping alive centuries old skills.

Last updated on 21 September, 2007

Days of Knights Pty Ltd

Medieval Education, Entertainment and Consulting
History comes alive!

ABN - 3112 224 503