Psyco vets after-action report

James-

The pleasure was all ours.Pleased and proud that y'all took the time from your busy schedule to stop by.Post whatever you take a notion to.Hope y'all will let us know about the remainder of your trip.Stop on by if you're ever back in the neighborhood.

This time together with all of you has had a powerful impact on me.Have delayed putting down my thoughts here until I can get both eyes to focus at the same time and point in the same direction.Likely to happen any day now.

You guys are the best there have ever been.

[1CAVCCO15MED]

Really, Hal, it was great to see a part of Tennessee I had never seen before. Your craftmanship with the chain mail was remarkable as was your gun collection. Thanks for having us, even though Normandy is such a huge town that it was difficult for us to get around. Lost? I was setting up the perimeter.

[Packo]

Hal,

Whats all this about chainmail? As a child so much of my time was spent reading about the Crusades etc. and medieval armour and such was a passion. Would love to know what Doc and the boys are talking about. You make chainmail? Would love to talk about it sometime.

Packo

[PHO127]

He makes medevial weapons and chain mail armor, along with black powder shooting accessories. Quite a guy.

Aye miLords,I do so confess it.

Have pretty much always had a strong interest in historical/traditional arms,armor,tactics,etc.Some years ago I got hooked up with the SCA(Society for Creative Anachonism)and truly enjoyed participation in their events etc.Strongly reccomend that anyone with similar interests type:" Society for Creative Anachronism"into their search engine and check it out(sorry,haven't yet learned how to do links).For use in the Society I adopted the persona of a 14th century Norman man-at-arms (seemed only reasonable liveing in NORMANDY Tn.)and set about getting period weapons,armor,garb etc.Found out pretty quickly that this can run into some pretty serious money if you can't figure out some way around it,so I did what many other folks do:learn how to fashion one or two things pretty well and then swap that for other stuff.Learned how to do chain mail pretty well and also did some leather work (quivers,pouches,sheaths,etc.).

Have enjoyed traditional/primative archery (longbows,recurves,homemade bows&arrows)since the late '50's.

Used to be a group known as "The Elk River Longrifles" who maintained a range nearby.They concentrated on the 1780-1820 period for their weapons and accounterments.Their unofficial motto was:"percussion rifles are a passing fad."Think most of em had heartattacks and died when in-lines came out.Used to shoot with them sometimes and made shooting or posible bags,vent picks, etc. to swap them for knives,tomahawks,flints etc.

Four or five years ago I screwed up and got trapped in a job that involves working every weekend and holiday so I haven't had much contact lately with the SCA folks or traditional ML shooters as both seem to have most of their get-togethers or events on weekends.However the house is still littered with odd bits of armor and weapons.When the wondering detachment came by here following the Geat Psyco-Vet Campout they seemed to enjoy checkin some of the stuff and I believe there were some pics taken of Doc.Fred wearing a mail coif and holding a Scotish targ.Maybe they'll show up before long.

Might be noted by anyone interested that Museum Replicas(part of Atlanta Cutlery)is located in Atlanta.They are a fine sourse of high quality middle ages weapons,armor,and accounterments.However they are pretty expensive unless you can catch discontinued items at their warehouse.Their catalogue is very worthwhile for their historical notes as well as the items they sell.

[Dragon Lady]

Doc!
We truly are brother and sister! SCA, I loved the adventures! My husband is a 14C Rogue Knight and until a car accident some years ago, I was a lady with a passion for physical sport. We too are collectors. Been saving up for two special purchases...a broadsword made out of Toledo Steel and a full sized suit of plate armor that is made to fit my 6'4" tall husband.

We recently found a master sword smith up here in the Adirondack mountains by the last name of Champagne. I would like to commision him to make that suit for my husband, but need to save up some pennies to pay the man. His work has been featured on the History Channel on a show highlighting the history of the sword and knives.

On our wedding day I strapped a knights dagger and sheath to my leg in leu of a garter! It was a great surprise for my groom! It got the message across loud and clear. No one messes with this Lady of the Dragon.

I wish you luck and hope you return to the SCA soon. We need more experts such as you. It is fast becoming a lost art.

(Please excuse any typos here, I just got a new set of nails/claws yesterday)
Hubby is due home in less than a hour. Havent seen each other in two weeks since we both were traavelling. (these nailss are going to take some getting used to).

DL

DL-

Please forgive my delay in responding to your post.Not intentional.Gotten started with a response twice and gotten pulled away to deal with local emergencies.Think that I've finally found a time to reply with a reasonable chance of actually being able to complete it.

Sure do hope that both your claws and your Hubby survived his return reasonably intact.

Yep.Reckon we must be bros...er sises...sibs?

Don't know that I could really be considered a "collector".Got a bunch of nifty stuff but I'm the type of person that if I have it I just gotta use it for somethin.Been known to trim hedges and cut back brush with swords.We heated the house with wood for 15yrs. and during those years I managed to ruin a nice halberd and a very fine battleax chopping and splitting wood.This would likely give a true collector a heart attack.I suspect that the neighbors find me somewhat entertaining but I don't really know as we don't talk all that much.Got a related story or two to tell but guess it might be better to hold off a day or two and put em over on the reenactment forum.

Saw that feature on the History Channel.That guy surely does appear to do fine work.Suspect you're talkin BIG bucks though.I,personally, tend to get a bit clostraphobic in close helms.

Yep.Weddings and daggers just seem to go together.Back near the dawn of time when Nancy and I got hitched,for a wedding present-at her request-I got her a special edition Case dagger.It came in a jewlery type case with a picture of an Old West dancehall girl on it.Had about a 4"-5" double edged hollowground blade with coffin shapped hilt.It's sheath was attached to a large multicolored frilly garter designed to be worn hilt down.She became awful fond of that dagger.

Best get on up from here an start thinkin about headin on down tword Murfreesboro.

Later Sib,

[catman]

Hal...have you or could you post some pics of your works? Have a friend who is really into that kind of stuff and has sparked some interest in me, would love to see it.

Trav

Trav-

I never have been able to figure out how to post pics..Got a digital camera but the old 'puter didn't have enough memory to deal with it and I'm told the new one needs more softwear.Hope to work through these problems in the near future.If/when I get this done I'll give ya a holler and see if you're still interested in seein that stuff.James posted some pics on "Driveing through Dixie..."one of which shows Doc. Fred wearing a mail coif I made.

[catman]

Hal...most camera manufacturers have web sites were you can download their software fpr free.

Trav