| Brian
Price makes beautiful armour. There are over 1000 pictures (all
black & white) in this book, many showing the different items he has
made. The photos are also giving step-by-step instruction on
how the pieces are made. A few of the topics covered include: the
selection of metal, taking measurements, decorative techniques,
engineering the joints, strapping, mail, padding and hammerwork.
He has a chapter on the work of other modern armourers and projects
specifically devoted to making a helm, body armour, etc. He has
been doing armouring for almost 20 years, both in the SCA and other
medieval re-enactment groups. He has scholarship as well as
practical experience and David Edge, armour curator of the Wallace
Collection in London, has written a glowing introduction. The only
criticism I have heard about this book is that it does not include all
the armouring techniques, concentrating only on one 'school'. He
writes what he knows, and since the book is 500 pages already, I think
more books by armourers who work differently is the best solution.
$79.95 (hardback) |
