Armories on the Web
by Lord Gundobad de Ghent, proprietor of Wise Ogre Armory
(this is a local copy of his original page as of 1/8/03. I backed it up because I did not want to loose it)
Keep in mind as you read these lists that they reflect only Lord Gundobad de Ghent opinion, which should be taken with a grain of salt, like anyone else's. His consideration or lack of same is based on his taste in armor, the pictures on the websites listed, pieces made by the armories that he had the opportunity to handle, and internet discussions. Some opinions may be out of date.
These assessments are not meant to attack or endorse any armorer's character or business practices, unless I specifically address these issues. Please email Lord Gundobad de Ghent, if you want to refute the opinion, and if you make a convincing case, the entry in question will be edited.
This is by no means a comprehensive list...there are a lot more armories out there. If you'd like your armory to be entered on this page, send me a sample of your work. You will receive as objective a review as I can manage, and your item will be returned after evaluation if you include postage for that.
Armories with good review
alphabetical order
A.B. Hammer's Creation Time [plate] - old/other name Crimson Hammer, Some excellent armor, everything else quite nice, and good prices. Alan has had some problems with long delivery delays, due to health problems, but he's back at work now. There also some beginner patterns online on his workshop page.
Albion Armorers [variety]: These folks are retailers of a variety of high-quality replica armor, not necessarily suitable for rattan combat. They also carry weapons, books, and videos.
Black Hydra [plate]: All pieces done in stainless, all polished [except helms, cost extra]. Very nice work on the limb armor, but some of the helms are a bit iffy. For
example, the spangen and great helms is nice, but the barbute...
Comment by christopher(-at-)phemas.com from Singapore: Black Hydra are based in Bangkok and
specializes mostly in Japanese and other Asian armour styles
although he does have some SCA grade European armour. Talk to Michael directly if you want something special.
Boldo's Armory [plate]: Hmmm...unfortunately, all the helms pictured on this site are ugly. I'm told by more than one correspondent that the pictures are old and don't reflect the quality of Boldo's current work. A good rep for on-time delivery, and good prices too.
Master Cadwallon [plate]: I'd very much like to be able to afford to buy some of Cad's work. He takes a very limited number of commissions, maybe none at all now.
Christian Fletcher [variety]: Very nice armor, also swords and other medieval equipment.
Darkheart [plate]: Excellent armor, good rep for on-time delivery [I did receive one complaining email, but I've never seen any other sign to the contrary]. He's got his site organized by style and historical period, too.
DeCordene Wireworks [mail]: Charles does great butted mail. He made the camail for the stainless kettle hat pictured in my archives.
Dwarlock's Armory [variety]: Dwarlock made one of the nicer brigandine pieces I've had the chance to wear, and he's one of the few armorers out there who makes anything at all in high-carbon steel.
Eagle's Talon [plate]: Despite the weirdly gimmicky web-page, ET has some very nice-looking armor. All reports are good on his speed and reliability, as well. It's too bad you can't contact the armorer online...
The Hammered Wombat [plate]: Steve Belden makes pretty good stuff, most I like, some not. He has had trouble delivering on time, much more than you might expect from a full-time armorer, and hasn't always communicated well with his customers. Over the past several years, THW has greatly improved his reliability and communication, if the feedback I'm seeing on the Armor Archive is any indication.
Master Geoffrey [plate & how-to]: I like to think of myself as one of Massa G's students...I traded a bunch of my lame patterns for some of his very nice ones, and I'm a far better armorer for what I learned from that. He's got a lot of great info on his site, as well, including a fluting how-to by me.
Ice Falcon [plate & equipment]: Sir Andreas is by all reports completely reliable as to on-time delivery, and usually has quite a bit of stock on hand. If you have more money than time, especially if you want stainless armor in particular, this may be the armory for you. His helms are apparently very solidly constructed., and they look pretty good. I've handled two sets of IF leg armor. One was a "gothic" set submitted to the Armor Archive for review, and the other is a "Milanese" set owned by a friend. The gothic set was rather poorly done [inaccurate design, blunt ridges instead of crisp flutes, poor range of motion], and I didn't like the lack of burs on the articulation rivets [looked the like fork & smash method--if you like that, you're welcome to it]. The Milanese look like generic SCA armor, but the pattern has been revised since the pair I saw was made, perhaps more distinctly Milanese. They also had burs in place, so they may have been re-riveted. Articulation was quite good, excellent range of motion, and more like a U than a V [that's a good thing]. I think IF is a bit pricey, even considering the included high shine and strapping, but still worth consideration. IF also carries rattan in several grades...go for the manel, it rocks.
James River Armoury [plate]: I like the look of the vast majority of Eric's stuff, but some of his helms look decidedly odd. Excellent price/quality ratio, from all reports I've seen.
Lonely Mountain Forge [variety]: Most of Joe's pictured work isn't suitable for rattan combat, but he does make SCA-capable armor as well. He's got much better prices than most replica dealers, and he isn't re-selling Windlass Steelcrafts junk.
Mad Matt's Armory [variety]: Matt is one of my preferred maille suppliers, and is beginning with plate.
Mandrake [plate & equipment]: Well-made, good-looking SCA armor. The selection shown on the site is a bit limited, with no helms offered without bargrilles. I recently ordered some vervelles, and was very pleased with them.
Oak's Armory [plate]: I've watched Chris progress from humble beginnings to very nice stuff. He's one of the more talented armorers I've had the privilege to meet, and very productive.
Rob't Macphereson [plate]: Oh to have the kind of money available to buy some of Robert's work...I'd probably buy a car instead, but if I hit the Lotto at some point...
Silk Road Designs [variety]: One of the best sources for non-European armors. Norman also has an exhaustive research site.
Sinric Mailweaver [how-to]: Sinric does really nice stuff, but it's a hobby for him, so I don't think he takes orders over the net.
Truehearth [mail & plate]: I don't think I've seen lower prices anywhere, and the armor that actually has photographs mostly looks pretty good.
Tom Justus [plate]: Tom is one of the true great ones in the field. I've been visiting him lately to soak up knowledge. He doesn't charge as much as Macphereson, but more than me...and well worth it.
Valentine [variety]: Well, the prices are high, and the metal is a bit thin to fight in, but if you're a rich guy looking for a costume...
Waldryk's Armory [plate]: Excellent prices, especially for stainless steel. I would look for him at Lilies' War, etc. rather than order over the net. Waldryk isn't taking custom orders over the net, last I knew, so you need to fit in a stock size.
Westlig Stjerne [variety]: Good prices, mostly good-looking stuff, and they ship COD [or take credit cards]. Usually fast delivery, but occasionally late on custom work.
White Mountain Armory [plate]: I've been consistently impressed with the quality of Adam Berry's work. He does some of the nicest bar work that I've seen, and his basic finish is finer than the 'upgrades' at some armories.
Armories I would not consider.
alphabetical order
Alchemy Armory [plastic]: Really nice plastic armor, well-reviewed by those who use plastic armor. Not my thing, but certainly not vomit-inducing like most home-made plastic armor. Not chopped-up buckets or barrels, either. Good shapes, wrong materials. Product comes fully strapped, which is always a plus.
Armour Store [plate]: AS would like you to know that they make "soldier grade" armor. I say one size doesn't fit all, but if you are the right size to fit their armor, most of their recent work looks alright. Their hard-tail sallet, supposedly made to SCA standards, looks like it would not pass marshalate inspection. From personal inspection of their work, the articulation sucks [good range of motion, but more folding V than articulation U], the riveting sucks [has to, so the poorly placed rivets will allow the joints to fold], their pauldrons don't function well, and are ugly to boot. I have seen some very nice Greek-styled custom work from AS, though, so the stock items aren't the limit of their capabilities.
Blankenshield/Tournament Productions [plate, sort-of]: The phrase "cartoonish travesty" comes to mind when I look at the pictures on this site. NEW: I've received some customer feedback from someone not associated with Blankenshield/Tournament Productions, and I am advised that although the safety equipment is functional, there has been at least one very serious customer service problem. Basically, an unwanted and dissatisfying costume piece was 'thrown in' with a harness because Blankenshield was not able to deliver on an optional feature ordered. No discussion with the customer regarding the substitution, just delivered that way.
Chivalry Sports [variety]: Ugh. Spuntop crap helms, and one of the worst breastplates I've ever seen from a "pro". The basket hilt looks okay. No reports of poor business practices. Good reports about the gambesons, if you turn them inside out.
Dark Victory Armory [plastic]: Ugh. Again, "cartoonish travesty" floats into my forebrain. Cheap but hideous safety equipment. If you buy from Dark Victory, please, take a little pride in yourself and cover it up with at least a tabard.
Egg Armory [plastic]: Web site down. Used to be the nicest plastic armor I will never buy. No reports of poor business practices.
Illusion Armoring [plate]: Some very pretty armor pictured on the site...but the riveting on the pieces I've seen has been substandard [just peened enough to hold, rather than domed]. They are also apparently totally unreliable as to on-time delivery, don't always have pieces in stock that are advertised as in stock, and often don't make orders in the sequence they were received.
Iron Tower [plate]: Web site down. Mike Bolan has apparently folded. He is reportedly dodging those who have outstanding orders, phone disconnected. He did do some extra detail work, particularly on his leather pieces, that made his stuff more attractive than ordinary. Very good ratio of quality to price. Too bad he couldn't keep it up.
Red Falcon [plate & equipment]: Quick and reliable delivery, but still among the worst of the popular armories. Cheap spuntop helms, overpriced cut-down spuntop helms. The flattest, goofiest kneecaps and elbow cops I've seen, which fold rather than articulate. People buy this stuff...I see it on the field all the time...but I don't understand why. The basket-hilts look okay, though. Rumor mill says that the proprietor is retiring and selling off his tools/shop.
South Tower [variety]: At least they admit that most of their helms are spuntops...and they do grind the tooling marks off the spins...but the only photograph on the site of a good looking helm, isn't their work. The prices seem rather high, too, especially for a Canadian shop.
Utopia Armory [variety]: Bill "Armour Guy" McCall used to be one of my preferred maille suppliers, and he is capable of quick and high-quality work. Unfortunately, he recently has stopped delivering on commissions, and started dodging his customers. If Bill doesn't make good with a bunch of people soon, I'll have to move this listing to the list below.
Armories that I would avoid at all costs.
these armorers have earned a reputation for cheating customers, but I haven't heard that they have a current web presence
Okami / Iron River
Tim Overhultz / Nightwing
Eli Warren / Serpent
/ Mad Max