Internet Search in need of some Assistance

[Greg]

I know this forum is full of medieval garb-o-philes that have a vast knowledge of the internet's supply of such things, including more sites than I care to count.

Problem is, I haven't bought anything for my own Garb in so long that I have no clue where to begin, and my first searches have been completely unsuccessful. I found ONE example of what I'm looking for, but I don't wanna have to ship something from the UK and pay in Euros unless I absolutely have to.

Several years ago, I bought some buckles straight from Sonny Suttes of Valiant Armoury, which were designed and cast for use on the Harness system of the then-recently released Signature Bristol. I'm looking for a buckle that will either match or complement those buckles nicely, but be larger...say, for a 1" to 1 1/4" belt.

I found this, which is along the right lines (though if possible, something a little more subtle and a bit less pointy would be nice...but the general styling that I'm looking for is present.)



If you know of sources ANYWHERE within the US that have buckles sold individually that are similar to this, please let me know. Cheers!

[Beornmann]

I like: Raymond's Quiet Press. Nice period stuff and varied time periods.
Also, look into Historic Enterprises. I'll see if I can scrounge up any other vendors.

[Peter Remling]

I generally use Fetteredcock Pewters

http://www.fetteredcockpewters.com/page_belts.htm

I believe I also ordered from Billie and Charlies Pewter once:

http://www.billyandcharlie.com/belt.html

[Manveruon]

I'm a fan of the buckles from Viking Leathercrafts (http://www.vikingleathercrafts.com/1-buckles.html). I have a couple from them that I quite like, and they offer several varieties that might suit your purposes.
I also have a buckle from Raymond's Quiet Press, but I must admit that I am only marginally happy with it. I found it to be a bit cheap and flimsy - though the detailing is good.

[Taurinor]

I have a buckle from Revival clothing (http://www.revivalclothing.com/bucklesa ... dings.aspx) that I'm happy with.

I haven't ordered from Historic Enterprises, but they also carry buckles (http://historicenterprises.com/reenactm ... c-102_184/)

[Elleth]

I LOVE Raymond's Quiet Press!

His buckles are sturdy (perhaps more so than the originals) - but detail is sometimes rougher finished than work carried by other places, and I think he works with whatever scrap metal is on hand.
Once I ordered several brass pieces, and they don't quite color match. That said, he's one guy in a workshop, and will happily pour his work in other metals.
I paid extra for one of his celtic brooches in silver, and am EXTREMELY happy with the result.


My favorite production buckle maker though is still Lorifactor out of Poland -
http://lorifactor.com
http://lorifactor.pl

Lots of great detail, and honestly more finely finished that Raymond's.

Here's some similar to what you were looking for I think:
http://lorifactor.com/p535,b-016-d-shaped-buckle.html
http://lorifactor.com/p543,b-024-milita ... uckle.html
http://lorifactor.com/p542,b-022-d-shap ... uckle.html
http://lorifactor.com/p1488,b-137p-d-sh ... plate.html

As you probably know, double check the sizes. Historically accurate buckles tend to be smaller than our fantasy-movie trained eyes would expect.
Narrow belts were quite the fashion for some time.


(edit - if memory serves, the girdler's guild on medieval England repeatedly forbade the use of pewter for buckles, belt straps and such. Partly out of quality / durability concerns, and partly I suspect because they didn't like the cheap competition. The more things change....)

[Greg]

Found one on the Lorifactor site that may just be too gorgeous to pass up on, regardless of international shipping. Poo.

[Elleth]

I feel your pain. The Europeans have some just amazing stuff over there. I just spent (mumbledy mumble too much) on shipping to get some wonderful cooking cutlery shipped in from

http://www.thetimeseller.com/list/223/4 ... silios.htm

(wulfland has some amazing Dark Ages stuff to! And the roman stuff from replik-shop.de ... so many toys, so little money. )


Which one did you end up getting?

[Greg]

Haven't ordered yet, but it'll probably be this one, plated in Silver:

http://lorifactor.com/galerie/b/b-24-mi ... ia_638.jpg

[Eric C]

Haven't ordered yet, but it'll probably be this one, plated in Silver:

http://lorifactor.com/galerie/b/b-24-mi ... ia_638.jpg

Ooo NICE! I really need to get the lining in my small gas forge finished so I can start casting for our brethren here.

[Ringulf]

Yes Yes! And when you do, I have a plethora of wood, metal and polymer clay plugs of all different types that could be used to cast.
I would even propose that just about anything we could possibly need or want, from weapon and scabbard furniture to armor decorations to fine buckles and other sundries could be done this way. I have the ability to make the plugs I just don't have the foundry!

(I am particularly interested in the casting of some ancestor medallions for a Dwarven belt I am working on.)

[Eric C]

Yes Yes! And when you do, I have a plethora of wood, metal and polymer clay plugs of all different types that could be used to cast.
I would even propose that just about anything we could possibly need or want, from weapon and scabbard furniture to armor decorations to fine buckles and other sundries could be done this way. I have the ability to make the plugs I just don't have the foundry!

(I am particularly interested in the casting of some ancestor medallions for a Dwarven belt I am working on.)

I'll get to work on it then! But the actual casting is going to take a little trial and error. At the present, casting will be of smaller items - belt buckles , quite possibly the coins you are talking about, guards and pommels/butt caps, things of that sort. I cast a ring once and got a visit from some black hooded scoundrels . Quite startling.

[Manveruon]

Good lord, that Lorifactor is just... wow... soooooooo much money to be spent there.... soooooooooooo much drool to clean off the keyboard.