Hi Arrsante,Which one? The two ones most suitable (which are the most expensive)have several flaws - they lack the series of plates round the armhole and collar. Either they are too short, or they have placed the waistline below the navel. The top one seems entirely lined - no extant brigandine is lined, or shows any signs of lining save three at the RA, which have lining on the shoulder strap alone.
They are the best looking commercially available brigandines I have yet seen, but in my mind they are very expensive for the flaws they do have. That said, they are about 5 times cheaper than I would want for making one, but one I made would have all the detail, and every part of the assembly hand done (including sewing together the foundation by hand).
I would really have to see one up close to see if I would let it into Wolfe Argents arsenal, but then we have the capabilities to make our own. I know some people on the 15th century list were considering getting them. Maybe someone brave on this end will get one.
Craig and I will be working on two different patterns suitable for the novice - one pretty much suitable for a complete novice, which will look like mine without the lungplates. They are designed around the concept of having no more tools or skills than a pair of tinsnips, and a sewing needle (or machine, a ballpien hammer, and a small, cheap anvil available at the hardware store. All plates would be cut out of a 2" wide coil of either springsteel, or stainless strapping, and they could be assembled in a fraction of the time, or with a fraction of the trouble of the Wolfe Argent examples. We even have readily available commercial nails lined up for the ease of people undertaking the project.
They would not be perfect (in fact, they are aimed at people interested in more authentic in the SCA, or people in HWMA, but on a budget and with minimal skills) reproductions, but they would probably look as good as then White Rose brigandines, and cost only several hundred dollars, and your time invested, instead of close to $1000.
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Bob R.