The (hopefully) Great Lamellar Project

For a while now, I've been considering changing to a more period body armor. Since mail is no good for protecting against rattan blows, that means lamellar if I want a period body armor.

Polar Bear Forge has some pretty attractive prices for lamellar, though I'm not sure about their materials. Probably fine, I just like to think that getting the best possible alloy of steel might mean a weight-to-look ratio that will be more acceptable. So I'm also talking to Osprey et al at Darkwood, since their expertise at alloys is very high. No, Darkwood does not currently stock or even make lamellar.

I mention this because a bulk order may save some money, if only on shipping. Philip, Turgeis, Ragnar Ribcracker and a couple of the UVa students are also interested, so we are already in range of a bulk order. The more the merrier though!

Assuming a normal sized person and a medium sized individual plate, body armor out of lamellar requires around 200 plates, and the target price I would like to get to is less than or equal to 60¢ per plate. So pretty affordable.

Details of alloy (or even type of metal: steel vs. aluminum or titanium) and style of plate are up for debate, and it may not actually matter about the style, since we might be able to get a bulk discount on several styles ordered together. Yes, titanium will be more than 60¢ a plate.

My time schedule would be to have these in time for me to finish the shirt by Pennsic, though Turgeis would prefer by Sapphire. Either is possible, I think.

Other questions? Chime in.