ISO tooled leather bracers

[gem]

I'm helping Milord build a Gimli (LOTR)-inspired ensemble, and we're looking for some arm bracers similar to the ones Gimli wears in the films:


We're not looking for an exact match, but we were hoping to find something with the same sort of angular knotwork.  There are a *ton* of places that do bracers, but I'm  looking for specific recommendations or sites to drool over. 

Anyone have leads?

Gramercy!

[dragongirl]

Well the site is a bit sucky, but I would recommend Brent at Nightshade leathers.  He does custom work and would be happy to discuss anything you would want. http://www.nightshadeleather.com/index.php

[Tanyor]

There more leather gauntlets. Something with that much tooling might cost a wee bit. I think the costume designers on the films were more inspired with the Norse knotwork than Celtic. Which is also seen with the people of Rohan.

If you bought some leather gloves and then tooling leather ( for bracers ) if you can draw you can copy the pattern onto tooling leather. But there no eraser on leather.

here's a site that show you a simple way to make gauntlets.
http://www.geocities.com/craiggoetz/leather/bracer_tutorial.htm


And this guy might be able to help ya.
http://varglya.blogspot.com/2009/01/older-works-v-leather-bracers.html


I just found this site.

http://www.wulflund.com/armour/leather-armour/?page=2

[Seamus Ex Machina]

I have a Quartermaster and a First Mate, Mickey, and they do astounding leather work!  See "The Harbinger needs You" thread under BARF.     Mickey's specialty is carving leather images, and Dreadmoore likes to bling them with studs, rings and other shineys.   Mickey, Wenchi, and I are in the photo, Mickey wearing his own work, and I'm wearing Dean's.  Dean is in the photo above us on the left, snarling in the red frock coat.  I've seen their work, including bracers, belts, and pouches...it's as good as the stuff at fair, and you can get it as custom as you wish. 

RenMail me if interested.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

from the http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Dwarf/Gimli/GBelt.htm

If you go to the main site at http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Character.htm or anywhere to research on how to make Lord of The Rings costumes, this is the place. I have this one bookmarked for when I made Legolas several years back.

[gem]

Thanks, Lady K--we have tons of Gimli images (including some really high-resolution B&W press photos).  What I'm looking for is vendors of leather bracers that might be in an approximately similar style.

[Squire Mickey]

I have a Quartermaster and a First Mate, Mickey, and they do astounding leather work!  See "The Harbinger needs You" thread under BARF.     Mickey's specialty is carving leather images, and Dreadmoore likes to bling them with studs, rings and other shineys.   Mickey, Wenchi, and I are in the photo, Mickey wearing his own work, and I'm wearing Dean's.  Dean is in the photo above us on the left, snarling in the red frock coat.  I've seen their work, including bracers, belts, and pouches...it's as good as the stuff at fair, and you can get it as custom as you wish. 

RenMail me if interested.

Well thank ye Captain, that be a right fine compliment to me salt crusted ears...

Looking at the Gimli stuff, that should not be all that difificult, though time consuming work. There is even a patern online for the the tooling. That makes the project quite doable.

It all comes down to how movie exact you are looking for.

Another consideration here is comfort. How much like real armor are you looking this be? Gimli had worn those pieces for years in the story. Yours are never going to be as broken in as his. Therefore, you probably want to make the pieces our of a lighter weight leather instead of the 12 oz that would traditionally be used for leather armor. I would likely go with a 7-8 oz weight. You can then use some antique stains to make them look older and more broken in.

I am currnelty working on a archers jerkin, based upon Faramir's. I am going to pair that with a one sided pauldron and grieves with a bracer on my right arm.

Let me know what kind of help I can provide, and I would be happy to assist.

[Squire Mickey]

Ahh, just re read your original request.

What ye be lookin for is a site that already has said bracers. Gotcha.

One thing to point out. What Gimili is wearing are a combination of 3 elements. One, gloves. Over those he is wearing bracers, which have and attached hand guard. Now the guard is attached to the bracers with a few x stitches of leather then it is tied down so it doesn;t flop about.

All in all, fairly straight forward to do, if you have the long gloves. if not, you have a lot harder job on your hands. Otherwise, ye can forgo the gloves and just wear the bracers. In that case, I would suggest making a sleeve of suede that came down and you could hook your thumb through. Then I would attach the bracers and the hand guard over it. It would give the same impression, with our the gloved fingers.