Though,
again, definitely displaying a bias for certain forms of reenactment,
and flexible enough to accommodate both modern tools and modern
necessities in armor reproduction, Mr. Price does exhibit a remarkable
concern for authenticity. His work is very much oriented towards
armor for use, rather than for display. However, he does realize
that certain projects may be beyond the abilities of beginning or
intermediate armorers, and, as in the case of constructing greaves,
gives some appropriate anachronistic shortcuts. Indeed, one of the
few objections we might raise is when he does not make such exceptions,
such as when he instructs the reader to strap leg armor on the inside,
despite the fact that this can be uncomfortable for the horse. There
is also the occasional debatable statement, such as "Indeed, on
horseback, the movement of the visor against the helmet contributes
to the range of vision, greatly expanding it as the occularia moves
up and down." Perhaps so, but, in practice, found to definitely
be a jarring experience!
These,
of course, are mere quibbles. The book is overall excellent, focused,
and true to its task. Mr. Price has produced a very fine and useful
work indeed, and he deserves all due praise. Techniques of Medieval
Armour Reproduction should be on the reference shelf of all
aspiring armorers and armor users. It will doubtless prove the standard
textbook for the next decade, and be included in the bibliography
of similar works for centuries to come.