Knights of the Northern Realm focus is on the use of transitional armour (full page armour gallery) which originates in the 14th century. This era was an advancement from the use of mail rings to steel plates ranging in armour styles from houndskull to brigandine and corazzina. Members own personal armour from several manufacturers including Valentine Armories, Abraham Armouries, Draper Armouries and Armour On Line. Several members of the club are armourers which create their own suits. Historical patterns can also be found online for armour like coat of plates from the Battle of Wisby in 1361.

Medieval clothing worn by our members come from a variety of sources including Historical Enterprises, Revival Clothing and many personally made items. A phenomental resource for period clothing from a Living Musem is featured in Medieval Military Costume. For historical clothing there are many good resources on-line for 14th century costumes.  Historical Enterprises and Revival Clothing make a real effort to reproduce historical clothing based on contemporary images.

Some of our members and friends have taken efforts to create their own dresses. From web research we have also found Gaddgedlar Historical Re-Enactment Society Lothene, Project 1300, Interessen Gemeinschaft Mensch im Mittelalter, Reine des Centfeuilles and Lady Deredere to have historical clothing. Hair styles (pdf) from the period can also be found.

Our performance weapons are durable, realistic looking and safer than real steel. We use short swords, bastard swords, long swords, falchions, axes and daggers made of high-strength aircraft aluminum and steel. Tournament weapons also include bec de corbins, maces, warhammers, and morning star flails constructed of hard rubber and/or foam. These are the same types of construction used for stage and screen weapons. Our main weapon suppliers are Supply Sergeant and Valentine Armories for swords, Maxwell Foundries for flails and Knighthawk Armoury for bludgeons. Several weapons for educational instruction are from Supply Sergeant.

Members' banner are either related to their family arms or are personally created. These arms are proudly displayed on our Members page. Our gonfalons measure 24" wide and 72" high. These adorn our feast halls and public events as they would have historically. Banner stands were made by Valentine Armories and Abraham Armouries. For more information on the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, basics of heraldry or searching for arms click on the hotlinks.

Arms are also displayed on jupons (as seen above) in the 14th century. This garment was worn over armour and was a visible presentation of the heraldry of an individual, their Lord, nation, region, city or army.  In the 14th century it was a shortened (hip length) and tighter version of the earlier tabard or surcoat. The length often coincided with the length of the haubergeon (shorter mail shirt with 3/4 length sleeves) and aketon (padded arming jacket).

Living History resources can be very easily be found from sword styles, tents to brass rubbings!

For a full roster of resources please visit our Links

Some of the images on this page and in some of the links are property of Valentine Armouries