Calgary sword and armour company suits up Comic Expo cosplayers

A local company that rents and sells medieval battle gearis busy gettingcosplayers suited up forthis weekend'sCalgary ComicExpo.

• Show us yourCalgary Expo costume. Send apictureto calgaryphotos@cbc.ca and tell us how you made it.

Dark Ages Creations is stocked with swords, shields and armour, but also crafts custom chainmail which can be a tedious process.

"It's like metal crocheting," said company president, Jamie Ripley.

He said a single chainmail shirt takes about 100 hours to craft and he's making them for clients in the television, movie and theatre industry but also for people who love dressing up in costume.

"We get a Game of Thrones person in weekly," he told the Calgary Eyeopener on Tuesday.

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Historical European Martial Arts

Dark Age Creations also teaches HEMA Historical European Martial Arts, a sport Ripley says isgrowinginternationally at a "staggering rate."

"Just like you see these martial arts that evolved in China and Japan and Asia, we had similar martial arts that developed in western Europe during the medieval period it was just a different type of sword they were using."

Safety first

Ripley and his squires will showcase their weapons and love of Crusader and Viking fashion Thursday through Sunday at the Calgary Comic Expo.

Their booth, which Ripley lovingly refersto as "Sword Island,"will feature an armoured teddy bear named 'Sir Teddington.' Visitors can also 'Hire-A-Squire' and get outfitted in a suit of armour.

Ripley said all the pointy ends of his weapons are padded so that no one will poke an eye out.

"We do take safety very seriously. Last thing you want is somebody getting bumped in the back of the head with one of these in a crowded aisleway."

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener