Assembled The Cuirass

[MissingLink]

There is also some conjecture (nothing solid) that leather was added as rigid protection under maille. The possibility of hardened leather or buff leather to add protection to the shoulders, elbows, and forearms would make sense to protect areas where the bones are close enough to the skin to be an issue with flexible armor.

[hivemind]

MissingLink, thanks for posting. I see you're here from the Armour Archive, where I occasionally lurk and read but am not registered at. They have anything to say about this topic over there?

Eldorado, great info. What you've found pleases both of us.

Right now, I'm still sticking by my assertion that leather armor was never used in the western world as a primary armor material in any regularity. As tournament armor/dress armor/with maille, sure. As "leather armor" in the sense we think of it as (and as often is worn for LARP/SCA) today - not so much.

Edited April 10, 2010 by hivemind

[MissingLink]

Hivemind, I've seen you on the Dag forums as well (Erich MacKermak). As for the Archive, the general acceptance is it was only used as tournament armour during the period. For primary armour it has not been proven that is was ever in use extensively. I still like it though.

[hivemind]

Hivemind, I've seen you on the Dag forums as well (Erich MacKermak).

Oh hai!

[Eldorado]

That turned out really good. You gonna update with pics when all garbed up.

Here are some pics of the armor with the completed tassets and sword belt at Colorado's Ren Fair on Mardi Gras weekend.

What do you all think?

Eldorado