The Armour Archive

I'm thinking of making the mighty leap to wearing a byrnie for SCA combat. 3/8" rings, 14 gauge galvanized steel.

I'm thinking of making a gambeson with pockets in it, to place plates (over the kidneys, spine, sternum etc etc) in. Has anyone tried this? I want to avoid the "Bulky football player" look. Probably gonna slip some sort of flexible, hard armour over my shoulders too (under the byrnie)

Any input would be appreciated.



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"Two wrongs don't make a right,
but they make it feel oh so good"

A local knight has pretty much that setup Wulfgar, A gambeson which has 2 pockets one for a 8" wide by most of his diameter (Doesn't cover the stomach). The 2nd pocket has just a square plate to cover his zyphoid process (required coverage here in ealdormere). This is worn under a aluminum hauberk. I think it depends on the weapons forms you fight. Be prepared for bigger bruises when you do get hit though.

I have a plastic plate in my gambeson over my sternum, it is about 6" square. I also wear a heavy leather weight lifting belt over it to protect my kidneys and short ribs.

Do expect more bruises, but on the up side they tend to be more surface and less deep tissue damage. And they leave a cool waffle pattern!

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Ula Brennasdottir Gordieh
Honor Before Victory

Wulfgar, i have a 14 ga hauberk, just above the knee, almost elbow length, its very heavy have you worn the one you are going to fight in?
as for plates, i have hardned leather plates lace to my gambeson, wear a tunic over that then the hauberk, looks nice