Looking for Information on Pauldrons.

Arcane Barrette · Post by **Arcane Barrette** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 3:26 pm

Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone can help me gather some information about this piece.

I like the look of it, but I would like to know considerably more about it if I am going to try to build it.

Firstly, I want to know if there is a period example of this piece. If not, are there historical examples of pieces that are similar?

Secondly, where and when would something like this have been found?

And Lastly, If anyone has build a similar piece I would very much like any insight that you can bestow.

Thank you very much.

Arcane Barrette

Armourkris · Post by **Armourkris** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 4:02 pm

I haven't seen any period examples like that, that said, there are a lot of pieces out there that i haven't seen. so i really don't know.

as for construction, looking at the picture i would say the pattern could be fairly easily modified from the standard "14th century spaulder" pattern. just make the cop a little wider and add the cutouts that form that little point down the lames.

the 3 silver rivets you can see on the lames look to me to be dummy rivets. the plates were probably riveted to each other during construction to make everything sit pretty, then those rivets would have been removed, the dummy rivets put in their places. The lames are likely articulated on leathers going by that darker colored rivet on the cop itself.
I cant say about this particular piece, but if i was building it I'd try and put sliding rivets down the back side and the leather down the front.
the topmost lame more than likely just pivots a little to prevent the edge of the cop from digging into your shoulder when your arm is raised.

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:20 pm

Well I think I'm qualified to respond here as that is a resin cast from the pauldrons I wear for reenactment. The originals were made by Bernard Willoughby who shares my shop.

They are actualy a plain version of the pauldrons on a late 15th/early 16th century German jousting harness, I'll check the reference but I think it's in the wallace. They have sliding rivets at the back and leathers at the front and centre and yes the top lame just pivots on those rivets (inside shots are below).

As I have used this style for some time I'd recommend making the main plate shorter by a little at the top and increase the sice of the upper lame a bit to gain a little upward motion.

These are great for combat as the give that little bit more coverage than simple spaudlers but have the advantage of the articulated lames, I'll see if I can dig out the old pattern at all.

Matt.

Arcane Barrette · Post by **Arcane Barrette** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:13 pm

Wonderful.

Armourkris, I appreciate your insight with this one. Good call on the sliding rivets at the back and leather at the front. Thanks for your help.

Matt, I never expected to get as lucky as to hear from the owner of the originals. Thank you very much for posting your pictures they are going to be immensely helpful. I also appreciate your advice on changes that would be beneficial. One question I have is, do you think, having worn them, that rolling the edges on the wings of the main plate would make a difference in how they perform?

Thanks again for the help.

Arcane Barrette

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:37 pm

Glad to be of help

Rolling the edges isn't something I'd advocate for these, the only issue I've ever had is with the front edge occasionally catching on the roll on the armpit of my breastplate, it's never actualy stuck though, and this is usualy caused by them being pointed too low.
Also depending what sort of arms you have to go with them you may need to change the lowest lame.

Matt