Rigid Lamellar ?

Bjorn · Post by **Bjorn** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 3:51 pm

Okay, I was always under the impression that lamellar was supposed to be somewhat flexible, not as much so as maille, but pretty flexible, say like Lorica Segmenta.

My question/problem is that I keep reading about lamellar being a rigid armour, and how a lot of you folks seem to want it that way.

On the Birka plates we ordered I put a hole in the center of them so that I could have the added flexiblity I thought it was supposed to have.

So, which way is the correctt way. The ridgid way is easier to lace up in some ways, but the flexible way adds more room for personal sizing by addjusting the amount of vertical overlap between rows?

Opinions?

Bjorn the Befuddled

Joe Skeesick · Post by **Joe Skeesick** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 3:55 pm

It depends alot on how you are using it, where your wearing it and how it interacts with the rest of your kit.

Mine is a simple vest and is probably on the firmer side but it still maintains enough flexibility for me to move relatively unhindered.

Hows that for a vauge answer...

Janos

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 4:00 pm

I personally subscribe to the Mr. Myagi school of fighting:
'Best way not get hit, no be there.'

If I can't move, I'm expecting my armor to do more than it's supposed to. I suspect that period armorsmiths thought the same way, at least for foot combatants.

There's a separate post on the authenticity board about what lacing is period... One gentle mentions that leather is the best bet. If that's the case, it would be impossible to make a completely rigid set of lamellar since it'll stretch and make it flexible.

HELMUT

Bjorn · Post by **Bjorn** » Tue Mar 27, 2001 12:31 pm

*Bump*

Gaston · Post by **Gaston** » Tue Mar 27, 2001 1:18 pm

How tight should you tie your shoes?

I'll speculate (since I don't think we'll ever know) that personal taste had much to do with it, as well as regional trends, and variances in what the armour had to defend against. Against an army heavy with mass and pole weapons, I'd imagine I'd want mine laced verrrrry tight. Against quick lightly armoured opponents with onehand slashing swords, leaving more movement in it sounds like a better idea.

Not an answer, just a thought.

Bjorn · Post by **Bjorn** » Tue Mar 27, 2001 2:51 pm

Alright, I'm not sure you are all following me, I'm probably not making myself clear.

I have been making my Horizontal row plates
very tight, just as tight as I can.

My question concerns when these rows are laced together *verticely*.

I was under the impression that llamellar, at least the Birka plate type, to be 'correct' should have some, well, for want of a etter word slack in it so that one could have added flexibilty. Like lorica Segmenta, do sit ups in it type of thing.

I just keep hearing lammellar lately refered to as a rigid armour, not a flexible as I had believed so, am I right, wrong, or both - it depends ? :-)

Bjorn the still Befuddled