The Armour Archive

We've talked about this before, but I'm going to bring it up again.

Many illustrations show maille chausses pointed to the braies the same way that regular hose are. I am going to change my braies to have an actual internal belt, perhaps two inches or so wide. This might distribute the load enough to not cut into me so badly. But when I have tried to suspend maille chausses from the braies belt before it has been very painful.

Is there any thought yet that they could be suspended by some other support garment?

Steve

I can't really help you, at least not with a historically plausible alternative- unless you went early Crusades where the chausses were more like a sheet of maille that overlaid the front and part of the side of the thigh was tied end to end behind the leg. Had a pic and can't find it now.

One of my knight brothers actually built a pair of crossed suspenders for his- he had the same problem as you, the weight of them caused the belt they hung from to dig into his hips something awful. His thing was, no one's ever gonna see'm so why not.

At one point I used suspenders to support leg harness, and it did work well. I'd like to stick to a period solution if possible.

Steve

I'll be honest, I have no idea what they did in period...but I would like to know. I'm angling toward a 13th C impression (1275 let's say) and this is something I'm going to have to contend with at some point.

If we don't know and can't find out, maybe the ultimate load-spreader is the infamous skin-close pourpoint.

We had previously discussed pointing or sewing them to the hauberk as mentioned at Bouvines, though I suspect this is merely a battlefield modification to ensure a tight fit rather than a suspension method.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=100857
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=158762

Depending on the time frame you're considering using them to portray (3rd Crusade?), you might want to consider the open-back variety to cut weight.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=161747

I like the idea of the lace-on chausses, especially since they require less tailoring, and it should make it easier to kneel. But I'm afraid that you would have to bind them like crazy to get them to stay on and not droop. Plus they look like a real pain to try and put on by yourself.

The pourpoint idea worked OK:

http://www.forth-armoury.com/temp/mail4.jpg

Steve

I wonder if we have more trouble with this because we are using heavier maille than was used in period?

Depending on the time frame you're considering using them to portray (3rd Crusade?), you might want to consider the open-back variety to cut weight.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=161747

This is precisely what I was referring to. I'll have to check Steve's image from home, seems to be blocked here at work.

I wonder if we have more trouble with this because we are using heavier maille than was used in period?

I think my 18GA 3/8" ID riveted maille is probably within an acceptable range for authentic weight for my chausses.

However, I think my legs/thighs are fatter than your usual armoured medieval fellow and as a result my chausses (and hosen) end up being very cone-shaped, which makes them naturally want to fall off.

Steve

Might be the right shape. Unless we have another exemplar. Vike gives the weight on this damaged chausse as 1.533kg, about 3 lbs. 6 oz..