The Armour Archive

I'm about to take on a commission for a pair of splinted cuisses and greaves.....

My question, is 8-10oz leather and 14g splints going to hold up to rebated steel fighting ????

He wanted to get the leather ones I had already completed but when he asked if they would hold up to rebated steel I balked and said I didn't think so since the splints were just leather at which point he asked about doing some with metal splints.....

Not having a clue about rebated steel fighting, IF it was SCA I'd ask: are you creasing/fluting the splints?

I had already planned to flute them lengthwise......

I've been fighting Adria Empire live steel for almost two years now. my legs are simple heavy leather with steel knee cops. since the predominant strike to the leg is a low flat snap, or a wrap shot, verticle splints of heavy leather would work just fine. you could adorn it with 18g steel splints if you wanted the look of metal, but really, in all actuallity, rebated steel fighting is not done at the same force calibre as sca stick fighting.. *cuz i do both and love em both* your friend may feel safer with the metal plates, but they are really not absolutely necessary.

I use the same heavy leather leg harness I used for SCA. (12 iron sole bends = 1/4" thick, not carving leather) Depending on what group you play with, the rules change. There are no advantages to leg shots in our play. In fact they tend to expose your head or arm, so can be a disadvantage. Whatever...

Splint or brigandine reinforced leather is a really good idea for arm harness as arms do take a beating with rebated steel. Legs not so much. Having extra protection on shins is good though. If your group does any grappling in harness, shins and knees get banged up a lot. Your plan to use creased splints will be more than adequate.

Have fun with it!

Kel
AEMMA, Toronto