The Armour Archive

So I've decided to do lamellar. There are a couple of criteria I am looking to accomplish and need your help. Things to keep in mind while trying to help me...Combat Archer, very rarely will get hit in torso, Bend down a zillion times to pick up arrows...Basic shirt length.

I have absolutely no idea of what the finished product is going to weigh and I want to go as light as possible! So far, plastic (ugh) is the winner at 4-8 pounds.

Speaking of plastic...there are 2 thicknesses available. After going through the Caidian Fighters Handbook, I saw nothing specific on the plastic plate thickness...only that a kydex lamellar is astheticly passable.

I want it black plate and it need not be pretty
...just not painted or shiny.

Leather is heavier than aluminum, right?
I know that leather will also not shred the lacing as a metal would.

The snob in me wants metal...maybe aluminum...but how much will it weigh and how can I turn it black? Is there another way to round out the holes beside using eyelets?

Thanks,
Franky
(yup, your ex-waterbearer)

Hi Franky,

I have the larger of the Noble Plastics lamellar, with which I am very well protected. Obviously, plastic isn't authentic, but it is cheaper than metal. I don't know if it's any lighter.

I have also had stiffened leather lamellar, but further research into the subject indicates that only leather lamellar extant was in ancient China (check H.R Robinson's "Oriental Armour." The book, however, is a little old).

As far as I can tell, and having done some research into lamellae, I can tell you most of the recovered examples are made of iron.

Mord.

There is a leather lamella quisse from dura europos, its not much but its leather lamella outside of china.
It used a slightly diff lacing technique where the rows were laced to each other through the cord of the above/below row as opposed to through an actual hole in the plate.
I believe it was even painted red but would need to crack a book to be sure.

ladyfranky wrote:...Leather is heavier than aluminum, right?
I know that leather will also not shred the lacing as a metal would.

The snob in me wants metal...maybe aluminum...but how much will it weigh and how can I turn it black? Is there another way to round out the holes beside using eyelets?

That depends on the thickness and the lacing pattern. Rigid plastic, stainless, leather or aluminum are all fairly comparable and any one of them might provide the lightest weight/coverage area for a particular project. My leather lamellar pieces are lighter than my plastic, possibly because I use rabbit glue hardening rather than wax hardening. 20 gauge stainless protects well but it is harder on the lacing than thicker aluminum. With the right lacing material the stainless works just fine. Desired appearance and cost may turn out to be more important than weight in differentiating between these materials.

If you want it to be lightweight and black and nearly zero maintenance then the black Auk plates from http://www.plasticlamellar.com/products.htm may be best for you. They are very difficult to distinguish from leather plates.

If you want to make your own leather plates that works too, but you can also buy leather plates from Torvaldr at http://skaldic.com/Pages/torvaldrbodyarmor.htm.

If you want a metal plate at low cost the aluminum plates from Sir Felix are a bargain. If you want a polished steel look with low maintenance then stainless plates are available from White Mountain Armoury and from Calontir Trim.

As always, I suggest that you decide on a time, place and social role that you are trying to portray and let that guide the rest of your decisions.

I'm doing the first plastic armor I have touched in over 20 years for my son (age . I've ordered the Noble Plastics "auk" plates.
They are very light, the harness is lacing togeather quickly and the price was not prohibitive. If you look at byzantine illuminations the bulk of the infantry archer harness' are about hip length since the armor moves, but not a lot

Good Luck with it

I believe you can find anodized aluminum here...http://www.flickr.com/photos/eldesar. There is a currnt discussion in the classified thread.

I have a set of Lamellar made from Fleix's alum plates and I cant swear enough on how great they are. The suit is very light, moves well and looks really good to boot. The best thing as well its very protective, even more so than the set of stainless Lamellar I made out of 20 gauge. Another cool thing about alum is that I am alot cooler with this suit than I was with the stainless, and leather harnesses I have had in the past.

Ditto on the Felix lamellar. If he starts making more I will be buying some. I keep checking his blog page and he seems have stopped production. It is lighter than the plastic and being T6, very very strong. http://lamellar.blogspot.com/
Tascius