Scale Armours: Which Cultures and Eras?

[T. Finkas]

Here's the story:

I have been wanting a scale armour for a very long time. Finally I am getting off my duff and doing something about it. My favored solution at present is buying spinner blades from a fishing lure manufacturer, then cutting them down and drilling new holes. Here's a photo-rendering of the pattern using photos of the actual trimmed-down scales:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/f ... 052205.jpg

Now I am trying to deside what sort of armour to make! The front runner is a Scythian/Sarmatian/Parthian style. The runner up is an Italo-Norman style.

For my purposes, the armour would be for SCA combat as an archer...but might also be used for LH or historical timeline.

So, any other suggestions? Frankish/Carolingian? Byzantine? I'd love to get some other ideas before I decide. Please post images or links if you can.

Thanks,
Tim

[Egfroth]

Roman, Sarmatian and Byzantine, certainly, and the areas they influenced. See http://geocities.com/egfroth1/ScaleArmour.html and http://www.larp.com/legioxx/squamata.html .

There is pictorial evidence for its use in a Carolingian context, and also perhaps Italo-Norman (eg the so-called "Charlemagne Chess-set" at http://history.chess.free.fr/charlemagne.htm . Also, a single large rectangular scale has been found in a dig in France from the early 11th century (see http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcn ... chepay.htm and follow the links through "Farmer knights" and "defense"). Also there are reports of other finds in France, but they are almost impossible to get hold of.

There is at least one scale-armoured footsoldier in the 13th century German Codex Manasse, and there are occasional images of scale armour on C14 West-European knights - I'm particularly thinking of a representation from the beginning of the century of William I and his knights (see black and white attachment).

As far as I know, at least on example of scale armour has also been found from 16th century Western Europe.

Does that help?

[T. Finkas]

Yes, that helps! Many Thanks.

[Russ Mitchell]

Pretty common in Central Europe, too. scale aventails VERY common in Poland. And the statue of St. George that is currently in Bohemia shows scale arms and legs... that can be written off or taken at face value, but I've always been inclined towards the latter, as the detail on that statue is good, and scale is much harder to depict in sculpture than mail is...

[Ivo]

Hello.

Go Greek/Macedonian. Attach the scales to a linothorax.

Ooooh...too many interesting things...how about a fantasy design?

Ivo

[T. Finkas]

Hello.

Go Greek/Macedonian. Attach the scales to a linothorax.

Ooooh...too many interesting things...how about a fantasy design?

Ivo

One of the designs I like for a Scythian portrayal is a linothorax covered with scales like the figures on this comb. The horseman wears Greek armour over Scythian "pajamas."

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Golden ... /156.L.jpg

Cheers,
Tim