Post New Topic  Post A Reply
my profile | register | search | faq | forum home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
»  FireStryker Living History Forum   » History   » Arms & Armour   » thickness of a harness

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!    
Author Topic: thickness of a harness
Bill Duncan
Member
Member # 448

posted 05-14-2004 03:58 PM     Profile for Bill Duncan   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Okay I am planing on my first armour project and need a little help.
This will be for a 1450 to 1470 style harness ( this is just a ball park figure on time frame.) The list is this.
Helm: Barbute or salade.
Body armour: early 15th century Italian style
gorget: 15th cen.
arms: same
legs: same
sabatons:
bascicaly a full harness
My main question is what would yall say is the proper thickness for a true fighting harness?
I know that different parts were thicker than other areas. I would like to make this as historically realistic as possible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Duncan

Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged
chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4

posted 05-16-2004 10:45 AM     Profile for chef de chambre   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Hi Bill,

We really don't know enough to give decisive answers. Very few of these sorts of measurements have been taken, so an average can't really be given, and to the best of my knowlege nobody has grided out a piece and neasured it across a grid - an idea which would give you the types of answers you would like.

Best we can do is weights, which give a clue. A full field harness of the era should be weighing in between 45 and 60 lbs or so. If you helmet weighs more than 8 lbs, your full cuirasse more than 25, and your full arm defences more than a few pounds per side, then you are likely using too thick a sheet to make them from.

--------------------

Bob R.


Registered: May 2000  |  IP: Logged
Woodcrafter
Member
Member # 197

posted 05-16-2004 08:59 PM     Profile for Woodcrafter   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
This has been done before here at:

armour thickness

And the best part of that discussion was this:

thickness paper

Which summarizes that armour was not made purposefully thicker in some areas and thinner in others. The helmet was 18 gauge, breastplate 16 gauge and was tempered. But this is one harness.

--------------------

Woodcrafter
14th c. Woodworking


Registered: Jul 2001  |  IP: Logged
Bill Duncan
Member
Member # 448

posted 05-16-2004 11:39 PM     Profile for Bill Duncan   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Real quickly Thank you, Muchos Gracias, Domo Arigato.
Duncan

Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)  

Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
Hop To:

Contact Us | Wolfe Argent Living History

Copyright © 2000-2009 Wolfe Argent Living History. All Rights reserved under International Copyright Conventions. No part of this website may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission of the content providers. Individual rights remain with the owners of the posted material.

Powered by Infopop Corporation
Ultimate Bulletin Board 6.01