Our Products

Leopold Breastplate

Based on the Churburg s.14, this is a globular breastplate with a stoprib. The style was ubiquitous during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Due to its simplicity and elegance, versions of it (of varying quality) were worn by militia, men-at-arms and even French knights at Agincourt. 

True to our company's values, this is a munition version. We have gone for an authentic finish - look closely and you can see fouling, the grain of the grind, file scratches near irregular rolled edges, even hammer marks here and there. On the inside, the breastplate is left rough from the hammer where you can see the armourer's skill and labour. There's true beauty in its utilitarian look. 

Source: 

Ruestkammer Schloss Churburg-Schluderns, s.14 [Extant]

Leopold Bascinet

The general shape of our bascinet is based on an Italian one dated circa 1390 at the Royal Armouries but the gap at the front of ours is narrower. This style was found in England, Scotland and Northern Italy, sometimes with a maille aventail sewn under the skull rather than attached to the outside with vervelles.  

This version forgoes the maille for a lighter weight and more comfortable fit. The skull is 2mm mild steel formed of two halves. The hood and aventail has a linen outer with cotton batting and liner.

We also offer a version with maille attached as described above.

Royal Armouries item IV.497 [Extant]

Richard Breastplate

Advances is metalworking technologies including the water wheel-powered hammer saw plate armour becoming more accessible to common infantry. Retained troops would have been issued this armour by nobles. 

Notably, more complex breastplates would have become more available like this one. There are at least 13 extant sister pieces in this style, all from German and Italian exporters. We selected two of them to form the basis of our breastplate. 

It consists of a two-part breast and plackart, faulds and steep, rolled edges. Most of the extant pieces have a central rivet with a floral design on imported from milan. As a nod to this, we have stamped our own in the style of tiny ancient Macedonian shields

Sources:

Stadtmuseum Muenchen 876 [Extant]

Stadtmuseum Muenchen 843 [Extant]

Richard Arm Harness

By the 1450s, three-piece arm harness had dominated the export market for munitions grade kit. The simple construction kept costs down compared to its articulated peers while the larger couter still afforded excellent protection. 

Our design is Anglo-German based on Talhoffer's manuscripts, English effigies and engravings. A bullet-nosed, full couter encloses and protects your elbows. The lower cannon is available either closed for the heavy infantry fighting of English bill blocks or half (as pictured) for our continental cousins. That said, I have a pair of each myself - horses for courses and all that. 

One size fits all as the pointing under the couter is adjustable. You can also point each piece directly to your doublet in the English style. Match them with a rondel spaulder for that 1470s look. 

Sources:

Ms.Thott.290.2º, Hans Talhoffer, 1459 [Manuscript]

British Museum, engraving, two knights in armour; facing each other etc, c. 1480-90 [Engraving]

Royal Armouries, ADMIN PH A3.368 [Extant]

Richard Gauntlets

The transition away from hourglass gauntlets with individual fingers towards mitten gauntlets coming higher up the arms was one of the core evolutions in 15th century European armour as mobility was traded for protection. 

Our gauntelts are based on a pair in the Met. They are Italian in style and formed part of the Chalcis find. Unusually for this style, the wrist on both hands is formed of two pieces rather then the asymmetrical single-and-double forms associated with Milanese armour. 

These ones are larger than the original to accommodate a one-sized closed lower cannon. It also gives more rotational movement in the wrist.

Source:

Met Museum, part of composed armour 50.160a–x

Richard Sallet

The sallet was the most common European helmet of the 15th century. The versatility of the design saw many different versions, from the sweeping, long-tailed German style to the shorter, more rounded Milanese type. 

Our Franco-Burgundian sallet is based on extant pieces including a well-preserved one at the Met Museum. The open-faced skull features a prominent, pointed ridge, simple brow reenforce and shorter tail. The rivets are the same as we used for the breastplate and unique to us.

Source:

Met Museum, 29.150.13 [Extant]

Henry Breastplate

Our ‘Henry’ breastplate is based on the iconic, 16th century almain rivet at the Westgate Museum in Winchester. This is the sort of armour worn by both the Scots and English at Flodden, the infamous Landsknechts at the sack of Rome and battle of Pavia and dragged Henry VIII’s sailors to the bottom of the Solent when the Mary Rose sank.

As plate armour became more available, these were hammered out in their thousands and sent all across Europe to monarchs and mercenaries alike.

The price includes the breastplate and tassets. A backplate is available for an additional £400. 

Source:

Westfield Museum Almain Rivet, Winchester

Henry Proto-Burgonet

This proto-burgonet or casquetelle forms part of our 16th century almain rivet harness. It’s based on a couple of extant examples in Wade Allen’s collection.

The peak (fall) is wide-brimmed, similar to some Roman helmets. This pivots down to pin the cheek pieces in place, folding centrally in a similar way to an armet. This was the beginning of the mechanics seen with Burgonets for the next century.

Source:

Wade Allen Collection: A-182 and A-270

Henry Splint Arms

These are based on the pair seen with the Winchester almain rivet at the Westfield museum. Featuring retractable hand plates, these marked a pivotal point in providing the standard infantryman with arm protection as part of a more complete munitions-grade harness. 

Source:

Westfield Museum Almain Rivet, Winchester