At Sword
N Armory, you can grab all of the authentic armor that you need in order to
complete your collection of period-accurate medieval weaponry and armory
. Whether you’re preparing for a reenactment or
you’re just an avid collector, Sword N Armory has everything that you need to
completely outfit yourself as a warrior from the middle ages.


As you probably know, medieval armor has a fascinating
history, and throughout the middle ages, the armor that was used to defend
soldiers experienced quite an evolution.
At Sword N Armory, you can find appropriate pieces from each era of the
middle ages to create a look that’s absolutely true to the time.


Functional
Armor at Sword N Armory


Sword N Armory’s functional armor is manufactured
using techniques that are true to the era during which the pieces were being
used for combat-related purposes. This
means that your armor will be as historically accurate as can be. More importantly, the items are produced
using period-accurate materials which means that not only will they be
authentic, but they’ll also be resilient and durable enough to last you for a
very long time.


As you browse through the collection of functional
armor at Sword N Armory, you’ll find a massive range of items that cover every part
of the body. You’ll be able to choose
from a wide array of designs and materials in order to customize your look
according to your unique needs. You’ll
also find armor from every era so that if you’re trying to achieve a look
that’s true to a very specific time period, you’ll be able to grab everything
that you need to look and feel the part perfectly.


Shields


No armor outfit is complete without a shield, as this
crucial piece of protection was all that warriors had to block the harsh blows
of their opponents’ weapons. Shields did
vary in design throughout the middle ages, but they always stayed true to the original,
basic structural engineering. Generally,
a shield must be of a certain size so that it can protect as much of the body
as possible. It must also be made with
materials that can withstand heavy, fast blows from a variety of weapons. Lastly, it must be heavy enough to be strong
but light enough to be easily maneuvered in moments of sudden danger.


A variety of shield designs existed, including kite
shields, buckler shields, bouche shields and heater shields. Most shields featured some type of emblem
that distinguished one warrior from another.
Because he would have been covered from head to toe in armor, a symbol
of his status or background was crucial.


Helmets


Because a blow to the head could be deadly, helmets
were necessary. Medieval helmets first
started appearing during the 12th century, and they continued to
evolve throughout the following centuries.
Helmets could be ornate or simple in design, mostly depending on the
status of the wearer. But, primarily,
they were designed to protect the head of the wearer, and therefore must have
been made with a strong enough material to defend against a variety of weapons.


Early on, helmets were cylindrical and did not cover
the entire face. They wrapped around the
top of the skull and extended down along the nose. Then, chainmail was worn around the lower
portion of the face to cover the remaining vulnerable surface area.


However, as time went on, helmets became more robust
in design and began to cover the entire head, using a sliding mechanism to
expose the eyes. Ventails were developed
to allow the wearer to comfortably breathe.
Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, helmets
with flat tops were fashionable.


By the late 14th century, styles were
changing, as were the needs for protection among soldiers. Bascinets, with their domed tops, became the
style of choice. They often featured
decorative holes in the front that acted as ventilators while showing off the
status of the wearer.


Hauberks


The hauberk was an early form of armor that served to
protect the torso. Made from heavy
chainmail, it was worn like a long shirt and it covered the arms. As time went on, other forms of armor were
developed to be worn on top of it.


The popularity of the Hauberk peaked during the 13th
century. It was usually accompanied by a
coif, gloves and a helmet. However, by
the 15th century, the hauberk fell out of fashion as it was replaced
with more solid pieces of armor that offered more promising protection.


Coifs


The coif came about sometime during the 10th
century and was used as a way to protect the neck and throat of the
wearer. Made from chainmail, the coif is
a cap that’s long enough to fully cover the collar and neck. By the 15th century, the coif was
replaced by the aventail, which, while similar in design, was structurally
different in that it was made to attach directly to the helmet.


Leggings


To complete the chainmail look of the early part of
the middle ages, leggings were created.
These leggings were made from chainmail and covered the legs in order to
protect them.


Leg
Plates


Chainmail slowly fell out of fashion during the later
part of the middle ages while sheets of metal, known as plate armor, became the
more popular and efficient way for a soldier to defend himself. Leg plates began to take over chainmail
leggings. They typically fastened at the
knee and contained heavy, thick sheets that covered the shins and thighs.


Glove Gauntlet


Gloves were an essential part of armor throughout the
middle ages. Glove designs evolved as
armor changed throughout the centuries.
The earliest gloves were made from chainmail and were incredibly
heavy. As armor began to evolve, gloves
started being made from individual sheets of metal that were fastened to each
other in a way that allowed the hands to remain perfectly mobile. This was crucial as the soldier needed to be
able to move his hands quickly so that he could grab his sword or his shield.


Breast
Plates


When plate armor took over in the late 15th
century, breast plates became an essential piece of apparel. Typically made from iron or steel, breast
plates were fastened around the upper half of the torso, protecting the
chest. Plate armor remained popular
until the middle of the 17th century when combat evolved beyond the
use of broadswords.


Shoulder
Pads


Shoulder pads were worn, as the name implies, on the
shoulders, and often consisted of multiple layers of steel that overlapped.


Elbow
Plates


Elbow plates were a form of plate armor that covered
the elbows. It was crucial that the
elbows remained flexible and mobile, so elbow plates had to utilize hinges so
that the wearer could easily move them.
If the elbows were not mobile enough, the wearer would not be able to
draw his sword quickly or use it efficiently.


Standing
Tall in Your Armor


Now that you know the amazing history of medieval
armor, it’s time to outfit yourself with the most period-accurate pieces that
you can find. At Sword N Armory, you can
pick and choose which items to add to your collection, knowing that what you’re
getting is perfectly true to the period and made with highly resilient
materials. 



Source: Functional Armor