Leather Armor and their Ultimate Protection
Posted by SwordsSwords on Oct 28th 2022
Leather armor has been around for centuries, and it's no wonder why. It's strong, durable, and provides excellent protection against a variety of weapons and environmental conditions. The world of leather garments is vast, and its contents can be traced to the beginning of recorded history. One of the earliest and longest-lasting types of protective leatherwear is leather armor. It has been widely used by cosplayers, LARPers, and soldiers of the war. The armor manufactured in the present day is inspired by video games, movies, or other pop culture mainstays.
How was The Leather Armor Made?
The earliest method used thick leather to make a vest or a jacket. Later, metal plates were attached to reinforce the leather. This armor provided protection from getting cut, but it did not provide a lot of protection from punctures. Leather armor was rarely made into a full suit of armor.
Types of Leather Armor
Depending upon the uses of leather armor, their types are distinguished. Given below are the diverse types of leather armor:
Cuir Bouilli
Cuir bouilli is also known as boiled leather, molded leather, or hardened leather. The material is soft and impressed into a mold to get the desired shape. It offers additional protection than simple leather. In a vat of oil or molten wax, the leather was boiled, and once done, it was shaped. After that, the leather is left to harden and dry.
Compared to metal, leather was lighter and it offered protection from cuts and punctures. Cuir Bouilli is smaller in size, but thicker and tougher once boiled. They also made it into chest plates, gauntlets, and knee and elbow pads.
Cuir Bouilli was cheap but less effective than plate armor. Yet, it could be reinforced by adding metal bands or strips against slashing blows. They did this in leather helmets and chest armor
Brigandine armor
This armor was introduced to Europe in the 13th century. They learned it from the Mongols who invaded Europe. It featured small metal plates attached to it. The placement of the plates varied for each armor. It may be attached outside the leather or placed between two layers of leather. The plates of the armor were different in size. Some used to place them around the lungs and the heart. Brigandine became popular with both common soldiers and nobility.
Ring Mail
Ring mail armor was known to be completely made of iron rings. However, the earliest ring mail was made in leather. It started as leather armor with attached metal rings and later evolved into armor completely made of linked rings.
The Celts, who created the ring mail, used the mail with a layer of leather. On top of the mail, they added extra plates for extra protection. Most full-body mail armor would have leather or padded clothing under them.
Lamellar
Lamellar armor was very popular throughout Eurasia. It consisted of plates of iron or hardened leather laced together. It was sometimes categorized as scale armor.
The Lamellar armor was used by various cultures across the world. It could be made from a wide variety of different materials. The small plates were sewn together in huge numbers. It ranged from hundreds to thousands giving a veritable armor.
One could make the Lamellar armor out of leather, bone, stone, or metal. If it was made of metal, the pieces were lacquered. This was to avoid corrosion and give the armor a longer life.
No matter what type of leather armor you have, it's important to care for it properly. Leather armor is susceptible to damage from sunlight, moisture, and insects. Be sure to store your leather armor in a cool, dry place when you're not wearing it. If it does get wet, allow it to air dry slowly and away from direct heat.
Leather armor is a great way to stay protected in a variety of situations, especially if you’re to enter battle while LARPing. Be sure to choose the right type of leather armor according to your requirements. You can check out our exclusive collection of leather armor in-store.