Extant XIVth-Century Armour

Selections relevant to Late Medieval Fighting Arts (1350–1450)

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Source

All details on this page are sourced from: “The Complete Catalogue of Extant XIVth Century Armour (or better, an attempt)” by Augusto Boer Bront.

Extant Historical Armour of Note

Item 1: Ruestkammer Schloss Churburg, Schluderns — CSH15 (Bascinet style helm, 1380–1400)
  • Weight (Helmet): 3.26 kg
  • Weight (Aventail): 3.00 kg
  • Height: 29 cm
  • Ear to Ear Distance: 20 cm
  • Aventail Rings Outer Diameter: 11 mm
  • Aventail Rings Inner Diameter: 9 mm
  • The visor probably doesn’t belong to the skull. Notably, this is the only bascinet with a surviving internal liner.
Item 2: Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich — W195 (Chestplate, 1380–1410)
  • Material covered externally.
  • Inside of the plates tinned to prevent rust.
Item 3: Royal Armouries, Leeds — III.17 (English maile, 1328–1400)
  • Construction: Half riveted, half solid.
Item 4: Royal Armouries, Leeds — IV.497 (English side‑pivot bascinet, 1380–1400)
Item 5: Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg — W1562 (German side‑pivot bascinet, 1380–1400)
  • The helm has been damaged, perhaps in a fire, compressing the sides together.
  • Original iron protection for the leather attachment of the aventail survives.
Item 6: Royal Armouries, Leeds — IV.470 “Lyle Bascinet” (English side‑pivot bascinet with original visor and maile, 1380–1400)
  • Material: Steel (0.6% C)
  • Heat Treatment: Air‑cooling
  • Weight: 7.01 kg (helmet), 2.97 kg (aventail)
  • Iron Rings Diameter (Inner/Outer): 6.29 mm / 8.00 mm
  • Iron Rings Wire Thickness: 1.28 mm
  • Iron Rings Wire Width: 1.24 mm
  • Brass Rings Diameter (Inner/Outer): 6.36 mm / 7.57 mm
  • Brass Rings Wire Diameter: 1.16 mm
Items 7 & 8: Royal Armouries, Leeds — III.1713 & Wallace Collection, London — A251/A252 (English hand protection, no fingers)
Item 9: Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury — ref_arm_1303 (English hand protection, with fingers)
Item 10: Royal Armouries, Leeds — III.1285 (English leg harness — upper and knee, 1380–1400)
  • Royal Armouries catalogue date listed as 1420.
Item 11: Royal Armouries, Leeds — A.L.30-1 “Cobham Helm” (English great helm, 1390–1420)
  • Thickness at the ocularia (both upper and lower plate): 8 mm
  • Thickness front plate lower edge: 3 mm
  • Thickness back plate: 2 mm
  • Height: 38 cm
  • Ear to Ear Distance: 25.5 cm
  • Depth: 31.2 cm
  • Weight: 5.75 kg
Item 12: British Museum, London — 1856,0701.2244 (English aventail, 1350–1360)
  • Construction: Half riveted, half solid
  • Ring cross‑section: Round (neck), Flat (shoulders)
  • Weight: 1.01 kg
  • Length: 67 cm
  • Height: 26 cm