03-09-2006, 10:16 AM
I'm not sure I should be reviving this but I found Williams' cuir-bouilli data.
One sample of 5mm cuirbouilli required 90 J to penetrate with a blade and 30 J with a spear/lance. Another required 50 J to penetrate with a blade and only 20 J to pierce with a spear/lance.
Compare with the amount of energy for a blade to penetrate layered linen
100 J - 5th layer
120 J - 9th
140 J - 16th
160 J - 23rd
180 J - 26th
According to this, a pissy 5 layers of linen is superior to 5mm of hardened leather.
Compare the above with 1.9mm "Swedish" wrought iron (low quality munitions plate). The same blade required more than 190J to penetrate and the spear/lance required more than 100 J.
Source: Alan Williams The Knight and the Blast Furnace pp.943-44
One sample of 5mm cuirbouilli required 90 J to penetrate with a blade and 30 J with a spear/lance. Another required 50 J to penetrate with a blade and only 20 J to pierce with a spear/lance.
Compare with the amount of energy for a blade to penetrate layered linen
100 J - 5th layer
120 J - 9th
140 J - 16th
160 J - 23rd
180 J - 26th
According to this, a pissy 5 layers of linen is superior to 5mm of hardened leather.
Compare the above with 1.9mm "Swedish" wrought iron (low quality munitions plate). The same blade required more than 190J to penetrate and the spear/lance required more than 100 J.
Source: Alan Williams The Knight and the Blast Furnace pp.943-44
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books