Plate-mail hybrid armor

[Peroni]

Regarding the roves on the rivets...Two possibilities..

This photograph shows the detail of the small rivet roves on the inner face of the plate..
http://www.legionsix.org/Armor/Endfoto0 ... dunder.jpg

Possibility 1.

It was discussed earlier whether they would have been utilised primarily if a softer backing such as leather were present.

Looking closely at the image enlarged, it doesn't appear that there is any gap at all between the iron plate and the rove. This could of course be due to some oxidization, but generally, when the organic material decomposes, it will leave a gap where it used to be. This is not evident.

Therefore the suggested integral leather liner to protect the shoulders from the discomfort of the hinges seems redundant, and as TFC's latest drawing shows, the padding was (IMO) probably provided by a padded (fabric or leather) or felted wool subarmalis.

Possibility 2.

They aren't roves at all, but a second ring on the inner face. There appears to be some extant curved portions (part of a ring) in some parts same as on the outer face of the plate.

Here..

Maybe the shirt of mail was suspended from both sides of the plate by a double row of rings? Something like this...


Then again, why add two rows of rings in this method when surely it is simpler and just as strong to have one row of riveted rings passing through the punched holes????? It's all very confusing!! :?

Unless there was a single ring which passed from front to back of the plate like this...


p.s. I think the Catalka gorget from Stephenson looks like some sort of medieval chastity device! :wink:

Regards,