Making Pteruges (or at least trying to make Pteruges!)

[Materfamillias]

Yep, why would a Roman have used leather? Think about it. He would have had to go to the trouble of tanning it, then dying it. What for? It is useless as an armor. Linen and felt, on the other hand, have proven properties as armor.

If leather is so useless as armour then why is it so difficult to cut? Anybody with any leatherworking experience will know how difficult it is to pierce anything but the thinnest leather. Leatherworking requires an array of sharp tools to get the job done properly. It's not going to be completely sword/spear proof, but I can't see how it would be inferior to linen or felt. Used in combination as part of an overall armour package, I don't see any reason why leather should be considered inferior.