Leather Armor? (NO HOLDS BARRED!!)

[Graham Sumner]

Dan wrote:

I have never had a problem with the existence of leather armour - even in the Roman legions. My only problem was that it was of a musculata or segmentata typology. I think we are repeating ourselves here.

I agree Dan, however it still seems that in spite of all the evidence we have presented for the existence of leather armour pre and post Roman it would appear that most people still doubt it's practicality especially when wet and in particular during the Roman period when apparently it rained all the time! :wink:

For those who think leather can not be waterproofed how do they explain away the ocean going Irish leather currachs? The other argument against leather armour is that If superior metal armour existed why would anyone wear leather? So why didn't everyone during the English civil war wear full cuirassier armour? Instead we find the leather buff coats were far more common and popular and not a cheap alternative either, some could be very expensive.

Graham.