Leather Subarmalis

[Gaius_Calvus]

You're a true gentleman, Jim!

Now that I've worn both types, fabric and leather, I can't really say which I prefer. I CAN say that both seem to work very well for their intended purpose.

Edge

[Robert]

What I gathered from a LOT of threads is that there is evidence for the use of leather under the hamata, but I do not think it is a question of OR. It is very plausible to have leather as a waterproof outer garment (under the hamata) over a linen or felt or whatever subarmalis. A subarmalis made of a single sheet of leather will not absorb shocks the way a good quilted subarmalis will, so I am OK with the assumption one was worn over the other in battle conditions. Me, for comfort reasons, as no one is hitting me or shooting me, settle for just the outer garment of leather under my hamata, keeping the heat down. In case of the more waterproof seg (it's shaped like rooftiles!), the linothorax type subarmalis is a very good choice.

[Martin Wallgren]

@ Peroni! I agree to some extent. Now I use it most often as a outher layer to in my 550 AD Vendel/Sutton Hoo impression ontop of a felt tunic with some padded areas around the shoulders, maille and then the jerkin. as this...


Then the maille and the tunic leads the moist out. And of course now it´s great to keep warm under all when tempratures a droping under freezing as it has done the last week.

[Magnus]

A subarmalis made of a single sheet of leather will not absorb shocks the way a good quilted subarmalis will, so I am OK with the assumption one was worn over the other in battle conditions. Me, for comfort reasons, as no one is hitting me or shooting me, settle for just the outer garment of leather under my hamata, keeping the heat down. In case of the more waterproof seg (it's shaped like rooftiles!), the linothorax type subarmalis is a very good choice.

I also wonder if the subarmalis needs to be as thick with segmentata with the girdle plates there to stop some of the energy transfer from blunt weapons or other impacts to the body.

[M. Demetrius]

How is padding done under other plate armor?

Seems like there should be soft pad over all the exposed bones, sternum, clavicle, shoulder point, etc., but any impact will transfer through a sheet of metal to whatever is touching behind it, so something is needed, I'd say.

[Tarbicus]

Seems like there should be soft pad over all the exposed bones, sternum, clavicle, shoulder point, etc., but any impact will transfer through a sheet of metal to whatever is touching behind it, so something is needed, I'd say.

With the Corbridge seg, aren't those parts mostly covered by at least two sheets of plate? The sternum by the crossover of the breast plates; half of the clavicle by the breast plate, the rest by two upper shoulder plates; the shoulder point by up to three shoulder plates? Given the crucial role the clavicle plays in a sword strike, retaining mobility could be a better defence than padding it up too much.



Remember the debate about the angle of the breast plates?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Well, for my 2 cents worth, I have a respectable dent in my armour after being beaten by Centurio, and almost burst out laughing, as I didn't feel a thing! A decent amount of padding will make you feel like superman on the battle field! But that is only my warped opinion.

[M. Demetrius]

Tarbicus, what I'm saying is, no matter if you have an inch of steel, if it's touching a bone, and the steel gets a heavy impact, the energy of the impact goes right through to the bone, even if there's no mark left on the steel. I'm in no way denying that segmentata, hamata or medieval plate or any other body armor will prevent an attack from doing the damage to a body that lack of armor will allow. The pad spreads that impact point out.

But all of those armors have some energy distribution system, which is what the pad is for: to spread the impact over a wider area rather than allow it to focus on the bone or tissue.

[COLOT Jean Charles]

Hi, i 'am a french reenactor, from french Legio VIII Augusta. Here my subarmalis made in goat skin and cowskin, two colors, brown and red with yellow stitchs.

http://www.leg8.org/viewtopic.php?t=1671

[COLOT Jean Charles]

[Virilis]

Wow Jean hock: ! Looks absolutely stunning!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Wow Jean hock: ! Looks absolutely stunning!

I agree! And I'm really jealous too :lol: That looks much like i would imagine the padding to be like!

[Marcus Mummius]

Looks great indeed! Extremely good looking subarmalis!

The only thing I'd do different is make a side closure instead of a closure at the front. A closure at the shield side would be safer, but of course we don't know if the Romans thought the same

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I would have agreed Marcus, but my experience with my own is that it is not much of an issue! It is pretty well covered by the armour so as to not be an issue! roll:

[Bran ap Maclou]

Great impression Jean-Charles and welcome on RAT !

'Hope you'll show me your subarmalis in Marle or Saint-Romain this year ?

Vale