Leather Cuirass Lorica Musculata, I used to think no way but

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

This is a close up of the ASEK knife (Rambo eat your heart out!):



Anyways, as a test, I placed some of the scrap water hardened leather against the door stop of my bedroom, folded a towel behind it, and trusted upwards (like with a sword) into the leather... I could not get though! Although I was able to cut and slice into the leather, as hard as I thrusted upward, I did not get through it!



I then placed the towel on the floor, placed the scrap leather on top, and slammed down overhand into the leather... I got through about a 1/4 of an inch. The second time I slammed down, I got through about an inch. The third time... with all my might, I got the blade through past the angled point about an inch and a half.



So with a razor sharp, modern military knife (1095 carbon steel blade Hardness Rc 50-54) slamming down, over hand, I got penetration but, thrusting upward and underhanded like a sword... I did not.

Keep in mind, if I was wearing subarmalis (sub-armor) made from 1/4 to 1/2 inch wool felt or several layers of linen, over a wool tunic, and had this 1/2 inch water hardened leather cuirass on top... I still might not call it 'armor' but, the myth that leather can not protect you in battle is simply not true.

Lastly, I wrote up a short essay on the possibility that Roman Officers wore chain maile under their leather cuirass when in battle. The logic being... infantry wore chain maile, the Centurions would wear maile but placed decorated leather straps over it, so then... logically, an officer would wear maile and place his leather muscle armor over it as well. (eek! did I say "armor" :roll: )

The reason we don't see the mail in the sculptures of Roman Emperor's is the same reason we don't see a helmet on their heads, they are not ready for battle in those sculptors.

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