Gothic Armour

Your squire buckles the straps of your costume-fit Gothic Armour, adjusting it to be comfortable and snug over your gambeson. You paid top coin for this suit of plate, and you expect people will be impressed when they see how it shines on the battlefield.

Your blacksmith assured you that the Gothic Armour design was the latest in technology, able to withstand and deflect attacks--even arrows from the enemy’s bows. You are a mighty warrior, indeed, to be the owner of such fine craftsmanship. A fitting symbol of your godly-given status.

DETAILS

This bestselling armour set includes Epic Armoury’s Gothic Half Armour, Gorget & Shoulders, Arm Protection and Leg Protection in order to fully gear your costume needs at a lower cost. Each piece is made from mild steel with rolled edges and top-grain leather straps and fittings, built to withstand the abuse of a LARP or reenactment while keeping the user safe and comfortable. With regular leather and metal armour care, you can expect this armour set to last for a long time!

Available in size Medium/Large.

Half Armour

A suit of armour made for the upper crust of the battlefield, this armour features front and back plates, faulds and tassets. Epic Armoury’s Half Gothic Armour’s breast plate has a central crease and ridges around the rim. The armour is a close fit to arms and throat to minimize the number of weak spots. The matching breast and back plates extend below the abdomen, connecting to the tassets beneath the protection of the faulds: a series of overlapping, modelled metal plates protecting the weak spots at the pelvis.

Gorget & Shoulders

This fully articulated armour is designed to provide protection for the throat, neck and shoulders while minimizing the exposure of weak-spots. The armour is a four-piece set: a two piece gorget and two shoulders. The gorget covers the thorax to the sternum and is furnished with several ridges and two large octagonal besagues (round metal shields) to protect the notoriously under-armoured armpits from arrow-strikes. The two parts are fitted together with vegetable tanned top-grain leather straps. The gorget also provides fastenings for the shoulders. The shoulders are composed of articulated spaulders covering the shoulder-joint and upper arms, reinforced with large pauldrons sculpted to look like dragons wings to further protect the armpits. The shoulder plates are strapped on at the gorget and around the upper arms.

Arm Protection

Gothic Arm Protection is a set of steel elbow cups--or couters--designed to protect the elbow joints. The elbow cups are rounded and with reinforcing ridges and decorative steel rivets. Around the rim of each cup, a large V-shaped flange deflects blows away from the elbows. A half-rerebrace protects the upper arm while a vambrace protects the forearm below the couters. Top grain leather straps are used to close the braces and a third leather strap around the elbow keeps the piece in place.

Leg Protection

Gothic Leg Protection consists of cuisses to protect the lower thighs, articulated poleyns covering the knees, and half demi-greaves protecting the upper shins and sides of the calves. The poleyn knee-cups are articulated, composed of four overlaying plates and fitted with a projecting heart-shaped plate adding cover to the notoriously under-protected hamstring. This armour piece is held up via straps tied to the wearer’s belt and held in place via guiding straps around the thighs and calves.

HISTORY

• Gothic style historically developed in the 1420-1440s thanks to technological advances
• Characterized by the curves, flutes and ridges, which strengthened the armour and deflected projectiles

• One of our bestsellers!
• Made from 1mm thick 19 gauge mild steel
• Rolled edges with no sharp edges
• Straps and fittings made from top-grain leather
• Hand made, welded pieces for maximum durability
• Polished steel finish

Epic Armoury Dark products are specially treated to resist rust, but should still be treated with oil and kept in dry storage. All our metal armours contain leather parts that need regular maintenance using leather-care products to keep the leather from drying out.

Cleaning

If your armour does get wet, it is important that you dry it thoroughly as soon as possible.

After handling, wearing, or after six months of storage or display, all metal should be wiped with a clean cloth. Lightly oil the clean surface with a quality machine or mineral oil. Alternatively, you can apply a coating of wax to the entire surface of exposed metal. Allow the wax to dry for a couple of hours and then buff it lightly with a soft cloth.

Rust-Prevention and Removal

Store your armour is a dry place and check it every couple of months for signs of rust. If any is found, remove it by gently rubbing the affected spot with a mildly abrasive pad dipped in paste wax, oil, or water-displacing liquid.

Leather Straps and Fittings

Clean by removing dirt with a hard brush, then gently rub on leather soap with a clean, damp cloth until the leather appears clean. Remove soap with a separate damp cloth to wipe away any soap residue and then use a dry cloth to wipe away any remaining water from the leather.

You should always condition leather after cleaning, since the soap will have removed some of its natural oils. Treat the leather with mink oil, olive oil, or beeswax polish with a clean cloth, gently rubbing a small amount of oil or polish in circles into the leather. Allow the leather to soak in the oil before wiping the leather with a final clean cloth to remove any excess residue.