HISTORICAL BASIS - ARM DESIGN

This armour in the old arsenal at Solothurn ca. 1520 has been used as a basis for many Blankenshield products. Especially the arms. The flexibility of these arms is achieved by large elbows suspended by leather straps rather than being riveted directly to the upper and lower cannons. The pauldrens have a series of narrow lames that go between them and the elbow. There is no turner. The turner is and was very expensive and many Swiss armours were made with arms in this style to reduce cost without compromising mobility.

The armour at the upper left, (Painted black though the picture doesn't show it well) ca late 16th cent. Is also Swiss, the armour above, Brunswick ca 1540 is a good example of what happens most of the time to arms that are articulated on leathers only. In this case the vanbraces are missing. Most of these arms lost the elbows as well. The armour at the left, ca 1540, made in Italy, is important for several reasons. The lines of the pauldren plates is very influential on Blankenshields designs. The elbows are on leathers only and there are no turners. This armour was once a nonfunctional museum display piece and had to be extensively altered in order to restore it to a wearable condition. Here it is being worn by one of her majesties royal marines.