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One of the most difficult
things to do with armour is to stabilize the relationship between the breast
and back plates. The breast is heavier than the back and pulls down dragging
the back upward. Also heavy impacts tend to drive the back into the breast
crushing the wearer. Impacts like those from a lance in shield less jousting
or getting trampled by a draft horse. Straps at the sides allow for too
much movement and joining the breast and back over the shoulder metal to
metal is just too dangerous. We at Blankenshield solve this problem with
substantial pins joining the plates at the arm pits. Similar pins are of
course found on antique armour from many times and places. The hole for
the pin is reinforced by having the edge rolled in all the way around using
dies. Simply drilling a hole proved to not be substantial enough to withstand
heavy impacts without the hole tearing. The pin has a head much like a nail
to keep it from jumping out of the hole. When a Blankenshield cuirasse snaps
together it makes a resounding clang as the carefully fitted pieces nestle
into each other and the pins set into their holes. It helps to have a catspaw
or hoof pick to help unseat the pins when unharnessing. In the old days
they used a tool about the size of a hoof pick but with two flat hooks sort
of like the back of a claw hammer. |
