"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor."
                -- James Allen

Author Topic: Looking for leg armor  (Read 15249 times)

Leganoth

  • Forum Follower
  • ***
  • Posts: 343
Looking for leg armor
« on: 2011-09-16, 04:08:49 »
Sabatons first of all, do they have a bottom? Is it just a metal boot or does it cover a shoe or what.

Anyways its hard to find full leg armor that matches my kit, I dont want these common churburg sabatons but ill get them if i cant find others

I need greaves and upper thigh armor with front and back plates, any sites with some?

Sir Brian

  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 4,735
  • Felix uxor beatam vitam - Happy Wife Happy Life
    • Order of the Marshal
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #1 on: 2011-09-16, 07:29:39 »
What time period have you focused on for your kit?
"Chivalry our Strength, Brotherhood our sword"
Vert, on a Chief wavy Argent a Rose Sable,
a Gryphon Segreant Or

[img width=100 height=100]
<a href="http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Tah908/media/LP_Medals_zpsq7zzdvve.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i221.photobucket.

Sir William

  • Cogito ergo sum
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 7,154
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #2 on: 2011-09-16, 16:41:59 »
Also, how much are you willing to spend?  I can tell you that 'off the rack' armor doesn't fit very well as its made to host a range of sizes.  I had mine custom-made for me...really the best way to go, but not the only way.

Sabatons are a covering for the feet...they are not full steel boots.  Depending on the time period you are looking to portray, you may not be looking for full legs w/wrap plates and cased greaves.  A lot of leg armor was front facing, so viewing a knight from behind and you'd see a lot of straps and the leggings the armor's covering on the front.
« Last Edit: 2011-09-16, 16:43:32 by Sir William »
The Black Knight, Order of the Marshal
'Per Pale Azure and Sable, a Chevron counterchanged fimbriated argent.' 
“Pride makes a man, it drives him, it is the shield wall around his reputation.  Men die, but reputation does not.â€

Leganoth

  • Forum Follower
  • ***
  • Posts: 343
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #3 on: 2011-09-16, 18:00:34 »
The max I could probably do for 1 leg would probably be 300 including thighs and greaves. Is there backs to the legs or is it all front

Sir Wolf

  • He Who is Not to be Named
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 5,389
  • i have too many hats
    • man e faces
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #4 on: 2011-09-16, 18:35:27 »
then u arent gonna get much. good fitting greaves start at 1000-2000. sabs go for 300 and uppers can start at 300. greaves are the hardest part of the body to form. so many angles to that part of the leg.  off the rack stuff can be had at kult of athena.com

sabatons dont have bottoms. they are usually strapped at the ankle to the back part and then pointed at the toe

SirNathanQ

  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Acolyte
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,742
  • "Nobiscum Deus" "Libertas ad omnes civitates"
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #5 on: 2011-09-16, 19:24:38 »
If you're doing 15th century, lower legs weren't always armoured. Good way to get around the expensive greave problem  :P
"The maximum use of force is in no way incompatible with the simultaneous use of the intellect." -Carl Von Clausewitz
"He is truly a fearless knight and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armor of faith just as his body is protected by armor of steel." -Saint Bernard of Clairvoux

Sir William

  • Cogito ergo sum
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 7,154
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #6 on: 2011-09-16, 20:15:12 »
Sir Wolf is giving you the upper end of the fighter's spectrum...full-on custom armor can cost as much as a car, but there's good munitions-class armor to be had.  I suggest talking to Allan Senefelder at The Mercenary's Tailor - check out his site:  http://www.merctailor.com

By the way, you can only get leg armor in pairs (as there was no real precedent, at least not medievally, in armoring only one leg) and you'll find that Allan's legs are well within your price range and a number of us here can vouch for his quality and workmanship.  I have had two pairs of his greaves, both under $100 and both very well fitting, if I might add- but it is entirely up to you.
« Last Edit: 2011-09-16, 20:16:14 by Sir William »
The Black Knight, Order of the Marshal
'Per Pale Azure and Sable, a Chevron counterchanged fimbriated argent.' 
“Pride makes a man, it drives him, it is the shield wall around his reputation.  Men die, but reputation does not.â€

Sir Matthew

  • Squire of the Order
  • Forum Acolyte
  • ***
  • Posts: 603
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #7 on: 2011-09-16, 22:44:55 »
I, too, would recomend Merc Taylor. It might be beneficial to know your focused time period, though. If you are doing very early, Sabatons may not be period. You might also get away with just mail chausses, which aren't really any cheaper. While you are building your kit, I would focus on protecting the more vital areas: body, head, even arms. You can always add leg armor later.

Thorsteinn

  • Squire of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ***
  • Posts: 2,470
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #8 on: 2011-09-17, 00:00:28 »
Fall down seven, get up eight.

Leganoth

  • Forum Follower
  • ***
  • Posts: 343
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #9 on: 2011-09-17, 01:25:13 »
Sir Wolf is giving you the upper end of the fighter's spectrum...full-on custom armor can cost as much as a car, but there's good munitions-class armor to be had.  I suggest talking to Allan Senefelder at The Mercenary's Tailor - check out his site:  http://www.merctailor.com

By the way, you can only get leg armor in pairs (as there was no real precedent, at least not medievally, in armoring only one leg) and you'll find that Allan's legs are well within your price range and a number of us here can vouch for his quality and workmanship.  I have had two pairs of his greaves, both under $100 and both very well fitting, if I might add- but it is entirely up to you.

Hmm i see does he only make stuff on the catalog or does he make specials? Also i Am leaning toward late crusades

SirNathanQ

  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Acolyte
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,742
  • "Nobiscum Deus" "Libertas ad omnes civitates"
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #10 on: 2011-09-17, 12:20:35 »
Sorry, friend. Late crusades is too early for plate leg armour.  :P
The first real full plate thigh defenses really start kicking around in about 1370 or so.


The later crusades (if you mean the crusades in the holy land) were in the 13th century. There your options are full chausses of maille, or chausses and padded cuisses.
"The maximum use of force is in no way incompatible with the simultaneous use of the intellect." -Carl Von Clausewitz
"He is truly a fearless knight and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armor of faith just as his body is protected by armor of steel." -Saint Bernard of Clairvoux

Leganoth

  • Forum Follower
  • ***
  • Posts: 343
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #11 on: 2011-09-17, 18:49:04 »
Sorry, friend. Late crusades is too early for plate leg armour.  :P
The first real full plate thigh defenses really start kicking around in about 1370 or so.


The later crusades (if you mean the crusades in the holy land) were in the 13th century. There your options are full chausses of maille, or chausses and padded cuisses.

Meh...well, im not going for historical accuracy, kind just doing my own thing right now lol

Sir James A

  • Weapons & Armor addict
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 6,043
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #12 on: 2011-09-18, 03:57:26 »
I second Allan at MercTailor. I have a set of his plate greaves; I'd take pics to show the quality of the work, but I just sent them out earlier this week for tweaking to be attached as a single-piece thigh to ankles leg harness. At his price, they're an absolute steal, and I can't stress that enough. He was not doing any custom work the last I spoke with him, but he has one of the widest varieties of "off the rack" armor I have seen; it is sized to your measurements, so "off the rack" simply meaning "stock patterns" and no custom work.
Knight, Order of the Marshal
Sable, a chevron between three lions statant Argent

Leganoth

  • Forum Follower
  • ***
  • Posts: 343
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #13 on: 2011-09-18, 18:57:23 »
I second Allan at MercTailor. I have a set of his plate greaves; I'd take pics to show the quality of the work, but I just sent them out earlier this week for tweaking to be attached as a single-piece thigh to ankles leg harness. At his price, they're an absolute steal, and I can't stress that enough. He was not doing any custom work the last I spoke with him, but he has one of the widest varieties of "off the rack" armor I have seen; it is sized to your measurements, so "off the rack" simply meaning "stock patterns" and no custom work.

I only saw like 5 things on the catalog though

Sir Wolf

  • He Who is Not to be Named
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 5,389
  • i have too many hats
    • man e faces
Re: Looking for leg armor
« Reply #14 on: 2011-09-18, 22:45:16 »
If you're doing 15th century, lower legs weren't always armoured. Good way to get around the expensive greave problem  :P

ummm no i do not support this hehehe i have seen more greaves alone than full legs without greaves.