Functional Leather armor?

[Sir Wulf]

Does anybody know if anyone out there makes truly functional leather armor?

[Sir Wolf]

as in....... SCA? LH? Fantasy? Historical? lol

[Sir Nate]

Im guessing you mean sca?

[Thorsteinn]

Cuir Bolli?

[Sir James A]

Echoing the same "functional" question. Frank at VikingLeathercrafts.com makes leather armor, and it works fine for WMA/HEMA.

[Sir Wulf]

Historically accurate, able to take multiple hits from live steel. Not fantasy, definitely not SCA. Everything I find is light weight leather of 4 to 6 oz leather. Thats thinner than the average leather belt!

[Sir Wolf]

there is none. save from the 14thc rerebracer and the tournie armour described in the 15thc.
maybe the horn/leather scale lamallar that is in small finds.....

[Thorsteinn]

http://skaldic.com/

A few others on the Armour Archive.

[Sir William]

It is a shame that Schmitthenner went south, they were the only ones I knew of that made 'functional' leather armor.  Since none have survived from antiquity, we can only speculate based on drawings and the odd mention in lists and writings.  What're you looking for, specifically.

The Inner Bailey was another good leather resource; can't speak for their armor but since they're no longer taking commissions on armor, the point's moot.

[Sir Wulf]

I have noticed that the leather armor out there is mostly fantasy/larp crap. Anything based in history is thin stuff. There doesn't seem to be any true "battle-ready" leather armor. I thought I would ask if anybody knew of a source I might of missed in my searches.
My father-in-law used to participate in cowboy reenacting and has made all kind of western leather products. After picking his brain for a couple of weeks I think I have a way to make leather armor that will be strong against blades and blunt impact weapons. Since there doesn't seem to be a supplier of real leather armor I am going to proceed with my idea.

[Thorsteinn]

What period? There is "real" leather armour and the Japanese & Chinese made it. The Japanese lacquered theirs in a process best mimicked my using salad bowl.... something (damn sick brain) because the historic process is highly toxic.

Have you searched the Armour Archive for processes and makers?

[Sir James A]

Yes, the samurai armor that was lacquered is a toxic process. They didn't use "raw" leather. They hardened the leather scales because they lacked the ability to forge steel like the europeans could.

Like Sir Wolf said, there's not much as far as "historical" leather armor. Even 2,000 years ago they were using bronze, not leather.

If you want something functional that just "doesn't look like LARP", check the Viking Leathercrafts armor. They do full arms/shoulders/legs.

[Thorsteinn]

And the guy up in Vancouver, BC that does good work too who's name I forget.

[Sir Wulf]

I want something functional with at least the look of historically accurate. I've worn and fought in several different kinds of armor and I just don't need full plate. Maille is great but it tends to enhance the effect of blunt force trauma. I need a light armor that can stand up to full contact sparring and also would survive contact with sharpened edge weapons. I have looked at just about every leather armor producer there is. The Viking age stuff looks good but is wrong for the time period I'm trying to stay in.

[Sir Brian]

Yes, the samurai armor that was lacquered is a toxic process. They didn't use "raw" leather. They hardened the leather scales because they lacked the ability to forge steel like the europeans could.

Like Sir Wolf said, there's not much as far as "historical" leather armor. Even 2,000 years ago they were using bronze, not leather.

If you want something functional that just "doesn't look like LARP", check the Viking Leathercrafts armor. They do full arms/shoulders/legs.

Concur and he also does a cuirass as well in 13-15 oz leather! 
http://www.vikingleathercrafts.com/torso-armor.html