Suit of Armor

A full suit of armor is the centerpiece nothing else in a collection competes with. These are wearable steel suits of plate armor in 14th and 15th century patterns, assembled piece by piece: helm, cuirass, pauldrons, gauntlets and greaves, with a shield where the pattern calls for one. The range covers the knight's harness in polished and blackened finishes, the jousting suits, the Spartan hoplite panoply and the Viking Valhalla Vanguard suit in leather.

Choosing a suit of armor

Patterns

The knight suit of armor is the classic 15th century plate harness, polished steel with helm, cuirass, pauldrons, gauntlets and greaves, and a shield. The medieval suit follows the 14th century pattern. The black knight suits are the same harness in a blackened finish, and the jousting suits add the reinforced helm and plates of the tournament. The Spartan suit is the Greek hoplite's panoply: crested helmet, cuirass, greaves and the round hoplon shield. The Valhalla Vanguard is the Viking suit, in leather over a padded base, the leather armor of the Norse world rather than plate. Individual pieces, breastplates, helmets, greaves and pauldrons, are in their own collections for anyone building a kit piece by piece.

Display or wear

Decide display or wear first. Every suit stands on its own for display, and a full suit of plate armor in a hallway is the single most striking thing a collection can hold. If you plan to wear one for a faire, a wedding or reenactment, check the listed height and chest measurements before ordering, and plan on a padded gambeson or arming jacket underneath, which is how plate was always worn. Steel asks for a light coat of oil once a season; leather wants to be kept dry. A suit assembles in under an hour.

Related

Single pieces live in breastplates, helmets and armor; shields in shields; the classical pieces together in Greek and Roman armor; the Norse kit in Viking weapons and armor. The Knight and Crusader bundles pair a helm and shield with a sword and stand.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real plate armor?
Yes. The knight, medieval, black knight and jousting suits are hammered steel plate, wearable, built to be worn over a padded garment. The Viking suit is leather.

How much does a suit of armor weigh?
A full steel harness runs roughly 45 to 60 pounds spread over the whole body, which is why a fit man could run and mount a horse in one. The listing gives the weight for each suit.

Can a woman wear these suits?
The suits are sized by height and chest and the straps adjust; check the listed measurements. The plates are not shaped for a female cuirass, so a good fit depends on the individual.

What century is the armor from?
The knight suits follow 14th and 15th century patterns, the period of full plate.

What is included?
Each listing states exactly which pieces ship with the suit, whether a stand is included, and whether it comes with a shield.