What Made Breastplates Work - More Complex than You Think!

Real armor from history is more purposefully designed and elaborately crafted than most modern reproductions might make you think. Not only do they have intricated shapes and a number of subtle practical features, they also vary substantially in thickness, even within an individual piece.

From the 16th century onward armor generally became more solid to provide protection against musket fire, and there are interesting shapes that emerge as a counter measure. Let's dive into some of the details and take a closer look at armor design from the late Middle Ages, Renaissance, and beyond.

Older videos referenced here:

Medieval Crossbows vs. Churburg Breastplate and Lamellar Armor
   • Medieval Crossbows vs. Breastplate and Lam...  

Forging and Testing a Mild Steel Armor Plate - Overpowered!
   • Forging and Testing a Mild Steel Armor Pla...  

Getting to Know a Brown Bess (Most Iconic Flintlock Musket)
   • Getting to Know a Brown Bess (Most Iconic ...  

Shooting Medieval Helmets - From Black Powder to Modern Cartridges
   • Guns vs. Medieval Helmets - From Black Pow...  


** Sources & Credits **

https://wallacelive.wallacecollection...
https://royalarmouries.org/collection/

Thickness measurements in an article at Allen Antiques
https://www.allenantiques.com/Breastp...
Cuirass, 1490-1500
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Full armor (15th century) with weights for each part at the Wallace Collection
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection...
Examples of body armor
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/112137...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://royalarmouries.org/collection...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Peascod type
https://royalarmouries.org/collection...
Simple “munitions grade”
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...

Blooper music:

"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/littl...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)


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