Dan Howard wrote: | ||||
Except the Birka armour was Khazar, not a Byzantine style.
The armour wasn't buried with anyone. IIRC it was found in a workshop. It is impossible to tell who might have worn it. |
i cant comment about the khazars but the avar lamellar might have been the inspirational style for the byzantine armour at one point according to pete beatson, when i see him again ill ask him.
looks like i got it mixed up it seems regarding the details of the birka lamellar.
i also figured out why he had a wisby lamellar despite us being early 11th century, simply because no other styles had enough detail as to their construction when he made it and, the explanation ive been given is that the lamellar is likely an earlier style refurbished to act like a COP i.e sandwiching it between leather but thats just an inference on his part i think.
though he doesnt wear it nowdays BECAUSE its non historical and there are better plans available nowdays
but wow, cant believe my little comment has spawned a whole discussion on the meaning of being a huskarl, might i suggest he mods move that section of the talk into a new topic if it continues, while its fascinating, its kind iof distracting i think from the original topic.
by the way, to the OP, you might be aware of this already but, no gambesons or leather body armour either, contrary to what most books in the shops seem to suggest, the vikings didnt wear them, if your just a common man, youd just have the clothes on your back, with a shield and weapon to defend yourself with and if you were abit creativeyoud sew some pieces of horn (or metal) into the lining of your cap to give you abit more of a chance .
it seems according to a couple of rudimentary tests that are more anecdotal evidence than scientific, that a couple of layers of normal clothing, plus maybe some thin leather, is enough to support maile to mean the difference between it being punched through easily. and it resisting a blow of a spear
yes i know dan. its not historically representative maile but it gives an idea that you dont neccesarily need a full gambeson to make maile effective in stopping you from being skewered, although itd be needed to stop impacts from causing trauma damage.
these are immaterial because you wont be wearing maile as a common man, i mean you could say you STOLE it off a rich basterd you were lucky enough to kill. and take the armour off.