I have been wondering about if some gambesons had separate sleeves or not. I saw the theory in connection to the Bussy saint Martin gambeson sleeve, which apparently does not have signs of being stitched to a torso piece. You also see this thing in some period artwork, like the morgan bible: [ Linked Image ]

Here you can see that the gambesons and their sleeves look like they are not sown together judgin from the shape of the armpit, and the fact that the torso piece seems to sit over the sleeves. Separate sleeves would certainly help to improve the mobility in gambesons that have tens of layers of linen.

So what are your thoughts on this?

Ps: the pdf is too large, so i cant add it as an attachment, but the name of the pdf is the sleeve from the church of Bussy-saint-Martin.

Another common interpretion of the Mac-bible, supported by textual sources, is that there are ticker sleeveless gambesons worn above thinner aketons. Both options seems liable.

Yes the kings mirror mentions wearing a gambeson, coat of plates, mail, and a second gambeson over all that. I was just wondering what was the period way to maintain mobility on thicker gambesons. Perhaps gussets or splits in the armpit, although i doubt that the first option would do much good, but i haven't tried a construction like that, so that might not be so ineffective.

A proposed reconstruction of the sleeve of Bussy St. Martin has it sewn in a way that integrates it with the body pieces but makes it look like a separate/detachable piece at a cursory glance.

http://www.guerriersma.com/contenu/Articles_t..._bussy.htm

Then you have to explain these.

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