18th century armour -- myArmoury.com

Christian G. Cameron · Posted: Thu 28 Aug, 2014 1:27 pm Post subject: 18th century armour

I know--it almost sounds absurd. But I know that officers still wore it for portraits; engineers had proof breastplates and sometimes helmets, and this has led me to wonder if there's more. I'd love any help--books, articles, and photos. I know that some cavalry wore 'secrets' which were iron caps under their bicornes/tricornes, and I'd love to see pictures. Bridle gauntlets? A right hand gauntlet for fencing practice?

In a fairly famous duel in Bath, UK, one of the combatants wore a mail shirt, so somebody knew body armour was useful....

Really, anything. I'm looking to expand my horizons...

Luka Borscak · Posted: Thu 28 Aug, 2014 2:39 pm Post subject:

I know wikipedia is not the most reliable, but what this article says is basically what I've seen written elsewhere, but shorter...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuirassier#Effec...eonic_Wars
Basically, some heavy cavalry units still wore cuirasses during the 18th and even 19th centuries...

Sean Manning · Posted: Fri 29 Aug, 2014 12:05 am Post subject: Re: 18th century armour

Mike Ruhala · Posted: Fri 29 Aug, 2014 12:36 am Post subject:

By the War of 1812 boarding caps were a standard item in the American Navy and the British used them, too. I have to assume that they existed before the war but how much earlier I can't say. I always wanted to get a figure 8 cutlass and make a boarding cap to go with it....

Till J. Lodemann · Posted: Fri 29 Aug, 2014 10:43 am Post subject:

I remember seeing a couple of breast plates from the battle of Minden (1759) that were displayed in the local museum. Might be some weeks until I go there again but I might take some pictures if there is desire.

Daniel Staberg · Posted: Sun 31 Aug, 2014 1:17 pm Post subject:

Top image: Austrian cavalry breastplate from the early 18th Century together with a "Wien" style Zischägge helmet.
Lower image: Austrian cavalry breastplates from the mid-18th Century

In both cases the original lining can still be seen.

Austrian cuirassiers wore back and breastplates at the start of the 18th Century but this was replaced with breastplate only as the century progressed. Zischägge style helmets were retained almost into the 19th century for use against the Ottomans as they provided much needed protection against sabre cuts

Lafayette C Curtis · Posted: Mon 01 Sep, 2014 3:38 am Post subject:

If you don't mind secondary (or sometimes tertiary) sources, there's Knotel:

http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/tafeln/knoetel.html

Another place worth checking out is Kronoskaf's Seven Years' War project:

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Main_Page (especially the article on the rather unique Buckeburg carabiniers)

Anyway, the 18th century is a fascinating era in its own right as far as armour goes. Some cuirassier regiments wore their cuirasses outside their coats in the time-honoured style, while others wore their inside their coats (presumably cut somewhat looser than the usual military coat of the time). This made for a very different look with otherwise identical uniforms.

Matias Tonazzi · Posted: Mon 01 Sep, 2014 4:28 am Post subject:

In my country we had our Coraceros, founded in 1824 (now they're the 4th Explorarion Light Cavalry Regiment). As armour they only wore a cuirass and a helmet, and when they had to engage in skirmishes they mainly used sabres from horses.

They keep original cuirasses from back then, and wear reproductions on parades.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons...030165.jpg