Pricing of arms and armour in the 16th century. -- myArmoury.com

Elling Polden

Hi

I'm doing a bit of research on 16th century soldiery, and in this context I'm intereseted in sources on the prices of arms and armour in the period.
So far I've found out that a mass produced "almain" cursais would cost about 1,5 florins, a high quality 3/4 armour 8-10.
During the ECW, breast+back plates and helmet for the New model army would cost 20 shilling. (1,6 pund)
What is more interesting, a Buff Coat would cost 30 shilling (An be a very cheap one at that. Prices exeeding 10 pounds(!) are reported for a high quality one)
Pistols are also roughly 1,5 florin/pund, carabines sligtly more expensive.
Swords are about half a florin/pound...

Chris Last · Posted: Fri 07 Jul, 2006 7:19 am Post subject:

Elling-

A bit late in the period but:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 07 Jul, 2006 7:24 am Post subject:

Although this, too, is later than your interest (1622,) it's the best information I've found about the relative expense of arms and armour. That is, it shows us the cost in relation to more utilitarian items.

http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/prim...plies.html

Wolfgang Armbruster · Posted: Fri 07 Jul, 2006 7:36 am Post subject:

Any idea how much this would be nowadays? How many Dollars / Euros is a Florin?

Elling Polden · Posted: Fri 07 Jul, 2006 8:29 am Post subject:

I'm theoizing about 1000.
A landsknecht was paid about 4 florins a month. If we asume that this was a very good vage, 1000$ or € could be a appropriate comparison.

This would (with the prices in Sean's example) place a sword at slightly above 400 $, a light suit of armour at about 1500$...
Interestingly, this about the same as today. :P

Chris Last · Posted: Fri 07 Jul, 2006 11:07 am Post subject:

Here's some more info I have:

Craig Johnson · Industry Professional

Here is a page on our website that has some info.

Exchange rates

Best
Craig

Gordon Frye · Posted: Fri 07 Jul, 2006 9:12 pm Post subject:

Elling;

There are some figures given in "Ironsides: English Cavalry 1588-1688" by Osprey on the costs of outifitting an English Light Cavalryman in 1595, for service in Ireland, which may be of interest.

"For a pair of Curasses blacke with a Headpeece - xxvj [shillings], viij [pennies]
"Item for a long french pistoll with a firelock - xxvj [shillings] viij [pennies]
"Item for a Light horseman's staffe -ij [shillings] vi [pennies]
"Item for a Sword Dagger & Girdle - x [shillings]
"Item for a pair of Sleeves of Mayle - viij [shillings]"

There are some other items listed, such as saddle, doublet, breeches, boots, etc. that may be of interest, and I can post the complete list if you wish.

Allons!
Gordon

Elling Polden · Posted: Sun 09 Jul, 2006 7:11 am Post subject:

Thanks people. Happy

I find this stuff highly interesting, as it casts some light on several classic assumptions about the cost of arms and armour. Happy

Gordon; the complete list would in deed be interesting, som one could compare the costs of armour and other items.

Gordon Frye · Posted: Sun 09 Jul, 2006 8:23 am Post subject:

Elling;

Okay, here you go. This is the entire quote (ppg 13-14):

"Sir wee have delivered to My Bryan Lee to furnish his brother Laurence whom wee have chosen to be the Horseman for ye Lath of Aylesford [pounds] viij xiij [shillings].

"For a pair of Curasses blacke with a Headpeece - xxvj [shillings], viij [pennies]

"Item for a long french pistoll with a firelock - xxvj [shillings] viij [pennies]

"Item for a Light horseman's staffe -ij [shillings] vi [pennies]

"Item for a Sword Dagger & Girdle - x [shillings]

"Item for a pair of Sleeves of Mayle - viij [shillings]

"Item for a Saddle of Morocco Fashion of counterfeit Buff with girts, Stirrops headstall Bridle croper and a pillaine for ye pistol - xxvi [shillings] viij [pennies]

"Item for a millian fustian Dublet - xx {shillings]

"Item for a paire of Shamweys [Chamios] Venitian - xx [shillings]

"Item for two paire of Stockings - xviij [shillings]

"Item for two Shirts with falling bands - xij [shillings]

"Item for Bootes & Spurs -viij [shillings]

"Item for a paire of shoes - ij [shillings]

"Item for a Hat or Cap - ij [shillings] vj [penies]

One thing that strikes the reader is the high cost of clothing, which is comparable to armour, saddlery and weapons. The other is how cheap by comparison the boots and shoes are.

Allons!

Gordon

Elling Polden · Posted: Sun 09 Jul, 2006 8:44 am Post subject:

Could be that the boots and shoes are the only things that are mass produced, and not imported. I would have guessed the boots to be more expensive, though, as they are a large leather item.
Possibly they are quite low, rather than thigh length riding boots.

Gordon Frye · Posted: Sun 09 Jul, 2006 9:27 am Post subject:

Elling;

The boots and shoes were produced locally, but the costs of tanning hides was fairly low, certainly as compared to weaving fabrics. Thus the similar cost between a shirt and a pair of boots. And since such things as shoes and boots were so thin and flimsy to equate more to modern moccasins, I would imagine that they were about as expendable as shirts were, too.

Woolens were certainly manufactured in England in large quantities, but the costs of clothing then as compared to the costs of clothing now is just so different as to stagger the imagination. It would be akin to us having to wear Versacci suits with fine linen shirts from Italy, rather than blue jeans and T-shirts made in China. Big Grin

Another thing of interest is the absolutely outrageous inflation that went on during the 16th Century, leading to the debasement of currency and the misery of the populace. A carpenter of 1600 was making roughly half (IIRC) of what his Great-Grandfather had made a century before.

Allons!

Gordon

Thomas McDonald · myArmoury Alumni

From James Drummond's "Ancient Scottish Weapons", 1881.

Mac

Jared Smith · Posted: Sun 09 Jul, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject:

This might be getting a little off topic, but the download at the link has a pretty rigourous effort to establish some conversion rates for around 1632, and comments on currencies that were volatile.

http://www.1632.org/1632Slush/1632money.rtf

At least this one estimates that a 1600's skilled laborer earned around 15 pounds per year, and equates that to about 30 florins (wages similar 2 to 3 florins per month.) At least earlier than this period, military pay actually was considerably above average, even for some cases of militia compensation. You might try to correlate that 4 florins with something like 6 weeks pay for a typical construction worker, weaver, etc.

Also, there was a tricky inflation surge during the 1400's. It could be a problem if you try to use costs or incomes from early 1400 as a basis for comparison.