As soon as the armed man realized that iron and steel were the best
defences for his body, he would naturally insist that some sort of a
guarantee should be given him of the efficacy of the goods supplied by
his armourer. This system of proving armour would be effected by using
those weapons commonly in use, and these, in the early times, were the
sword, the axe, the lance, the bow, and the crossbow. The latter seems
to have been the more common forms of proof, though as late as the
seventeenth century we have evidence that armour was proved with the
"estramaçon" or sword blow. -from "The Proof of Armour" Not a history of
defensive armor but rather a guide to the actual making of armor, as
well as the regulations that governed the artisans who made it, this is
a fascinating-and practical-handbook on the production, selling, and
wearing metal traditional medieval body armor. First published in 1912,
this classic book-by British historian and author CHARLES JOHN FFOULKES
(1868-1947), curator of London's Royal Armouries-draws on records of the
time to detail the tools and appliances of the trade, the decoration and
cleaning of armor, the use of leather and fabrics, and much more to
offer a complete reference for readers of period fiction and history,
wargamers, costumers, and anyone fascinated by the craft of the armorer.
This replica of the 1912 edition is complete with all of the original
diagrams, illustrations, and photos.
