KASTEN-BRUST CUIRASS WITH THE SKIRT

Fashion scream of early gothic in the Holy Roman Empire - Kasten-brust armour aka "box-shaped breast". Appeared in 1420, armor got its name because of special shape of the breastplate, resembling an oblique box. From 1440s, ribs formed on them and cuirass could carry a series of parallel stiffeners, so often arranged that the effect of a corrugated surface created.

In addition, Kasten-brust breastplate have several distinguishing features, like the armholes and necks of such cuirasses were always bordered by rolled or overhead steel strips. By means of hinges to the cuirass was attached the lumbar plate. In its turn, to the lumbar plate by means of sliding rivets was attached the laminar hem which, on the contrary, was located on top of it. 

Kasten-brust skirt plates could reach the level of the knees, but withe length of time their hem moved up, just like as the ordinary ones.

However, at the beginning to facilitate walking and landing in the saddle, the hem had a truncated conical shape, expanding significantly downward. Front and back in the center, it complemented by a large arch-shaped neckline.

On the sides of hem were riveted rings to which a sword and a dagger hung. The dagger could also been fit in a special cutout on one of the plates. A focre was fastened to the breastplate with rivets (in the described period, unlike Italian samples, as a rule, it was motionless.)

Kasten-brust remained the main true-German cover for the corps until 1460, when another fashion appeared - the “German High Gothic”.

Visit Wien Museum in Wien and American Museum of Natural History in New York to see Kasten-brust armors by your own eye or order your personal "box-shaped breast" from us.

Besides of museum artifacts our blacksmiths used those cool illustrations to forge Steel Mastery's Kasten-brust:

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/11/79/6a/11796a9a7a4e789530345f92d0ce01e1--frank-morrison-bar-grill.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a9/d0/39/a9d0396d1b876b4738dde04d17978861--nassau-stuttgart.jpg

http://www.tforum.info/forum/uploads//post-12977-1279189847.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/30/fe/f7/30fef78c06cbde408b25a0ec16a8bfcf.jpg

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Pay attention at unique feature of our Kasten-brust breastplate - our cuirass fastens on the back with two hooks. It is rare cuirass version, but we made it for you. Together with hinges on both sides, this allows you to open the cuirass on its back, like doors.

Breastplate's skirt hold on four 3-faceted pintles fastens on the back with five leather straps. It is removable, so you can unfasten the skirt, if you need, and wear only the cuirass itself. The skirt plates fastened together with leather straps for great flexibility and mobility.

Kasten-brust cuirass is a choice of respectable fighter and it is good anywhere, at SCA, HEMA, reenactment events and medieval festivals. Even at LARP events and stage performances.

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Base price Kasten-brust breastplate includes (as on the main photo) following: 

• Breastplate (Forged, not welded) - 1.5 mm stainless steel;
• Segmented skirt of five horizontal movable plates– 1 mm stainless steel;
• Leather straps with steel buckles;
• Steel rivets and buckles; 
• Satin polishing.

If you want to change the metal type and thickness of metal, the final treatment/polishing, decoration and a lot more is possible as an additional option. If you choose any unusual form, metal or treatment, please contact us via email [email protected].

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Benefits, which you will get, if you buy custom Kasten-brust cuirass at Steel Mastery: 

- Custom-made real armor made of best 100% stainless steel by your individual parameters; 

- Reliability and comfortable wearing for generations; 

- Product made by blacksmiths with over 15 years experience; 

- Convenient payment systems (PayPal, Skrill, Visa, MasterCard, American Express); 

- Rework your order at our own expense or do a full refund in case if you do not like an item.

It is hard to find the same good breastplate, but take a look at: Milan-style cuirass 1450-1485 years, a part of "Avant Armour", Plate cuirass with tassets, a part of the jousting knight armor, XVI century or even Cuirass, part of full plate armor (garniture) of George Clifford, end of the XVI century.

You gonna need a gambison under it, so welcome to our Gambison section, especially recommend paying attention to Royal gambeson of patterned fabric, Velvet gambeson, quarter colored and Arming doublet, 1405 year.

In section Cuirasses, breastplates and gorgets you can see all models that we offer for ordering. If you did not find any for your taste and wish, please send us photo and description of the required model and we will make it for you.