Lamellar armor

Plates armour or guest from the East

It is good one, isn’t it? This Northern Wolf will stand out against other troop and its status is Jarl at the very least. Why? Well, besides classy look, which will blow away all Scandinavian ladies at festival, it has a lamellar armor. Such early medieval armor is rare and individual piece for a Scandinavian warrior and we will tell you why.

First of all, you have to know that historians cannot provide with enough reliable information about usage of lamellar armor by north warriors. In fact, there are only plates, which had been found in archaeological sites of Birka and mass grave on Gotland Island. 

Also, any historian will tell you that there were no entire lamellar armor in Birka. Seven hundred and twenty intact and fragmented plates (similar to the plates from burial mound 11 in Balyk-Soot, Altai) had been excavated in the period from the 1877 until 2000 years. Thereafter, there is no consistent and the only true assemble configuration for such lamellar armor.

Part of plates from Birka sites:

Visualization of lamellar armor from Balyk-Soot, plates and their fixation:

There is also armor #25 from the grave #2 after Battle of Visby (Gotland, 1361 year). In spite of the late burying, this armor is referred to the Viking’s epoch, supposing its “retrieving” from armoury shortly before the battle. Traces of rough repair indirectly confirm that. So, even here, we do not have entire item in its intact look.

Variant of the modern reconstruction of Visby lamellar armor and artifact itself:

As the result, we may only be supported by the fact that Birka and Gotland were crowded Scandinavian trade centers, influenced by Eastern Europe and Byzantium. That’s the reason of findings of artifacts of eastern origin there and lack of them on the rest of Scandinavia territory. However, lamellar armor was widespread even there. It was  high-status foreign medieval plate armour.

It ought to be noted that Scandinavian warrior was a practical and well-minded man, that’s why he survived. And, based on the belief that sea raiders were hardly wearing full steppe (hence, cavalry armor with spaulders and tasses) body protection, so, for the lack of full survived artifacts, we took the liberty to make light and mobile variant of the medieval reenactment lamellar armor for Vikings. 

This functional medieval armor perfectly protects back and chest; it is light and flexible. Steel plates of 1.0 mm are satin polished and interlaced with firm cord on the thick but soft leather base.

The size of lamellar plates can vary from tiny (close to chain mail that doesn’t restrict the movement) and to as large as a palm (comparably not mobile but firm). Standard size is 7*4 cm (2.75*1.57 in), but you are free to choose any other size you deem necessary.

Color of leather and cord is the same. Lamellar armor is fastened with firm leather belts with steel buckles, installed on the sides and shoulders.

N.B. If you choose option lacing with cord, color of cord could be the same as color of leather fastenings, but if red and brown cords are out of stock, it will be black one. If you choose option lacing with leather cord, color of cord would be always the same as color of leather fastenings. 

By customer regards, we may change color of leather and cord, thickness of metal, type of polishing, shape and metal of buckles.

Main pictures shows lamellar armor with next options:

• Metal for lamellar plates – steel 1 mm
• Size – M
• Lacing – leather cord
• Fastenings – leather straps with steel nickel – plated buckles
• Color of leather fastenings – brown
• Spaulders – no
• Finish treatment – sating polishing
• Skirt – steel 1 mm 

For Vikings, who would like to wear full armor of chubby people from the Southeast, we may complete set with lamellar tasses and spaulders, so your armor will look exactly like sample from Balyk-Soot or any other by your choice.