Leg Armour

Our Italian Greaves are made in the Milanese style of the 15^th Century and are hand crafted from 16 gauge steel making them great for re-enactment.

Front length: 34cm
Side length: 38cm
Inner perimeter: 44.5cm

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Buy the Italian Greaves with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.

Our Viking splint greaves are based on an excavated pair of greaves from Valsgärde in Sweden. They belonged to a Vendel era Germanic warrior and date from the 7^th century. They are constructed from strips of 2mm steel that are held together with leather straps and are great for protecting the lower legs during combat. Sold as a pair. 

Length: 42cm
Width: 23.2cm

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

The use of leather and metal protection is believed to be the reason why Victorian people thought that "studded" armour was worn in the Middle Ages. In many cases this confusion is still perpetuated today where we can easily find references in role games or literature. The truth is that there were historical samples of leather or cloth protection riveted to metal bands to reinforce the structure, and this probably led to the error to our ancestors.

It was a logical evolution in the transitional armour age and some examples can be seen on Günther von Schwarzburg's (1349) and Sir Thomas Cheyne's (1375) funerary brasses, which give a wide range on dating these pieces of protection. A very similar form of leg protection can be found on the Sir Thomas Cheynes's effigy, where rows of rivets can be seen on the outside of the armour.

Circumference (higher part): 39cm to 58cm max.
Circumference (lower part): 30cm to 52cm max.

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Buy the 14th Century Reinforced Suede Greaves with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.

The use of leather and metal protection is believed to be the reason why Victorian people thought that "studded" armour was worn in the Middle Ages. In many cases this confusion is still perpetuated today where we can easily find references in role games or literature. The truth is that there were historical samples of leather or cloth protection riveted to metal bands to reinforce the structure, and this probably led to the error to our ancestors.

It was a logical evolution in the transitional armour age and some examples can be seen on Günther von Schwarzburg's (1349) and Sir Thomas Cheyne's (1375) funerary brasses, which give a wide range on dating these pieces of protection. A very similar form of leg protection can be found on the Sir Thomas Cheynes's effigy, where rows of rivets can be seen on the outside of the armour.

Circumference (higher part): 39cm to 58cm max.
Circumference (lower part): 30cm to 52cm max.

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Buy the 14th Century Reinforced Suede Greaves with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.

Made of split leather and 1.4mm steel. Texture and colour may vary from piece to piece. The dying process is done using traditional techniques, so the final colour may vary depending on leather´s original tone.

Steel thickness may vary due to the handcrafted methods used in its manufacture. The steel is untreated and may have rust. To protect the steel rub it with mineral or synthetic oils.

Buy the 114th Century Reinforced Suede Cuisses - Brown with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.

This type of leg armour is similar to the one worn by Sir Thomas Cheyne on his funerary brass. It can be seen that the armour is made up of 5 pieces with plates on the inside and a decorative fringe at the end.

Designed by Reproductions Historiques France team.

Made of split leather and 16 gauge steel making it great for re-enactment. Roughness and colour may vary from piece to piece. The dying process is made using traditional techniques so final colour may vary depending on leather´s original tone.

Steel thickness may vary due to the handcrafted methods used on its manufacturing.

Buy the 14th Century Reinforced Suede Cuisses - Red with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.

Our Avant Milanese Cuisses are modelled on those displayed on the famous Avant Armour on display in the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow. This armour was made in Milan in around 1440 for a member of the Matchs family of Churburg Castle. It is constructed from 16 gauge steel making it great for re-enactment and features adjustable buckled leather straps.

Top to base of knee: 43 cm
Base of knee to bottom: 11 cm
Total length: 54 cm

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Buy the Avant Milanese Cuisses (Leg Armour) with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.

Our Milanese leg armour provides complete protection for the front of the thighs, knees and shins. They are fully articulated allowing the leg to be bent and are attached with buckled leather straps for a secure fit. They are made to an authentic period design and are constructed from 16 gauge steel making them great for re-enactment.

Steel thickness may vary due to the handcrafted methods used on its manufacturing.

Buy the Milanese Leg Armour with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.

This product has two parts. The upper part is the guisse with the poleyn (knee) and the second part is the greave.

Guisse with Poleyn:
45 cm from the inside part of thigh until the middle of the knee.
44 cm from the upper part in the middle of guisse until the middle of the knee.
57 cm total length.
5.5 cm from the end of the knee (sharp point) until the first hole.
7.5 cm from the end of the knee (sharp point) until the second hole.

Greave:
26 cm from the button (fastening system) until the instep.
36 cm total length (for the side part).

Buy the German Gothic Leg Armour with confidence from the UK’s leading medieval armour retailer.