Scaled Skirt

Scaled armor has existed since ancient times. For example, in the VII – III century B.C.E. the Scythians made scaled armor using bronze, iron, bones or thick leather. It is composed of small scales attached to a base material such as leather or cloth. The scales were typically in the shape of slightly elongated fish scales and were assembled in such a way that each scale overlaps others. Roman scale body armor called Lorica squamata was common in Europe and the Middle East, but the fall of the Roman Empire caused a reduction in its manufacturing.

In the IX century, scaled armor gained popularity in the Byzantine Empire. There are lots of medieval miniatures displaying knights wearing armor composed of small metal plates of different shapes. The scaled skirt as a separate piece of armor was in use from approximately XIV – XV centuries in Medieval Europe.

Our Scaled Skirt is made from four rows of overlapping rectangular plates with pointed bottom edges, each measuring 8.5cm x 5cm. A reinforcement rib runs through the vertical central line on each scale. The scale plates are fixed to a base material of durable canvas and black wool with two rivets. Our Scaled Skirt can be used as additional protection when you need to cover the gaps between your leg harness and brigandine. It’s also quite visually striking and can add a lot of aesthetic appeal to your armor set.

Our Scaled Skirt is very light and with the 1.0 mm titanium option weighs only 1.9 kg (Please note, that the weight can be a bit different depending on the size and type of material the scales are made from). The Scaled Skirt comes in two coverage options. You can choose between a full skirt that covers the posterior, hips, and groin or a half skirt an open front. This armor is suitable for full contact medieval combat.

Please note that measurements should be with padding/gambeson.