Imperial Gambeson - Black

There are stories being told about you amongst the soldiers. You are the mercenary who has slain over a thousand men. You put fear in your enemies with one sweep of your weapon. Your aura of darkness freezes the hearts of anyone who looks you in the eye. And your favorite? Someone is saying you made a deal with a devil so that you may never die.

You strap your armour over your Imperial Gambeson, preparing for battle. You will never tell them which stories might be true, but they can see for themselves your battle prowess once you step onto the field and dominate once more.

DETAILS

This Epic Armoury Imperial Gambeson is a padded long-sleeve coat covering the torso from neck, down over the hips on front and back. It can be worn on its own or serve as essential padding under mail or armour. The gambeson is donned like a jacket and closed on the front with a system of cotton cords, allowing the wearer to customize the tightness of the fit. The arms are easily detachable by untying its cotton cords on the shoulders and sleeves, each cord secured through long-lasting brass eyelets.

Thick enough to serve as its own armour, this sturdy gambeson is constructed with heavy layers of fluffed cotton canvas sandwiched between dyed wool on the outside and softer cotton lining on the inside. All these layers are stitched together in vertical lines, keeping the padding in place and mimicking a classic European high-medieval style.

Though of European cut, gambeson or quilted-style armours have seen world-wide use since antediluvian times, making the Imperial Gambeson a great basic armour with a range of possibilities regardless of time and place.

HISTORY

• Quilted armours have been around since at least 400 BCE
• Used as padding under chainmail or plate armour
• Historically, a high-medieval European gambeson was recorded as being capable of stopping sword blows from penetrating the skin
• Could stop heavy arrows and mace and axe impacts with the addition of overlaying chainmail
• Specific style often worn by freemen, mercenaries, and other independent warriors