Soldier's Shoulders

N.B.: Gorget / mounting point sold separately 

There isn’t time to slow down. The life of a fighter is fast. You move fast, fight fast, and even stand fast. It is also usually true that fighters are quick to fall. The battlefield is a place of chaos and violence, and you cannot afford to be held back by your armour--or this fight will be your last.

You wear your Soldier armour because it is practical and sturdy. Your Soldier Shoulders has taken numerous hits and never failed you. So, no matter the speed and the insanity, you can keep pace with the best of them.

DETAILS

Epic Armoury’s Soldier Shoulder is a set of two shoulder guards with spaulders and pauldrons. The spaulder is made from a single plate, shaped to provide protection to the upper arm. The large pauldrons are also made from one plate, curved to sit over the shoulders and overlap the breastplate. This design offers more protection to the otherwise vulnerable armpit. The shoulderplates are fastened with leather straps around the biceps and at the shoulder, tying to a breast- and backplate with an adjustable leather shoulder piece. Epic Armoury breast- and backplates can be purchased separately and have fittings for mounting the shoulders.

The Soldiers Shoulder has a neutral and simple style that easily matches other Epic Armoury metal products, giving you the freedom to customize your character’s costume. Made of 1 mm thick mild steel and chrome leather straps and fittings, this armour piece is built to withstand the abuse of a LARP or reenactment with regular leather and metal armour care.

HISTORY

• Historically designed with sculpted ridges and overlapping plates to provide reinforced protection and to deflect attacks on a chaotic battlefield
• Plate armour became more popular as firearm technology became more prevalent during the 13th century

There is a price to pay for armour. Armour protects your precious body - your one and only - but it has great weight and great material cost. No normal person can afford the blacksmith when desiring a suit of full plate. Thankfully, while your pocket is not deep, your skills are many.

You wear your minimal Soldier Belt Shields when you fight, because it doesn’t weigh you down. You are faster than your opponents...but also not so dumb as to go into a fight completely unprotected.

DETAILS

Epic Armoury’s Soldier Belt Shields are two plates designed to protect the thighs. These rolled edge steel plates hang from your own belt to cover the outer thighs, sliding into place using brown leather loops securely fastened with rivets. Each plate is 25cm long and 21cm wide, with two 24cm folded leather loops.

The Soldier Belt Shields armour features a curved edge and overlapping welded plates, influenced by the look of classic tassets that can be paired with a multitude of styles. This armour does not require assistance to equip, because it is very easy to put on and take off. Made of 1 mm thick galvanized mild steel and top-grain leather straps and fittings, this armour piece is built to withstand the abuse of a LARP or reenactment with regular leather and metal armour care.

HISTORY

• Plate armour became more popular as firearm technology became more prevalent during the 13th century
• Historically designed with sculpted ridges and overlapping plates to provide reinforced protection and to deflect attacks on a chaotic battlefield

Simple Design, Great Protection

Epic Armoury’s Soldier Gorget is designed to sit around the neck, providing protection to the thorax and shoulders. Handmade and molded to sit comfortably on the shoulders, this gorget offers some of the best protection for the battlefield without being overly ornate. This design makes for a practical look, easily transferred between multiple costumes or to fit a simple medieval soldier.

The Soldier’s Gorget is made from two pieces, one side secured with a bolt and the other closed with an adjustable leather strap. Attach it to your gambeson by threading canvas ties through the leather shoulder plates. With regular leather and metal care you can expect this quality made armour to last for a long time!

Inspired by Renaissance History

• Also referred to as a gorget, which means throat
• Early versions were typically worn under the breastplate and backplate to support the weight of the heavier plate armour
• Later versions were larger and designed to be worn over clothing

One, Two, Buckle my Arm;

Three, Four, Protect me from Harm;

Practical Protection for the Arms

Epic Armoury’s Soldier Arm Protection is a complete set of vambraces, rerebraces, and elbow cups. Designed to protect the outside of the entire arm, this handmade armour is made from 1mm steel and connected by chrome leather straps and strong rivets. The elbow cups--also known as couters--protect the elbow joint thanks to its rounded shape and reinforced ridges. The inside of the elbow features a cupped flange to deflect blows. The upper arm is protected by the half-rerebrace, while the lower arm is protected by the vambrace.

The Soldier’s Arm Protection has rolled edges that form ridges around the rims. Three chrome leather straps are used to secure the armour to your arm, and the top of the rerebrace is attached to the gambeson using canvas ties through a leather plate. With regular leather and metal care you can expect this quality made armour to last for a long time!

Inspired by Renaissance History

• 15th- and 16th-century European plate armour was attached to gambesons using arming points, which are utilized in this product’s design
• Plate armour became more popular as firearm technology became more prevalent during the 13th century
• The elbow cup is referred to as a couter or an elbow cop

The Soldier Chainmail is made of 1mm mild steel linked chain rings. For the riveted version, please see the Royal Soldier Chainmail design.

Epic Armoury metal works products should be treated with a wax or quality acid-free vegetable oil and kept in dry storage. Metal armour containing leather parts would needs a separate maintenance for the leather. Please read the "Leather Straps and Fittings" section below for leather cleaning and maintenance using leather-care products.

Degreasing and preparing your armour for use

When you open your armour, you may be overwhelmed by the smell of grease and oil. The oil has been applied to protect your armour during storage and transport. Use a degreasing product or mineral spirits and a dry cloth or paper towels to remove all the oil from your plate armour parts. Chainmail is a bit harder to remove all the oil from the links, but it can be done in much the same way. Wipe off as much as you can with a dry cloth, and with the remaining oil, you can remove the grease from the chainmail with mineral spirits or another solvent by spraying it on the links. You can also choose to fully submerge your chainmail in a degreasing product and use your hands to agitate the metal in the solution, this will completely remove all oil and grease from your links. After removal of the oil, make sure to dry your armour thoroughly. Strong, warm sunlight is great for drying your armour, but you can also use a hairdryer or a heat gun to speed up the process. Be careful not to overheat any leather parts when using a heat gun.

Cleaning

Moisture is the enemy of armour and chainmail. If your armour does get wet, it is important that you dry it thoroughly as soon as possible. After handling, wearing, or after six months of storage or display, all metal should be wiped with a clean cloth. Lightly oil the clean surface with a quality acid-free vegetable oil. Alternatively, you can apply a coating of wax to the entire surface of the exposed metal. Allow the wax to dry for a couple of hours and then buff it lightly with a soft cloth.

Rust-Prevention and Removal

Store your armour is a dry place and check it every couple of months for signs of rust. If any is found, remove it by gently rubbing the affected spot with a mildly abrasive pad dipped in wax or quality acid-free vegetable oil. Epic Dark products are specially treated to resist rust, but should still be treated with oil and kept in dry storage.

Leather Straps and Fittings

Clean by removing dirt with a hard brush, then gently rub on leather soap with a clean, damp cloth until the leather appears clean. Remove soap with a separate damp cloth to wipe away any soap residue and then use a dry cloth to wipe away any remaining water from the leather.

You should always condition leather after cleaning, since the soap will have removed some of its natural oils. Treat the leather with mink oil, olive oil, or beeswax polish with a clean cloth, gently rubbing a small amount of oil or polish in circles into the leather. Allow the leather to soak in the oil before wiping the leather with a final clean cloth to remove any excess residue.

You look upon your leading officer as he makes his way down the line of your fellow soldiers. Your fate and the fate of your entire unit is dependent on this veteran’s word, and you find yourself relieved not to shoulder such a heavy burden.

“We must fight!” your officer shouts for all to hear. You adjust your Warrior Shoulderplates, double checking the buckles as you listen to him continue. “For our homes and for our families, we will fight until we can fight no more!” With a resounding cheer, your fellow soldiers ready themselves for the charge. You withdraw your weapon, eager and afraid all at once.

The battle has begun.

DETAILS

Epic Armoury’s Warrior Shoulderplates are a set of two shoulder guards with spaulders, pauldrons and besagues. The spaulders have five ridged metal plates--or lames--overlaying one another to provide laminate protection of the upper arms. Besauges (small round convex metal shields) tied onto the spaulders with leather cords add further protection to the armpits. The shoulderplates are fastened with leather straps around the biceps and at the shoulder blade, attaching to a breast- and backplate. Epic Armoury breast- and backplates can be purchased separately and have fittings for mounting the shoulders.

The Warrior Shoulderplates are neutral in style and fully usable with other Epic Armoury metal products, giving you the freedom to customize your character’s costume. Made of 1 mm thick mild steel and top-grain leather straps and fittings, this armour piece is built to withstand the abuse of a LARP or reenactment with regular leather and metal armour care.

HISTORY

• Plate armour became more popular as firearm technology became more prevalent during the 13th century
• Historically designed with sculpted ridges and overlapping plates to provide reinforced protection and to deflect attacks on a chaotic battlefield

You look upon your leading officer as he makes his way down the line of your fellow soldiers. Your fate and the fate of your entire unit is dependent on this veteran’s word, and you find yourself relieved not to shoulder such a heavy burden.

“We must fight!” your officer shouts for all to hear. You adjust your Dark Warrior Armour, double checking the buckles as you listen to him continue. “For our homes and for our families, we will fight until we can fight no more!” With a resounding cheer, your fellow soldiers ready themselves for the charge. You withdraw your weapon, eager and afraid all at once.

The battle has begun.

You look upon your leading officer as he makes his way down the line of your fellow soldiers. Your fate and the fate of your entire unit is dependent on this veteran’s word, and you find yourself relieved not to shoulder such a heavy burden.

“We must fight!” your officer shouts for all to hear. You adjust your Shoulder Plate Giant Warrior armour, double checking the buckles as you listen to him continue. “For our homes and for our families, we will fight until we can fight no more!” With a resounding cheer, your fellow soldiers ready themselves for the charge. You withdraw your weapon, eager and afraid all at once.

The battle has begun.

DETAILS

Epic Armoury’s Shoulder Plate Giant Warrior are a set of two shoulder guards designed to protect the shoulder-joints and upper arm. This armour’s metal plates overlap one another to provide complete laminate protection. Overlaying the spaulders is a large pauldron, which provides additional protection to joints and armpits. Atop the pauldron a vertical plate sword breaker catches and deflects blows before they can impact the head. The sword breaker is slightly concave and somewhat higher at the back than the front, thus providing protection without impairing vision. Although the armour is designed to match Epic Armoury’s ‘Warrior’ set, it is fully interchangeable with other Epic Armoury armours in order to fully customize your character’s look.

Secure the Shoulder Plate Giant Warrior by tightening the top leather strap onto a breast- or neck-plate, adjusting so that the armour sits comfortably over the shoulder. Keep the armour from further moving by securing an additional top leather strap around the upper arm. Made of 1 mm thick mild steel and top-grain leather straps and fittings, this armour piece is built to withstand the abuse of a LARP or reenactment with regular leather and metal armour care.

HISTORY

• Historically designed with sculpted ridges and overlapping plates to provide reinforced protection and to deflect attacks on a chaotic battlefield
• Plate armour became more popular as firearm technology became more prevalent during the 13th century

The large, segmented spaulders from Mytholon's  "Elias" series.

The original, typical spaulder has a segment added to it and therefore looks even more impressing. The spaulders are being fixed by a buckle-strap on the gorget, and a single strap under your upper arm.

The gorget is not included and is required when used in conjunction with the rest of the Elias set.

SHOULDER AGAINST SHOULDER!

“Of course, the captain was better equipped, but within this moment, it did not matter. He had placed himself firmly on the ground, drawn his sword and gestured for us to form a line. When then knew that he was no aloof officer. He was a soldier like the rest of us. While the enemy still advanced towards us, I could sense the sudden cracks in their morale.”

DETAILS

The Captain Pauldrons provide sovereign shoulder protection and are made from mild steel in Epic Dark and Epic Grey colours to emphasise honour and servitude. It is designed with a characteristic haute-piece that provides extra protection for the neck.

The Captain Pauldrons are part of the Captain Armour Complete Set and are intended to pair with the Captain Cuirass, Captain Gorget, Captain Arm Protection, Captain Leg Protection and Captain Belt Shields. The Captain Pauldrons are sold as a pair.

HISTORY

The word pauldron is derived from the Old French words espauleron, which means a shoulder-plate, and espaule, which means shoulder.