15th Century Arms

These Patterns are free to all with the understanding that credit should be given to the owners.

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These arm harnesses are based on a set in Churburg made in the early 1400's. They are shown in the Churburg catalog on suit #18 and in "European Armour: circa 1066 to circa 1700" by Claude Blair.

When you print out the patterns be sure to print them as 8.5 inches by 11 inches with no margins. The arms are size medium (maybe a bit on the small side). The vambrace (or lower cannon) should be a fairly tight fit but not so tight at the wrist that it inhibits wrist motion.

You may need to adjust the rivet holes on the lanes connected to the couter (i.e. "elbow cop"). If the lanes don't move far enough try making another lane with the rivet holes for the side having the problem a 1/16 of an inch closer to the center. If the lane is gaping then try making a lane with the rivet holes for that side a 1/16 of an inch closer to the edge.

Elbow p1

Elbow p2

rerebrace

vambrace bottom

vambrace top



I would build these arms in the following order:

  1. Cut out the plates
  2. Punch any holes which are on the patterns
  3. Finish the plate edges and corners
  4. Roll the edges of both the vambrace halves marked --ROLL-- on the pattern
  5. Dish couter/"elbow cop" and shape the wing. Raise/Shape the front of the vambrace. Shape the other plates.
  6. Fine tune the articulation. Optional: Cut slots for the sliding rivets connecting the vambrace to the outer lane.
  7. Polish the plates
  8. Assemble the arms. Add the hinge for the vambrace. Add catch tabs for the vambrace.
  9. Add the straps.  Optional: Add spring pins for the vambrace.





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