Armour & Weapons

CHAP. HI THE WEARING OF ARMOUR 59 These sliding rivets working in slots have come to be called ‘ Almain ’ rivets from the fact that the Almain rivet, a light half suit of armour, was put together to a great extent by this method. These suits will be referred to later in the chapter. The Pauldron is hung on the shoulder by a strap from the gorget or the breastplate, or it is pierced with a hole which fits over a pin fixed in one of these portions of the armour. In most suits of plate of the fifteenth and early sixteenth century that portion of the pauldron which covers the breastplate is larger on Fig. 28. Gauntlet. Fig. 29. Turning ‘ lock-pins Fig. 30. Gorget. the left side than on the right. The reason for this is that the position of the lance when held ‘ in rest that is couched for the charge, necessitates a certain curtailment of the front plate of the pauldron, and, at the same time, the left arm being held rigid at the bridle, and being exposed to the attacking weapon, requires more protection than does the right, which, when using the lance, was guarded by the Vamplate or metal disc fixed to the lance above the Grip. Breast- and back-pieces are held together on the shoulders and sides by straps, but the lames of the faces, and in some cases the breast and back themselves, are fastened with turning pins which play an important part in holding the suit together (Fig. 29).