Medieval Arms

From our history books we know that the Samnites fought many wars with Rome on its way up.
It is well documented, that when Rome finally had won the upper hand the Romans ?donated? Roman citizenship to all Samnites in the year 88BC.
The Samnite armour had become Roman armour and the gladiators and legionaires are said to have used some of it afterwards.
As a source of information we have used a 17th century drawing of such a cuirass with leather lining.

There were also quite a few sets of this type of armour in Christie?s famous auctionof the Guttmann Collection in 2002.
Overall size of breastplate and backplate : 34 cms. x 34 cms (13? x 13?).
The brass belt fits a minimum 36" up to a maximum 41? waist, but can be extended to 45? after drilling another pair of attachment holes.
Total weight of brass cuirass and brass belt : 3.9 kg / 8.5 lbs.
We have a similar set made from steel, which weighs 3 kg /5.5 lbs.