Scale Armor

Scale armor

Scale armor is an early form of armour sometimes erroneously called scale mail consisting of many individual small armour scales (plates) of various shapes attached to each other and to a backing of cloth or leather in overlapping rows. Scale armour was worn by warriors of many different cultures as well as their horses. The material used to make the scales varied and included bronze, iron, rawhide, leather, cuir bouilli and horn. The variations are primarily the result of material availability.

Who used the scale armor

Roman legionaries

Perian warriors

Armenian cataphracts

Byzantian warriors

Medieval knights and troopers

Indian warriors

Chines warriors (up to 19th century!)