English Civil War Cuirass / Breastplate and Tassets

Pikeman armour 1607

English Civil War period copy of pikeman's armour. Includes backplate not visible in pictures. See close up pictures for more detail.

The pikeman had his movement curtailed by the pike itself and was a sitting duck for the musketeers and cavalrymen. Consequently, he required heavy armouring in the front, and about the head, to fend off musket balls and swords, without carrying too much extra weight that would disable his movement. The solution was the corselet with tassets (thigh-guards) and the 'English Pot' helmet. Notice how the corselet is V-shaped to help deflect pike thrusts and how the helmet bars end in shoulder struts, which relieved the neck of supporting all of the helmet's weight.

Size:
Height: 820mm
Chest: 1250mm
Waist: 1150mm
Gauge: 16 (1.6mm)

This Pikeman armour is not pristine. It has been aged with rust and marks for authenticity.