Armor Kit “The King's Guard”

Churburg castle #13 harness

Renown. Knights and Men-at-Arms for centuries have sought this elusive concept in the way they fight; the way they dress; and in their adherence to the complex code of Chivalry. It takes much more than unconquerable fighting skills to become a “Parfit, Gentil Knight". Many strive for Renown very few achieve it.

We tasked our researchers and lead armourer to create a kit that epitomized, in steel, the high standards demanded by the most worthy of peers. They took their search to a castle in the South Tyrol region of Italy and unanimously agreed that only one kit could meet the requirements of their quest – the Churburg #13 harness. They returned to our forges and created a harness truly worthy to grace the Courts of 14th Century Europe.

For those Knights and Dames of Highest Virtue, ArmStreet offers a very special harness designed and built to display Renown in a single glance – The King’s Guard.

Crafted in stainless steel and beautifully decorated the armour is not only etched to enhance the richness of the look, but is bordered with Latin-inscribed brass borders, handmade clasps and buckles, and brass rivets.

What's included in Knight's Armor?

Cuirass

We have taken the familiar Churburg 13 breastplate to a new an entirely new level of the armourer’s art with the inclusion of ornate etchings and the inscribed brass borders. This late XIV century ¾-style cuirass retains the nine-plate segment design of the original, providing exceptional protection and coverage of your chest, sides and lower back.

Detachable Fauld Skirt

Rather than the ordinary brayette (skirt) of maille, our armourer created a detachable fauld skirt built from five, stainless steel lames covered in tough split leather, in your choice of four colors. This provides outstanding protection, great movement, and creates an unique look sure to inspire admiration from all that see it.

Italian Rerebrace, Couter and Vambrace

The arms and legs of the Churburg 13 armour are instantly recognizable by their shape, brass borders and intricate inscriptions. We knew that these would be the areas that would “make or break” the entire creation and we held nothing back. The intricate and richly etched steel of the rerebrace, couter and vambrace matches perfectly with the inscribed brass borders creating an arm harness the Black Prince would have been proud to wear. As in period, the rerebrace is relatively short and protects the exterior of the upper arm; the couters are open, with a sizeable wing to protect the interior of the elbow; and the forearm in enclosed in a full vambrace that secures with a leather strap and period buckle.

Classic Pauldrons

Larger and more protective than spaulders, yet less restrictive as XV century pauldrons, these “pauldrons” were a defining piece of “Transitional Armour.” The large shoulder cop gave fantastic protection to the shoulder joint, without restraining the arms range of motion, and the three, articulated segmented lames gave the upper arm additional coverage, overlapping the rerebrace. Debilitating strikes to the vulnerable upper arms, prevalent with earlier maille armour, were now greatly reduced giving this knight a decided advantage in battle.

Italian Cuisse and Poleyn

Classic 3/4 “leg harness” consisting of a three segment cuisse that provides tremendous protection against flank and wrap shots; a large fan poleyn articulated with two plates toward the cuisse and three descending to cover the upper shin.

Fully Enclosed Greaves

Full wrap greaves that give complete coverage and protection to your shin and calves and continuing the steel etching and beautiful engraved brass border work of the cuisse and poleyn.

All of our armor pieces are handcrafted from 16 ga cold forged, stainless steel (with some non-critical, small pieces from 18 ga). Each piece of our armour is hand polished to your desired brightness.

Decorations

The King’s Guard is richly decorated with electro-acid etched floral ornamentation and engraved brass accents. We selected quotes in Latin from various Psalms as we feel these would have been those chosen by devout knights of the period:

• Cuirass: Front Plate: (Psalm 91:5) Non timebis a timore nocturno, a sagitta volante in di­e, a pe­s­te perambulante in tene­bris (Not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day, For the pestilence that walketh in darkness); (Psalm 91:7) Cadent a latere tuo milleet decem milia a dextris tuis; ad te (A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee)
• Side Plates: (Psalm 91:13): Super aspidem et basili­scum ambulabis | con­culcabis le­onem et draconem (Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon)
• Fauld: (Psalm 59:1) Eripe me de inimicis meis, [Deus meus], et ab insurgentibus in me protege me (Deliver me from mine enemies, [O my God:] defend me from them that rise up against me), (Psalm 69:25) Eunde super eos iram tuam, et furor irae tuae comprehendat eos (Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them)
• Rerebrace: Shoulder plates: (Psalm 10:15) Contere ­brachi­um peccatoris et maligni (Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man)
• Poleyn: (Psalm 59:14) Consume eos in furore, con­sume, et non erunt (Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be)
• Vambrace: (Psalm 59:12) Disperge illos in virtute tuae­t pro­s­terne eos, protector meus, Domine (Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield)
• Pauldrons: Shoulder Cop: (Psalm 56:12) In Deo speravi, non timebo: quod faciet mihi homo (In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me)
• Lames: (Psalm 91:2) Refugi­um meumet fortitudo mea, Deus meus, sperabo in eum (He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust)
• Cuisses: (Psalm 91:11) Quo­ni­am angelis suis mandabit de te, ut cu­s­todiant te in omni­bus viis tuis (For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways)
• Couters: (Psalm 91:12) In mani­bus portabunt te, ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum (They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone)
• Lower Lames: (Psalm 91:4) Scu­tum et lorica veritas eius (His truth shall be thy shield and buckler)
• Greaves: (Psalm 18:33) Deus, qui prae­cinxit me virtuteet posuit im­maculatam viam meam (It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect)

While we developed this armour to function together as a single harness, all of the individual pieces are available separately. You can easily enhance the look of your current kit by purchasing just the pieces you need to provide a stellar appearance on the field.

Process of arming a medieval knight

The King’s Guard is a work of wearable art that is protective as it is beautiful. Any Warrior, Reenactor or Medieval Martial Scholar would instantly own the field in this vibrant armour and your are guaranteed to be unforgettable wearing this kit to your next war or tournament.

You have earned the Renown, now own a kit that reflects it.

To check how to measure yourself please click here.

Please contact us if you have any additional questions.

Important: To fit correctly and prevent injury, a suit of armour must be accurately built to the measurements of the person wearing it. PLEASE take all measurements over either the gambeson or under-padding you are planning to wear with this armour. The sole exception is for persons buying armour and padding together, ArmStreet will then make the proper size adjustments for the armour based on the measurements provided for the padding. If you are ordering sabatons, please send the actual measurements of the footwear you plan to wear under them.

Medieval Martial Arts are, by their very nature, dangerous and ArmStreet is not responsible for any injuries sustained by persons wearing their armour during the course of such activities. We cannot stress enough the importance of proper training, armour, weapons and knowledgeable supervision during these activities. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the wearer and their opponent for the safety of the participants.

Safety disclaimer: Sword-fighting and fencing is a dangerous sport. Fencing, historical fencing, medieval reenactment and martial arts as well as other related types of activity, are inherently connected to a certain risk level of injuries or death. The Company declines all responsibility for any traumas or harm done to oneself or to the third person, along with any material or consequential damage, impaired during the products usage. We admonish that all acts with armour, weapons or their components have to be performed before designated person who is responsible for safety of the particular event and accredited to supervise armour and sport weapon conformance to the event’s standards.