http://jollyknight.com.ua/armoury/images/jollyknight0868.JPG
Now, one might ask why I'm looking into this? It's simple, I'm a fighter in the SCA, I fight german longsword in a local Hema group and I'm intending to eventually start up a steel tournament for the different knight groups of Sweden promoting historicity in order to give all of the people not riding something fun to compete in.
But I also love the historicity of my own armour. I'm a bloody stickler for it, and I won't wear a piece of armour without being able to say "This is based on historical designs" or "no, this is a modern design made for comfort and safety but it sorta looks good enough." And after having trawled through the Effigies & Brasses search for all of the 14th century in all of western Europe, I'm at a loss on what to do now.
Does anybody know if we have documented armour that is, at least similar to what I linked above? Because such documentation would give me a lot less headache. I simply don't want to answer "I don't know" when somebody asks me if it's based off of anything historical.
And the absolutely brilliant blacksmith who made it said that he used to have the picture, but he doesn't have it now, and that the arm is somewhere in between a recreationism and a recreation.
Looks period enough for the late 14th century; by 1370, articulated armour was showing up on legs; steel plates which were held onto the legs by leather strapping. By 1375 the wrap plate was present on the cuisse which was a plate attached either by leather or hinges to the outside of the thigh and wrapping around the back of the leg.
You can see similar leg armour to what you've got in the effigy of Sir Reginald, 1st Earl Cobham, who died ~1361.
Take a look at Oakeshott's The Archaeology of Weapons, pp 253-300 for a brief discussion of the evolution of armour.
