What Type of Armourer

What Type of Armourer?

As an armourer, I often get asked 'So how do I get into armouring?' It is a big field, so firstly I'll try to break down and classify the various types of armourer. Later, (maybe another post), I'll discuss a few ways to develop these skills.

Traditional Armourer

When one visualises an armourer, we generally think of someone who shapes plates of metal heated over an open fire with hammers on anvils and stakes. This classic armourer was in the centre of a string of professions.

Workshop - a specifically designed space centred around the fire.
Workflow - receive metal from a platener; cut with a manual shear; clean edges with a file; heat with coal/coke fire; shape with hammers over stakes and square anvils; weld with heat and flux; rivet with iron rivets and nails from a blacksmith; hammer planish and hand off work for polishing to a frobisher.

Sheet Metal Worker Armourer

This armourer uses all of the advantages and machines of the modern age to aid their armour production. This can simulate the results of a traditional armourer; however the different methods often create a unique and distinctive shape.

Workshop - a garage; shed or industrial area.
Workflow - receives metal from an industrial metal supplier; cuts with a Beverly shear/ nibbler/ jigsaw/ plasma cutter; cleans edges with a belt grinder; heats from oxy acetylene torch or a sheet forge ; shapes with a power hammer/ shrinker-stretcher/ English wheel; welds with Stick/MIG/ TIG/ or an oxy acetylene torch; rivets with hot rivet gun, soft steel rivets or soft iron rivets; hammers with a power hammer; polishes with bench grinder or angle grinder attachments.

Leatherworking Armourer

This armourer uses leather and rawhide to protect the body.

Workshop - a smaller area required, main need is a large table, waxing areas, dye area
Workflow - receives leather hides; cuts with knives or jigsaw; cleans edges with knives and sharp tools; heats wax or oil to harden leather; shapes with cunning cuts and stitch work; does not weld, but will often sew with waxed linen thread; rivets with copper rivets more often than iron; hammers rivets; does not polish but will treat and clean - decorates with dyes/paints and stamped tools.

Sewing  Armourer

This armourer works by obtaining or creating hard plates and cunningly attaching them or enveloping them in sewn fabric or leather.

Workshop - sewing room with a large table for the sewing machine and patterning.
Workflow - receives pre-made plates (metal, leather or plastic); cuts with scissors and drills plates; cleans edges by sewing them over; heat not generally used; shapes with cunning tailoring; does not need to weld; may rivet with copper iron rivets; will not need to hammer with; will not polish, but will decorate.

Plastics Armourer

This armourer will use modern plastics to create armour.

Workshop - smaller garage or shed, needs top ventilation.
Workflow - receives plastic sheets; cuts with a jigsaw; cleans edges with a file or bench grinder; heats with a hot air gun; shapes with low heat, cunning cuts or hammers; does not weld, may use industrial glues, plastics can be sewn with thick threads; rivets with copper or metal rivets or sewing; hammers with soft large hammers; does not polish but covers plastic with sewn garments of glued fabric or dress grade leathers.

Hybrid Armourer

This armourer uses a combination of all of the techniques used above, depending on the job in front of them, the skills they possess and the budget of the client. I am a hybrid armourer.

Workshop - a garage; shed or industrial area.
Workflow - will use all of the workflows above

Further Sub Types of Armourer and Associated Trades

Helm Smith - This armourer specialises in the thicker and heavier gauges of metal needed to make helms.

Mail Maker - One who specialise in making mail (aka “Chain Maille”)

Scutenier - The crafts person who makes shields (AFAIK I made up that word and am waiting for people who don’t read things properly to write angry responses.)

Frobisher - This craft involves polishing armour - a very involved subset of skills.

Platener - “One who makes plates” - the craft of those who prepare plates of metal for the armourer.

Decorators of Armour

Jeweller - Decorations for armour might be done by the armourer, and they might be subcontracted out to the many sub type of jeweller - Silversmith, Goldsmith, Enameller, etc.
Engraver - One who engraves metal can certainly help decorate metal and this technique was extensively used throughout history.