Armor Type:  Plate armor

Brief Description:  Medieval scale armor consists of hundreds of overlapping, individual plates made of steel, iron, bronze, or boiled leather. These scales are securely stitched or riveted in horizontal rows onto a flexible fabric or leather backing. This overlapping design mimics animal scales to deflect weapon blows while allowing mobility.

Key Characteristics:

Construction: Individual scales usually feature small holes so they can be securely wired or sewn down. In many historical styles (such as the Roman lorica squamata), the scales are overlapped in a shingle pattern, protecting the wearer from slicing attacks while permitting the armor to bend with the body.

Materials: Scales were crafted from whatever rigid material was locally available, including iron, steel, bronze, horn, bone, or hardened leather (cuir bouilli).

Backing: Unlike lamellar armor—where plates are laced directly to one another—scale armor requires a sturdy textile or leather undergarment to anchor the scales.

Mobility vs. Vulnerability: While it provides excellent protection against slashes and bludgeoning, scale armor's layered structure leaves it vulnerable to heavy thrusting weapons (such as spears or war picks), which can wedge between the scales.