Finding Authentic Suits of Armor

If you are looking for an authentic medieval suit of armor to add to your collection, then it is important to know what you are looking for. Some of you may be shopping around for the first time and have no idea what to look for in a suit of armor. Not only should your armor be historically accurate, but the material used to make it and the finish quality all add to the authenticity of your particular piece.

Today’s replicas of historical armors came mainly from three countries: Spain, Italy, and India. By nature one may be inclined to think that higher quality suits of armor come from the first two countries, and you are correct. However, you’ll almost always end up paying a premium for these armors. The armor in Spain and Italy usually are going to be museum quality, and the finish on the armor is going to be authentic. The armor especially in Italy is created with an old patina rustic look which India manufacturers cannot or will not match. The shape of the armor is also going to be more authentic and historically accurate to what was actually constructed in medieval times as well. Another advantage of Italian and Spanish armors is that they often can etch and emboss very delicate and complex designs on their armor, sometimes in precious metals such as gold. If you are looking for a display suit of armor, Spanish armors are almost always going to be your pick.

However, the armor in India does have its pros as well. As the cost of labor is much less in India, you’ll often pay a lot less for an Indian armor, and they can be high quality as well. Indian medieval armor also is a very effective SCA combat or reenactment piece. They make suits of armor that can be worn and used as costumes or in tournaments. The downside is that they usually make not-so-good display armors, as the “old patina” look cannot not be replicated and they fail miserably at etching and embossing fine designs on their armors.

This is one of the best replica black suits of armor manufacturered today in Italy.