Scale armor

Lee · 8th May 2011, 11:38 PM

Received from Josh:

I wanted to register in order to post a bit of information regarding a recent topic that has been posted on your board, if nobody else has yet posted it.

I believe that the piece of scale armour in the photos there might be a fragment of the armour of a Comanche war chief active in the 19th century called "Iron Jacket."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Jacket

Note the line that reads: "The Rangers broke up his coat of mail and kept the shingles for souvenirs."

Jim McDougall · 9th May 2011, 03:24 PM

It always makes me smile when whispers from the 'lurking hordes' come in

Here is distinct evidence that there is sound knowledge among them, and how unfortunate it is that typically they do not post. In this case I am grateful that an attempt to share information was made, even through 'the back door', so thank you Josh, wherever you are.

The note on 'Iron Shirt' is extremely well placed, and there are considerations that this could indeed be an element of armor worn by possibly a warrior of one of the tribes in the region it was found. The well known tales of 'Chief Iron Shirt' have been around for some time, but there are of course a number of versions, most of them envisioning him wearing the cliche' conquistador breastplate or cuirass. However, this account is remarkably accurate in detail and reveals far more about the true nature of these old Spanish items which remained with some generations of these tribes for many years.
Native American warriors are known to have worn various kinds of defensive armor mostly of rawhide in some degree, and used of course rawhide shields, but there are considerably limited instances of use of this kind of armor. In most cases it would seem these were likely traded from Comanchero traders in regions of New Mexico and West Texas from old Spanish resources. This particular mantle, though the 'jury is still out' appears to be at least of early Spanish components, and there is a distinct possibility of being worn by a warrior.

Chief Iron Shirt incidentally was apparantly brought down with a high caliber rifle where the shot entered from his side circumventing the armor which had brought him such acclaim.

8th May 2011, 11:38 PM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	A suggestion from a 'lurker" Received from Josh: I wanted to register in order to post a bit of information regarding a recent topic that has been posted on your board, if nobody else has yet posted it. I believe that the piece of scale armour in the photos there might be a fragment of the armour of a Comanche war chief active in the 19th century called "Iron Jacket." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Jacket Note the line that reads: "The Rangers broke up his coat of mail and kept the shingles for souvenirs."

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9th May 2011, 03:24 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	It always makes me smile when whispers from the 'lurking hordes' come in Here is distinct evidence that there is sound knowledge among them, and how unfortunate it is that typically they do not post. In this case I am grateful that an attempt to share information was made, even through 'the back door', so thank you Josh, wherever you are. The note on 'Iron Shirt' is extremely well placed, and there are considerations that this could indeed be an element of armor worn by possibly a warrior of one of the tribes in the region it was found. The well known tales of 'Chief Iron Shirt' have been around for some time, but there are of course a number of versions, most of them envisioning him wearing the cliche' conquistador breastplate or cuirass. However, this account is remarkably accurate in detail and reveals far more about the true nature of these old Spanish items which remained with some generations of these tribes for many years. Native American warriors are known to have worn various kinds of defensive armor mostly of rawhide in some degree, and used of course rawhide shields, but there are considerably limited instances of use of this kind of armor. In most cases it would seem these were likely traded from Comanchero traders in regions of New Mexico and West Texas from old Spanish resources. This particular mantle, though the 'jury is still out' appears to be at least of early Spanish components, and there is a distinct possibility of being worn by a warrior. Chief Iron Shirt incidentally was apparantly brought down with a high caliber rifle where the shot entered from his side circumventing the armor which had brought him such acclaim.