This page was created by Zachary Barney. The last update was by Amanda Luyster.
Composite Stechzeug - How was It Made?
German Jousting Armor is made from multiple different steel plates that were cast and fit together. Metalworkers manipulated sheets of steel into the shapes of the helmet, the breastplate, and the many different scales for the joints, so that they could be used to protect the knight in the tournament. The steel itself has different areas where it is thicker than in others. For example, the steel in the neck area and upper chest can be 7.2 mm thick, while the steel at the side of the helmet might be only 2.8 mm thick. The thickness of the armor was modified across different areas to maximize safety while saving costs. The total weight also had to be kept in check to make it comfortable for the knight to wear and for the horse to bear. As much as this armor was used as protection, it still needed to be comfortable for both the knight and the horse.