Say, two swords of almost the same size and weight, no gold at all, but one for $100 and the other for $1000.
yes you are.
Exactly. And what they had available was not equal in terms of quality.
You are missing the point I already wrote my answer, here again, sorry for the double post: “Steel. As always, if the steel had 0,6% of carbon or 0,8% of carbon does not make a difference as the tempering will result in a very similar final hardness.”
The construction of the harness can also make difference.
I agree.
And I think you understand that a smith, however good he is and whatever good steel he can get, cannot possibly provide everyone with equally well-designed armour.
The armourer can. The only question is whether the customer can afford it.
A good harness is made individually, fitted to the figure.
I agree again.
It is not what you can make in thousands pieces everyday without a modern-day production line.
I disagree.
““Within the group of the seven following workers, one makes arm defenses for the foot soldiers. Each of the other six workers finishes 12 breastplates – until ready for filing and hardening – within one week of his regular service to his Imperial Highness. For each further deep-drawn breastplate he finishes for hardening after his regular working-time, he is paid 5 Kreuzer.”
[Some more informations]
“This text clearly says that in average the 6 workers after the regular working-time together finished 18 additional breastplates a week – hence 3 breastplates were made by one man. Together with the 12 breastplates made in his regular working time, one man made 15 and therefore all the workers together made a total of 90 breastplates a week.”
The mentioned breastplates were made using a die. Serial production of armour took place and probably made up a big part of the armour available.
If you want to know more, read this: Iron Documents
And it is unlikely that a commoner or an ordinary soldier could afford this kind of armour.
What kind of armour? Armour made of good steel? Of course he could afford it.
@Zub I agree with you, a bascinet with visor and no other armour at all would look weird. My point initially was that this eastern nasal helmet with the decorations could be used for an average soldier as well. If you remove all the decorations. I see absolutely no reason why this shouldn’t be possible. Protecting the head comes first. Even if you don’t have other armour, you still wear a helmet when possible.
A visored sallet on a soldier with no breastplate would look weird as well. Putting the fact aside that every soldier in the late 15th had at least some torso protection, most of the time a simple breastplate.
But some nobleman’s… I guess, they will fight in some battles and use not that much cheaper armor.
