Byzantine Lamellar for Buhurt: protection and mobility
Byzantine Lamellar is a torso armor solution for buhurt / full contact, assembled from many small plates. Its design follows historical sources and visual prototypes of Byzantine equipment (primarily iconography and period depictions), without claiming an unattainable “perfect reconstruction.”
Protection and durability: a dense array of plates helps spread impact, while the central ridge (bulge) increases stiffness plate-by-plate. With correct assembly and proper under-armor, the lamellar format handles clinch pressure and repeated cutting impacts on the torso.
Mobility: lamellar lacing lets the body flex and work in motion—useful for turning, closing distance, and grappling without feeling locked in a rigid shell. Coverage-to-mobility balance is achieved through the layout and fastening adjustment within standard sizing.
Fit and wear: the geometry is meant to follow torso anatomy—important points are the overall height, arm openings, and compatibility with belts and shoulder movement. Fit is tuned via straps and lacing tension, without implying default one-off measurement for each buyer.
Serviceability: lamellar is modular—if something bends or wears out, you replace specific plates or lacing sections rather than rebuilding the entire cuirass. This is valuable for heavy training cycles.
About tournament checks: lamellar armor is commonly considered across different medieval full-contact rule sets (including multiple leagues and formats), but final acceptance depends on the organizer’s requirements, edge coverage, fastening condition, and the rest of your protective kit.
- Use: torso protection for buhurt training and events.
- Build: small ridged plates, lamellar assembly.
- Care: inspect lacing/straps regularly and replace worn elements.