14th Century Steel Roundel Spaulders Walter Manny

14th Century Steel Roundel Spaulders Walter Manny

Historical Evolution of Besagews and Transition Era Armor

These circular armor plates (historically known as roundels or besagews) trace their origin to the 14th century. This period marked a pivotal transition in European armoring techniques, as knights began supplementing flexible chainmail with rigid steel plates. While mail protected well against slashes, it left joints vulnerable to blunt trauma and thrusting weapons aimed at the armpit voids. Steel roundels emerged as an ingenious solution to shield exposed shoulder joints and armpit gaps without restricting arm mobility.

This model was crafted in honor of Sir Walter Manny (c. 1310–1372), a famous knight and commander in the service of King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Sir Walter Manny was renowned for his personal bravery in battle and his insistence on dependable equipment for his men.

Design Features, Versatile Wearing Methods, and Historical Trivia

Formed from 1.5 mm (16 gauge) steel with a dished curvature, these roundels effectively deflect incoming weapon blows away from the body. The perimeter is reinforced with thick, scalloped bovine leather securely fastened by steel rivets. Lacing them onto your armor is straightforward using the included leather cords attached to your gambeson, padded cap, or arming doublet.

Historical Trivia: 14th and 15th-century historical sources document that small steel roundels were attached not only to shoulders, but also to elbow couters, gauntlet cuffs, and even the back of armet helmets to protect the leather fastening straps from being severed in chaotic melee fighting.

Technical Specifications

Care and Safety Guidelines

After each use, wipe the steel parts clean with a soft, dry cloth and apply a thin coat of mineral oil or gun oil to prevent rust. Treat the leather edging and lacing cords periodically with beeswax leather conditioner. Store in a cool, dry place.

Safety Notice: Please note that this product is not protective armor suitable for high-impact full-contact combat sports such as Buhurt, Battle of the Nations, or similar. These roundels are intended for light historical combat, LARP, stage performance, and reenactment. For optimal comfort and shock absorption, we ALWAYS recommend wearing a suitable padded undergarment beneath the roundels, such as a padded coif, arming cap, or gambeson.

Recommended Accessories

To complete your 14th-century knightly outfit, we recommend pairing these roundels with a 14th-century padded gambeson, a 14th-century chainmail hauberk, and 14th-century leather arming laces.