Buff leather jerkin, 1640 (c)
This jerkin was worn by a harquebusier (light cavalryman) of the Civil War period. Sometimes it might be covered by back and breastplate armour to provide extra protection. Some troopers would also wear a leather bandolier over a shoulder, while others replaced the bandolier with a belt pouch. Horsemen would also wear tall leather riding boots. A leather jerkin like this was expensive, but it was lighter and more comfortable to wear than armour, and was good at stopping sword cuts.
NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1959-11-74-1
Copyright/Ownership
National Army Museum Copyright
Location
National Army Museum, Formation gallery
Object URL
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1959-11-74-1
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