04-17-2015, 01:23 PM
Quote:Dan, was it you who said that scale's leather or fabric backing tends to degrade because it can't be washed, or how the scale's holes fray the thread they're sewn with?It is mainly the lacing that causes the problems. The same problems occur with both scale and lamellar. I like this passage from Sakakibara Kozan:
"When soaked with water the armour becomes very heavy and cannot be quickly dried; so that in summer it is oppressive and in winter liable to freeze. Moreover, no amount of washing will completely free the lacing from any mud or blood which may have penetrated it, and on long and distant campaigns it becomes evil-smelling and overrun by ants and lice, with consequent ill effects on the health of the wearer.”
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books