Dark Drake Armour

Intimidation. It’s your main form of weaponry while facing the heroes, because it gives you full control. When your enemies fear you, they are more likely to make fatal mistakes.

Your Dark Drake Armour is as dark as your intentions, hardened by the evil magic your subjects provide. As you withdraw your sword, sizing up the quivering soldier who feels brave enough to stand against you, you begin to laugh. This will be a very brief fight--if you can even call it that. The little man looks barely strong enough to hold up his hammer.

DETAILS

This Complete Dark Drake Armour set includes Epic Armoury’s Dark Drake, Breastplate, Shoulderplates, Upper Legs, Arm Protection, Leg Protection, and Dark Warrior Backplate in order to fully gear your costume needs at a lower cost. Each armour piece is made from galvanized mild steel with rolled edges and top-grain leather straps and fittings, and is treated with Epic Armoury’s Epic Dark Metal coat to give the armour a rugged, antique finish. Built to withstand the abuse of a LARP or reenactment while keeping the user safe and comfortable, regular leather and metal armour care will make this armour set last for a long time!

Available in size Small, Medium, and Large.

Breastplate

A finely sculpted piece of armour that protects the front of the torso, chest and abdomen. Sculpted to fit the body and add structural strength to the steel, this galvanized steel piece has been decorated to mimic reptilian scales. The plate rests at the hips and has a V-shaped flange--or sword turner--that deflects blows from the weak spot where torso and leg armour fit together.

Shoulderplates

A set of two shoulder guards with spaulders, pauldrons and besagues. The spaulders have four scale-like ridged metal plates--or lames--overlaying one another to provide laminate protection of the upper arms. Overlaying the spaulder is a large pauldron, which provides additional protection to the shoulder joint and armpits. Besauges (small round convex metal shields) tied onto the spaulders with leather cords add further protection to the armpits. The shoulderplates are fastened with leather straps around the biceps and at the shoulder blade, attaching to a breast- and backplate.

Upper Legs

Tassets designed to protect the thigh and groin. The style is late medieval with rolled edged metal plates overlapping each other. Two sets of steel plates hang from the hips to cover the outer thighs. A third set of slimmer plates cover the groin area and provide some protection to the inner thighs. The set comes with a leather belt with suspenders to keep the piece in place.

Arm Protection

A set of steel vambraces designed to protect the forearms in combat. Rounded at the edges and decorated with scale-like ridges, these vambraces are designed to sit comfortably over the forearm, reaching from the elbow and narrowing at the wrists. Secure this armour with a top-grain leather strap below the elbow and another above the wrist.

Leg Protection

A set of metal ‘demi-greaves’ shaped to protect the shins. Rounded at the edges and decorated with scale-like ridges, these demi-greaves are designed to sit comfortably over the shins while leaving room for poleyns to cover the kneecaps. They reach from below the knee and narrow around the ankles, secured with a top-grain leather straps below the knee and another above the ankles.

Dark Warrior Backplate

A low-fantasy piece of armour that matches any Epic Armoury Breastplate, protecting the back and spine. Sculpted to fit the body and add structural strength to the steel, this steel riveted piece has been polished to a high-gloss finish to appeal to the elven and human knights in shining armour. At the lower rim, the plate has a small flange to deflect blows away from the lower part of the body.

HISTORY

• Plate armour became more popular as firearm technology became more prevalent during the 13th century
• Historically designed with sculpted ridges and overlapping plates to provide reinforced protection and to deflect attacks on a chaotic battlefield

• Made from 1mm/19 gauge thick mild steel
• -Rolled edges with no sharp edges
• Straps and fittings made from top-grain leather
• Hand made, welded pieces for maximum durability
• -Epic Armoury Dark oxidization resistant coating

Epic Armoury Dark products are specially treated to resist rust, but should still be treated with oil and kept in dry storage. All our metal armours contain leather parts that need regular maintenance using leather-care products to keep the leather from drying out.

Cleaning

If your armour does get wet, it is important that you dry it thoroughly as soon as possible.

After handling, wearing, or after six months of storage or display, all metal should be wiped with a clean cloth. Lightly oil the clean surface with a quality machine or mineral oil. Alternatively, you can apply a coating of wax to the entire surface of exposed metal. Allow the wax to dry for a couple of hours and then buff it lightly with a soft cloth.

Rust-Prevention and Removal

Store your armour is a dry place and check it every couple of months for signs of rust. If any is found, remove it by gently rubbing the affected spot with a mildly abrasive pad dipped in paste wax, oil, or water-displacing liquid.

Leather Straps and Fittings

Clean by removing dirt with a hard brush, then gently rub on leather soap with a clean, damp cloth until the leather appears clean. Remove soap with a separate damp cloth to wipe away any soap residue and then use a dry cloth to wipe away any remaining water from the leather.

You should always condition leather after cleaning, since the soap will have removed some of its natural oils. Treat the leather with mink oil, olive oil, or beeswax polish with a clean cloth, gently rubbing a small amount of oil or polish in circles into the leather. Allow the leather to soak in the oil before wiping the leather with a final clean cloth to remove any excess residue.