Shoulders

Spaulders are a popular and intelligent choice for a beginner's first plate armour experiments. They provide a valuable exercise in basic hammerwork, finishing, and assembly that can be done with relatively few tools (as plate armour goes) and with relatively little time (in terms of a first-timer's efforts). The techniques learned here can be applied to many other more complicated pieces. What is presented here is a generic pattern that does not have strict historical provenance, but one that is functional and justifiable in many cases.

Photo and pattern for a pauldron based on the statue of 'Orlando' in Dubrovnik by Bonino of Milan from 1413.

Photos & pattern.