Segmental plate armour first appears in the archaeological record at Kalkriese in Germany, worn by legionaries defeated in the Teutoburg Forest disaster of 9 AD, and it remained in Roman military use for roughly two centuries. The 1964 discovery of two cuirasses near Corbridge, close to Hadrian’s Wall, gave scholars their clearest picture yet of the construction technique — overlapping girth hoops of iron or steel, laced internally with leather thongs and fastened with hooks, buckles and hinges — and the Corbridge type remains the standard reference point for modern reconstruction. This reproduction is made from 18-gauge mild or stainless steel with brass fittings and vegetable-tanned leather strapping, adjustable to fit a 38 to 46-inch chest.
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Lorica Segmentata, Adjustable Fit (Corbridge Type)
The lorica segmentata is the most recognisable Roman military armour, its overlapping horizontal plates giving rise to the modern name meaning simply “armour in pieces.” Three main archaeological types are known — the early Kalkriese pattern from the site of the Varus disaster of 9 AD, the classic Corbridge type identified from a hoard found near Hadrian’s Wall in 1964, and the simplified, mass-produced Newstead pattern of the mid-2nd century onward. This reproduction follows the Corbridge form, the best-documented and most commonly reconstructed type, adjustable to fit chest sizes from 38 to 46 inches.
- Material: 18-gauge mild steel or stainless steel
- Fittings: Brass, vegetable-tanned leather strapping
- Fit: Adjustable, 38 to 46-inch chest
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