Chinese paper armour (for knights)

Skybird · 11-21-11, 05:35 PM

There are several entries to be found on Google and Mythbuster at youtube, but no film on paper armour in action.

Today I saw a German program were they used ancient Chinese scriptures to replicate a body-armour made of paper. Essentially it is paper folded several times, and the poieces you then have get put together like European scaled armour.

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/haupt...verwundbarkeit

Go to 11:30, before it is just other stuff, and demonstrations of collisions with medieval plate armour. From 11:40 on they demonstrate how the armour is being made, and then tested. After the "fight" between the two stuntmen, they demonstrate the armour on a dummy, against a European (sharp) sword, a Longbow arrow with a Botkin head, and a spear they used against cavallry in those times.

Unbelievable, one needs to see it. The paper armour beats European plate armour hands down. Plus it is cooler and lighter.

I heared of these armours, but thought they were a myth.

"Rock, scissor, paper" maybe should be re-assessed...

kraznyi_oktjabr · 11-21-11, 05:54 PM

I saw American documentary (or was it British?

) where they tested those. Very cool pieces of warfare history, its unfortunate that those armours' design makes sure none are preserved to today.

Skybird · 11-21-11, 08:19 PM

But paper and water is no good combo. I wonder what they did when it rained. Oiling or waxing them?

CCIP · 11-21-11, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

But paper and water is no good combo. I wonder what they did when it rained. Oiling or waxing them?

Probably! Or perhaps there was a layer of something other than plain paper on top?

I'm impressed with the weight difference - I mean, paper can be heavy. But 3kg vs 28kg - speaks for itself.

TLAM Strike · 11-21-11, 09:59 PM

Measure...Countermeasure...

Takeda Shingen · 11-21-11, 10:00 PM

Wow, who knew? Great link, Sky! Just had my mind blown.

Torplexed · 11-21-11, 11:37 PM

Seems a bit ironic coming from the culture that gave us the term 'paper tiger.'

Skybird · 11-22-11, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Seems a bit ironic coming from the culture that gave us the term 'paper tiger.'

Now when the talking starts about "paper tanks", we are being warned!

11-21-11, 05:35 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,624 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Chinese paper armour (for knights) There are several entries to be found on Google and Mythbuster at youtube, but no film on paper armour in action. Today I saw a German program were they used ancient Chinese scriptures to replicate a body-armour made of paper. Essentially it is paper folded several times, and the poieces you then have get put together like European scaled armour. http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/haupt...verwundbarkeit Go to 11:30, before it is just other stuff, and demonstrations of collisions with medieval plate armour. From 11:40 on they demonstrate how the armour is being made, and then tested. After the "fight" between the two stuntmen, they demonstrate the armour on a dummy, against a European (sharp) sword, a Longbow arrow with a Botkin head, and a spear they used against cavallry in those times. Unbelievable, one needs to see it. The paper armour beats European plate armour hands down. Plus it is cooler and lighter. I heared of these armours, but thought they were a myth. "Rock, scissor, paper" maybe should be re-assessed... __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

11-21-11, 05:54 PM	#2
kraznyi_oktjabr Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Republiken Finland Posts: 1,803 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I saw American documentary (or was it British?) where they tested those. Very cool pieces of warfare history, its unfortunate that those armours' design makes sure none are preserved to today. __________________ You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. - Dr. House

11-21-11, 08:19 PM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,624 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	But paper and water is no good combo. I wonder what they did when it rained. Oiling or waxing them? __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

11-21-11, 09:59 PM	#5
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	Measure...Countermeasure... __________________

11-21-11, 11:37 PM	#7
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Seems a bit ironic coming from the culture that gave us the term 'paper tiger.' __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

11-21-11, 10:00 PM	#6
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Wow, who knew? Great link, Sky! Just had my mind blown.