Curious cuirass

[cel7]

I have here the breastplate of a Bavarian or Prussian cuirass M1842 or 1845 I believe. Nothing special, I see them often. However, this one has something strange, the right shoulder piece is considerably narrower than the one for the left shoulder. This is certainly not standard, it has been adjusted afterwards. You can still see where they hammered the edge into shape and even a stress crack. The only reason I can think of for this is that the user was right-handed and found it helpful if he had a little more room to swing his weapon. Has anyone ever seen anything like this with standard cuirasses?

[kronckew]

The ding in the centre musta been a bit uncomfortable.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by cel7

... The only reason I can think of for this is that the user was right-handed and found it helpful if he had a little more room to swing his weapon...

Could be ... and should be, until a better diagnosis comes up.
On the other hand, that indentation in the center of the chest could be someone's later invention. Besides being so 'precisely' located, i wonder whether this shot test was still a procedure by the 19th. century.

[cel7]

Originally Posted by fernando

Could be ... and should be, until a better diagnosis comes up.
On the other hand, that indentation in the center of the chest could be someone's later invention. Besides being so 'precisely' located, i wonder whether this shot test was still a procedure by the 19th. century.

yes it was. I don't understand the point of it either, but the "German" cuirasses seem to have it all. More or less in the same place.

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by cel7

yes it was. I don't understand the point of it either, but the "German" cuirasses seem to have it all. More or less in the same place.

Same with the Swedish ones. Mine is end 17thC-beginning/18thC Carolingean era cavalry breast plate. Maybe the Swedes and the Germans took the term “bullet proof” just literally. In Sweden this was an official requirement to demonstrate the effectiveness of the kit. On the inside it’s marked with a crown and weight. There’s a small smith’s mark in the centre just below the collar. It’s very heavy at around 7kg.

[cel7]

Originally Posted by Victrix

Same with the Swedish ones. Mine is end 17thC-beginning/18thC Carolingean era cavalry breast plate. Maybe the Swedes and the Germans took the term “bullet proof” just literally. In Sweden this was an official requirement to demonstrate the effectiveness of the kit. On the inside it’s marked with a crown and weight. There’s a small smith’s mark in the centre just below the collar. It’s very heavy at around 7kg.

That's a very nice cuirass you have there!

[fernando]

Yes, a rather impressive example indeed. Vitrix, allow me to repost your picture in the upright position. Amazing how i was more used to see these shot strikes looking so deepening, and in your example its outline looks so shallow and circumscript, so to say ... even with inscriptions inserted. New to me, but no wonder; my experience with these is so scarce.


´.

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by cel7

That's a very nice cuirass you have there!

Thank you! Yours is nice too. Maybe it belonged to Kaiser Wilhelm? I understand he had something wrong with his arm.

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by cel7

I have here the breastplate of a Bavarian or Prussian cuirass M1842 or 1845 I believe. Nothing special, I see them often. However, this one has something strange, the right shoulder piece is considerably narrower than the one for the left shoulder. This is certainly not standard, it has been adjusted afterwards. You can still see where they hammered the edge into shape and even a stress crack. The only reason I can think of for this is that the user was right-handed and found it helpful if he had a little more room to swing his weapon. Has anyone ever seen anything like this with standard cuirasses?

I wonder if it was to help out someone who was expected to keep their right arm permanently or semi-permanently raised. a flag or standard bearer, trumpeter, or something like that.
Best wishes
Richard