Armorsmiths

Armorsmiths are metalworkers who design, forge, shape, and assemble protective armor for people and animals. They produced wearable defense for knights and soldiers, as well as armor for horses, ceremonial units, and guards. The term also covers specialists who fit, rivet, and maintain armor. In some traditions, the craft is called armorer or armourer, and the practitioner may also maintain weapons and related equipment.

Armorsmithing has ancient roots in metallurgy. In medieval Europe, masters forged plate and mail in workshop settings, often within guilds. Plate armor matured in the 15th and 16th centuries, combining tempered steel with leather and textiles. With gunpowder's spread, full suits declined, but armor persisted in cavalry harnesses, ceremonial regalia, and protective pieces for miners and soldiers. Other regions developed notable armors as well, including Japanese tatami do-maru and lamellar, as well as Ottoman and Indian forms.

Techniques include forging, heat treatment, bending and shaping plates, riveting, and leatherwork, with some armor combining mail and plate. Today, armorsmiths work in reenactment, film and theater prop shops, boutique armor studios, or protective-equipment manufacturers. Modern personal armor typically relies on composites such as ceramics, reinforced steels, and fibers (e.g., Kevlar or UHMWPE) rather than traditional steel. Responsibilities commonly include repair, fitting, testing, and ensuring safety and mobility for the wearer.