Splint armour

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Kaiser Günther von Schwarzburg with splinted bracers and greaves

Splint armour, also referred to as splinted armour, is a form of armour primarily from Medieval Europe. The armour consists of strips of metal, or splints, which are attached to a fabric or leather backing or covering. Splint armour first appears in a Scythian grave from the 4th century BCE.^[1] It reappears in the Early Medieval era^[2] and again in the 14th century as part of transitional armour. Splint armour is related to scale armour but distinguished by long, narrow strips of metal.

The splints are narrow metal strips arranged longitudinally. The splints are pierced for riveting or sewing to a backing of straps, a foundation or a covering. Though no backing or covering survives they were made of either leather or sturdy fabric according to medieval accounts.

Splint armour seems to have never been a widely used form of armour or used as a primary form of armour. It was not used as a form of torso armour unless one considers the 'pairs of plates' or coat of plates to be in this category, as they are both segmented style armours. Depictions of splinted armour typically show it on the limbs of a person wearing mail, scale armour, a coat of plates or other plate harness.

The most common form of splint armour is for making greaves or vambraces. During the era of transitional armour splinted armour was used for the thighs (cuisses) and upper arms (rerebrace) as well.

A related armour and rather uncommon construction of armour is that of metal disks also riveted to a flexible backing. The disks have a diameter equal to that of splints and are set so close together as to form a nearly solid protection. This method appears on effigies for sabatons and alternated with splints on greaves.