Authenticity Officer’s Photo Guide – Examples of Authentic Kit

The primary garment is the tunic. Its skirt comes to the knee cap or just above and it’s always worn tight to the forearm and wrist. Neck-holes are either round or oval and often have a keyhole opening. Most tunics are undecorated.

Many men cover their hair with either a linen coif. Straw hats and hoods are also worn by working men.

Long belts become fashionable, knotted or buckled at the waist and long enough to hang past the knees.

Leg coverings, if worn at all, should be tight to the leg and are footed hose and braies. The leg bindings of the previous centuries are no longer worn.

Shoes or low boots are of the simple, two-part turn shoe construction. Most are low, coming to the ankle or below. Some wear boots that are slightly higher, coming up to the mid-calf and closed by either 3 laces or by toggles.

The ring style annular brooch is now almost worn exclusively having replaced the disc brooches of the previous centuries.

Weapons and armour are generally plain and utilitarian being mass produced. The third crusade at the end of the 12^th century sees the introduction of the fully armoured knight.

In general warriors continued to use the same military equipment as they had in the years before, except that the kite shield is now used by all.

Knights on the other hand have access to the latest military equipment. Full mail shirts designed to cover the entire body including mailed mittens and foot covers. They wear full-faced helms and carry either a kite or heater shaped shield. Some are starting to wear simple plain surcoats over their armour.

There are a number of new types of weapons, including large axes and maces.

Mounted cavalry is the norm for knights and professional warriors. Archery is used in combat both by long bows and crossbows. Most arrows are bodkins, designed to pierce mail-shirts.