Marks on armour

This page illustrates some of the marks found on pieces in the Allen collection.

Some marks are clear, some are worn and many were not very well stamped in the first place. This can make them hard to identify or classify.

Armor can be marked for different reasons and at different times. Some of the different types of marks include:

City marks - approval marks for a guild (usually associated with a city)
Arsenal marks - marks added as part of an inventory to identify the owner of the item(s)
Armourer's marks - marks identifying the maker of the piece
Assembly marks - marks that help the armorer keep parts together during manufacture or to form the piece
Group/item marks - marks that help keep pieces that should go together together.

City marks

Nuremberg City

Marks on A-19, armourer and city — The mark on the right is the city mark for Nuremberg

Marks on A-19, armourer and city — The mark on the left is the city mark for Nuremberg

Marks on A-5, armourer and city — The mark on the left of the crease is the city mark for Nuremberg, it was probably originally a partial impression

Marks on A-74, Vienna arsenal and Nuremberg city — The mark on the right is the Nuremberg city/guild mark

Mark on A-293, Nuremberg city — Nuremberg city/guild mark, very crisp on one side but probably a partial impression originally

Mark on the right found on A-212, Nuremberg city — The mark on the right is the Nuremberg city/guild mark

Mark on A-318, Nuremberg city — A less common mark, found on the inside of pieces. Another Nuremberg city/guild mark

London Armourer's Company

Marks on A-119, armourer and city — The mark on the right - an A with a helmet - is the mark for the London Armourer's Company used during the Commonwealth era

Marks on A-65, armourer and city — The mark on the right - an A with a helmet - is the mark for the London Armourer's Company used during the Commonwealth era

Augsburg

Marks on A-272-breastplate, armourer and city — The mark on the right - a partial pinecone - is the city mark of Augsburg

Marks on A-272a, armourer and city — The mark on the left - a pinecone - is the city mark of Augsburg

Arsenal/Ownership marks

Marks on A-74, Vienna arsenal and Nuremberg city — The mark on the left is the Vienna city arsenal mark

Mark on A-183, James the II ownership mark — The mark of James II in the center

Mark on A-183, James the II ownership mark — The mark of James II on the left

Armourer's marks

Marks on A-15, armourer and city — The mark on the left is likely the mark of Martin Schneider

Marks on A-15, armourer and city — The mark on the right is likely the mark of Martin Schneider

Maker's mark on breastplate A-312 — A C surmounted with a star maker's mark

Marks on A-119, armourer and city — The mark on the left - SK - is the mark for the Sylvester Keene

Marks on A-272, armourer and city — The mark on the left is a currently unidentified armorer's mark - HR in a recessed rectangle

Marks on A-272a, armourer and city — The mark on the right is an armourer's mark - possibly WH

Mark on A-370-c, IW — Maker's mark - IW - possibly that of Joseph Whorewood or John Wright

Mark on A-321 — Maker's mark? Many marks of this character are found on Iberian pieces

Mark on the left found on A-212, Maker — Maker's mark

Mark on the right gauntlet of A-156, Maker — Maker's mark

Mark on the left gauntlet of A-156, Maker — Maker's mark

Mark on the left gauntlet of A-45, Maker — Maker's mark

Mark on the left gauntlet of A-45, Maker — Maker's mark

Assembly and manufacturing marks

Group/item marks

Marks on A-5, Solothurn inventory mark — x 126 stamped on the cheekplate of a burgonet to identify the piece in the Solothurn arsenal

This site last updated July. 2024