Samurai Shin Guard

Left, splint-style, samurai shin guard (shino-zuneate or shino-suneate), one of a pair. The base of the shin guard is of blue silk with blue brocade. The cloth is edged with green leather. Nine vertical, iron splints (shino) are painted with black lacquer and sewn to the cloth. The central splint has a ridge down the middle to fit over the shin bone, as well as a hinge toward the top to allow for slight articulation. The four inner splints are half-length to account for an unarmored panel (abumi-zure). The abumi-zure is a square of black cloth attached to the lower, inner section of the shin guard to prevent abrasion to and from the stirrups. A mesh of mail (kusari) between each splint connects one to another.

At the upper edge of the shin guard, a panel of brigandine (tateage) protects the knee. Hexagonal iron plates (kikko) are sandwiched between layers of fabric with a top layer of black cloth. Blue thread sewn through the kikko creates a pattern of blue squares where the armor plates sit. Burgundy thread is then sewn around the kikko to create a visible honeycomb pattern. A thick, blue, cloth tie is attached to the bottoms of the splints and is likely not original. The reverse is of undecorated blue cloth.