Pair of Legs - American Experimental Model 1917 20th c.
Consisting of cuisses, knee cops and greaves. Cuisses and greaves nicely formed to the body. Plain rolls at the top of the cuisses and narrow flare at the ankle of the greaves. Knees crudely shaped to the knee and with simple wings. Plates connected with leather strips and with straps to secure the plates to the leg (one in the cuisses, one at the knee and two in the greaves). Single grometted hole at the top center of each cuisse.
These are made of what appears to be raw hot rolled steel. The roll at the top is formed by a jenny. The leather straps are very modern in style but also very professional. The pieces do not have any decorative details that are typical of work for theatrical use. The professional leatherwork is not typical of early reenactment work. The combination of form and leatherwork compares best to some early prototype work for modern body armour. the right cuisse is labeled 2009.6.94 internally with red/orange paint.
My initial investigation did not find anything identical, but further study has been more fruitful. There is a very similar pair described as "American experimental model 1917" illustrated in figure 210 and described on pages 263 and 264 of "Helmets and Body Armor in Modern Warfare" by Bashford Dean reprinted 1977 which includes the World War II supplement. The described pair was part of 50 pairs that were pressed in ballistic steel and forwarded to H.A.E.F. for trial. The trials were not positive and no more experiments were performed. Tests performed on the models showed that they would resist a revolver bullet at 10 feet. They were manufactured by Messrs. W.H. Mullins Co. of Salem Ohio. The present example appears to have plates of identical form to the ones illustrated, but the strap arrangement is different from the description. The only visible difference is the grommet at the top of the cuisse for suspension from a belt - the described set have a strap. The description also indicates that the cuisses had 2 straps.
I have found identical items in the WAM - 2014.1176.10 and 2014.1176.11. They also include the same grommet and bifurcated cuisse strap. The WAM description of their items identifies them as the same as the items in Dean's book. They include provenance back to a sale from the Middletown Ordnance Reserve Department (Middletown, PA) on 19 December 1922.
If you have any questions, please send them to Wade Allen
This site last updated Mon Sep 14 10:17:03 EDT 2026