PBS NOVA - Secrets of the Shining Knight (2017)

NOVA Secrets of the Shining Knight A knight in shining armour may sound like a character out of a storybook, but once upon a time, knighthood was serious business, and for countless medieval fighters, their armour was what stood between life and death. But what was it really like to live beneath the metal? How was that shining armour crafted, and how strong was it? Could it withstand impacts from the most lethal weapons of the day, including crossbows, muskets, and early guns? NOVA challenged blacksmith Ric Furrer and master armourer Jeff Wasson to recreate parts of an elite armour that was originally manufactured in the Royal Workshop founded by King Henry VIII. We trace their successes and setbacks from start to finish as they rediscover centuries-old metalworking secrets, then put their new armour to the ultimate test against a period musket.

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