Fish - Scale Armor

[trentonian7]

I'm developing a very aquatic inspired culture and I've decided I want to create scale based armor, or at least ceremonial clothing. That being said, I don't mean scales of bronze or iron or another metal, but scales from actual sea life. I don't know that it's historically ever been done, but as a writer, I'm able to invent a fictional species of scaled life if needs be. I've recently read about a six foot long Amazonian fish with scales able to withstand the bite of a piranha; if an animal with similar scales were to be skinned, might those scales be made into functional armor? Obviously I can make the scales as strong as I want; I'm considering some version of a smaller than legend "sea serpent" that migrates near my culture for a few months a year. Another option I'm considering is turning the serpent's hide into leather, which seems more functional than taking just the scales and should keep the aesthetic I'm going for?

 

[TheKillerBs]

I'm not aware of any historical armour using fish scales, but I do know that there are some surviving pangolin scale armour shirts. It wouldn't be a stretch to imagine the scales of marine creatures being used similarly. Go with it if that's your preferred choice.

 

[Jerseydevil]

Stingray and shark skin is used to make leather boots, so I see no reason why it can't be used for clothing. I've never heard of fish scales being used for armor though. I would imagine that the scales would disintegrate if taken out of water for too long, so from a realism standpoint, I don't think it's practical. It's your world so go right ahead, though.

 

[Bruce McKnight]

I like the idea. Medieval scale armor was just a metal replica of the animal version, so why not use the natural version: creatures with hard scales.

Serpent skin seems more decorative to me, unless they had tougher skin than the normal kind.

Personally, I'm partial to gator skin.

 

[Lunaairis]

There are many company's that make salmon skin clothing. Actually i was listening to a pod cast a while ago that was talking about primitive people would use fish skin for clothing cause its easy to work.

Heres the clothing company
Here's another

Then here is some historic use of fish skin's for clothing, by the native Alaskans.

 

[trentonian7]

There are many company's that make salmon skin clothing. Actually i was listening to a pod cast a while ago that was talking about primitive people would use fish skin for clothing cause its easy to work.

Heres the clothing company
Here's another

Then here is some historic use of fish skin's for clothing, by the native Alaskans.

Sweet! I love that the scales are so distinct, especially in the commercial pieces. If I were to create a fish sufficiently large enough, might that fish's skin be made into leather and then boiled for armor?

 

[Queshire]

I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said, but if it's cultural thematics you're after having fish leather for day to day clothing and actual metal scale armor for battle seems like it could serve as a balance between thematics and realism?

 

[Lunaairis]

Sweet! I love that the scales are so distinct, especially in the commercial pieces. If I were to create a fish sufficiently large enough, might that fish's skin be made into leather and then boiled for armor?

I don't see why not.

 

[Laurence]

I would imagine that the scales would disintegrate if taken out of water for too long, so from a realism standpoint, I don't think it's practical. It's your world so go right ahead, though.

If durability out of water is an issue then consider an amphibian/water dwelling reptile?

 

[Boiled Water]

There is a swamp-dwelling society in one of my worlds that uses fish scale armor. The method by which they produce it is similar to Chinese paper armor. Scales are harvested from a large freshwater fish known as the Redbelly Gar and then laminated with a resin from a local tree. The scales and resin are layered and dried in the sun over and over until you have a thick plate of armor. Its not the best armor but its pretty tough, pliable, and more suitable for warm climates.

 

[undercoveramoebas]

I'm developing a very aquatic inspired culture and I've decided I want to create scale based armor, or at least ceremonial clothing. That being said, I don't mean scales of bronze or iron or another metal, but scales from actual sea life. I don't know that it's historically ever been done, but as a writer, I'm able to invent a fictional species of scaled life if needs be. I've recently read about a six foot long Amazonian fish with scales able to withstand the bite of a piranha; if an animal with similar scales were to be skinned, might those scales be made into functional armor? Obviously I can make the scales as strong as I want; I'm considering some version of a smaller than legend "sea serpent" that migrates near my culture for a few months a year. Another option I'm considering is turning the serpent's hide into leather, which seems more functional than taking just the scales and should keep the aesthetic I'm going for?

It depends on the kind of scales, the scale type best for armor is ganoid scales, fish like gar, bichirs, sturgeons, and arapaimas, the one you learned about have them. The alligator gar had scales strong enough that native american tribes used them for arrowheads, chesplates, etc. Ganoid scales are arranged together more like a jigsaw than the usual overlapping style. So yeah, armor made out of fish scales has real world bases.