Armourer facts for kids

A Marine armorer putting together a machine gun in the field

An exhibit at the Glenbow Museum showing a medieval armorer making plate armor

Weapons stored in an armory

An armourer is a skilled person who works with armour and weapons. Historically, an armourer was someone who made personal armour, especially the metal suits of plate armour worn by knights and soldiers. While many armourers were men, women also took on this important job. For example, Alice la Haubergere worked as an armourer in England in the early 1300s.

Today, the term "armourer" has several meanings. In the military and police, an armourer is a specialist who maintains and repairs small arms and other weapons systems. They often work in an armoury, similar to a civilian gunsmith. The word can also describe companies that add protective armour to vehicles like cars, boats, or aircraft. In sports like fencing, armourers fix the equipment used by fencers, such as foils, épées, and sabres. They also ensure safety gear and scoring machines work correctly. With a growing interest in historical battles, armourers also create reproduction armour and weapons for films, stage plays, and historical reenactment groups.

Historical Armourers: Crafting Protection

In the past, armourers were master craftspeople. They spent many hours shaping metal to create strong, protective suits of armour. This armour was vital for soldiers and knights in battle. Each piece had to fit perfectly and allow movement, which required great skill and precision.

Modern Military Armourers

Today, military armourers are highly trained technicians. They are essential for keeping soldiers safe and ready. Their main job is to inspect, maintain, and repair a wide range of weapons and related equipment.

Armourers in the United Kingdom

In the British Army, armourers are part of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). This is one of the oldest trades in the British Army. They work on many different weapon systems, from small rifles to larger equipment. Armourers are found in almost every type of front-line unit, supporting soldiers wherever they are. They are skilled in using hand tools and perform regular inspections to ensure all weapons are safe and working.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) also has its own armourers. These specialists handle aircraft weapons like bombs and missiles. They also maintain the small arms used by RAF personnel. RAF armourers undergo specific training to handle these complex systems.

Armourers in Ireland

Irish Army armourers are technicians responsible for all service weapons. This includes rifles, machine guns, pistols, and even larger equipment like mortars and vehicle turrets. They also look after personal gear such as helmets and respirators. Their training is extensive, often involving an apprenticeship in mechanical skills before specializing in ordnance. More advanced armourers, called Armament Artificers, handle heavy weapons like artillery.

Armourers in the United States

In the United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force, specific roles exist for maintaining weapons. In the United States Army, while there isn't a single "armorer" job title, soldiers with a supply background often fill armorer duties. They receive special training to maintain and inspect weapons at their units. More complex repairs are handled by Small Arms Repairers, who are highly skilled in ordnance maintenance.

During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force created a special group called Chemical Warfare Armourers. Their job was to safely handle and store important defensive materials that could protect Australia during wartime.

Armourers in Other Fields

The skills of an armourer are valuable outside the military too.

Film and Television

In movies and TV shows, armourers are responsible for all the prop weapons. They make sure these weapons look realistic but are safe for actors and crew to use. The head of this team is often called a weapons master.

Sports Fencing

Fencing armourers are crucial for the sport. They repair the specialized swords (foils, épées, sabres), safety equipment, and the electronic scoring systems used in competitions. They ensure everything is in top condition for fencers to compete safely and fairly.

Historical Reenactment

With a growing interest in history, many people enjoy historical reenactment. Armourers create accurate reproductions of historical armour and weapons for these events. This helps bring history to life and allows people to experience what it was like to wear and use such equipment. The HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) movement also relies on armourers to create safe and authentic gear for practicing traditional martial arts.

Famous Armourers

Throughout history, some armourers have become well-known for their unique skills or experiences.

• John R. Jewitt: An Englishman who was captured by the Nootka people in what is now British Columbia in the early 1800s. He wrote a memoir about his time there, which also shared details about the life and training of an armourer in his era.
• Gocha Laghidze: A Georgian-Dutch expert whose skills are highly valued. He is known for his work in restoring and rebuilding medieval armour and weaponry, helping to preserve historical artifacts.

See also

• List of established military terms