The Arte dei Corazzai e Spadai was one of the Arti Minori. This guild produced all the military equipment necessary for warfare and tournaments, categorizing their products into defensive and offensive weapons.
1. Armour (Defense)
The artisans crafted iron protection for every part of the body:
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Core Pieces: Breastplates (corazze), helmets, visors, and iron gauntlets.
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Leg Protection: Cuisses (thigh guards) and greaves (shin guards).
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Types: They produced standard armour, decorated luxury pieces, and heavy jousting armour (which could weigh up to 30 kg).
2. Edged Weapons (Offense)
Production covered every type of hand-to-hand weapon:
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Short and Medium Weapons: Swords, daggers, knives, and maces.
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Greatswords: Large two-handed swords, often as tall as a man.
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Polearms: Lances, pikes, and halberds (long weapons featuring a point and an axe head).
3. Accessories and Specialized Craftsmen
The Guild also included experts necessary for finishing the products:
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Burnishers (Brunitori): To polish and protect the metal.
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Decorators: To engrave and embellish luxury swords.
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Accessories: Military lanterns and brass flasks for gunpowder.
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Coat of Arms: A suit of armour and a sword on a white field.
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Patron Saint: Saint George.
