T-31 Prototype Abdomen, Groin, and Thigh Armor
Armorer Leonard Heinrich German
Designer Stephen V. Grancsay American
Armorer The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Armor Workshop American
Not on view
Comprised of eight steel plates, unpolished and rough from the hammer, covering the lower abdomen, crotch, and top of the front of the right thigh. The plates consist of hour horizontal lames, a shaped lame at the base of the crotch, and three plates over the upper thigh. The plates are joined by rivets. Additionally, there are two vertically placed internal canvas straps: one running down the center of the abdomen and the other in the center of the thigh area. There is a canvas strap and buckle at the base of the lower thigh lame for a strap that would encircle the thigh. There are three equally spaced holes in the center lame from the top. Each hole is lined on the inside with a grommet.
A cloth tag attached to the top of the canvas strap is labelled in pencil: "Abdomen, groin + thigh defense/ T-31/ developed by Mr. Grancsay of Met Art Museum/ 6-24-44." A paper tag attached to the buckle at the base of the thigh reads: "GROIN/ ENGINEERS," The armor was probably made by Leonard Heinrich in the Armor Shop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art under the direction of Stephen V. Granscay. See the related knee defense and greave, T-29, apparently made to be worn with this armor.
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