Why did soldiers in the XVII century use buff coats (leather armour) instead of gambeson (padded armour)? Many people claim gambesons are cheaper and at least as protective. - Quora
![A suit of cuirassier's armour at the time of the Restoration, 1650. Cuirass, helmet, pauldrons and brassarts of blue steel, buff coat, gambado boots and spurs, sword in fr - Album alb4633959 A suit of cuirassier's armour at the time of the Restoration, 1650. Cuirass, helmet, pauldrons and brassarts of blue steel, buff coat, gambado boots and spurs, sword in fr - Album alb4633959](https://www.album-online.com/photos/prev/NDVlOTUwMA/album_alb4633959.jpg)
A suit of cuirassier's armour at the time of the Restoration, 1650. Cuirass, helmet, pauldrons and brassarts of blue steel, buff coat, gambado boots and spurs, sword in fr - Album alb4633959
Armor attributed to Richard Holden | Harquebusier's Armor of Pedro II, King of Portugal (reigned 1683–1706) with Buff Coat | British, London; buff coat, European | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
![Buff coats, worn under armor by cavalry and officers, could stop a sword cut or even a musket or pistol balls | The Vintage News Buff coats, worn under armor by cavalry and officers, could stop a sword cut or even a musket or pistol balls | The Vintage News](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2016/12/lead-856-640x320.jpg)
Buff coats, worn under armor by cavalry and officers, could stop a sword cut or even a musket or pistol balls | The Vintage News
![John McCafferty on X: "Buff Coat European 17th century This these leather coats provided pretty effective protection against sword cuts. (Met Museum) https://t.co/0NuPkr6XWs" / X John McCafferty on X: "Buff Coat European 17th century This these leather coats provided pretty effective protection against sword cuts. (Met Museum) https://t.co/0NuPkr6XWs" / X](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F_2w0SaWwAA17b7.jpg:large)