If you fight heavy in the Society for Creative Anachronism, the SCA gorget pattern is one of the most important templates you will ever draft. A gorget is the armor that guards your throat, neck, and upper chest, and in SCA combat it must stand up to repeated rattan strikes while still letting you breathe, turn your head, and wear a helmet for hours. A good pattern turns a flat sheet of leather, plastic, or steel into a curved collar that feels like a natural extension of your body rather than a tin can strapped to your windpipe.
Many fighters start with a borrowed gorget or a quick online pattern, only to discover that small fit problems become large problems under a helm. The SCA gorget pattern you choose should account for your neck circumference, shoulder slope, chest depth, helm style, and the way you move when you fight. This guide breaks down the design logic, measurement process, material choices, and common variations so you can build a gorget that is safe, comfortable, and worthy of your kit.
SCA Gorget Pattern Fundamentals
At its core, an SCA gorget pattern is a two- or three-dimensional map of the neck and upper chest. It usually includes a front plate, a back plate, and sometimes side lames or a collar band that connects them. The pattern must cover the larynx, cervical vertebrae, and the top of the sternum while overlapping with the helmet or bevor so that no gap opens when you look up, duck, or get pressed from the side.
Unlike a costume collar, an SCA gorget pattern is shaped by combat regulations and biomechanics. The rigid material must resist penetration and transfer impact away from the throat. At the same time, the pattern cannot be so tall or tight that it locks your head in place. The best patterns find a balance between coverage, articulation, and clearance for the helmet, shoulders, and weapon arm.
Safety Requirements That Shape the Pattern
Before you draw a single line, read the current SCA Marshal handbook and your kingdom’s armor rules. Requirements can change, and local marshals may interpret neck protection differently depending on the activity. In general, heavy combat gorgets must cover the throat and cervical area with rigid material, often with padding or a shock-absorbing liner. Rapier and cut-and-thrust fighters may have different standards, but the pattern still needs to prevent gaps and keep the neck protected during focused attacks.
The pattern should be tested against the full range of head motion. Put on your helmet and gambeson, then look down, look up, tilt your head side to side, and rotate your neck. If the gorget digs into your collarbone, chokes you, or leaves a soft opening under the chin, the pattern needs adjustment. A safe gorget is not just thick; it is shaped so that the rigid surfaces stay between the weapon and your neck no matter how you move.
Historical Inspirations for Modern SCA Gorgets
Historical gorgets evolved from simple plate collars into articulated neck defenses with overlapping lames, decorative etching, and straps that tied under the arm. Fifteenth- and sixteenth-century examples often featured a raised collar, a front plate that dipped over the chest, and a back plate that protected the upper spine. SCA fighters borrow these silhouettes because they look right with late-medieval and Renaissance armor while still offering practical coverage.
A modern SCA gorget pattern rarely copies a museum piece exactly. Historical armor was fitted to a specific wearer, mounted on a horse, or worn over a different underlayer than a modern fighting tunic. The SCA version usually simplifies the lames, adds hidden padding, and adjusts the front plate so it works with a bargrill helmet. The goal is not perfect historical replication; it is a plausible, safe, and wearable neck defense that supports the rest of your impression.
Drafting and Fitting Your SCA Gorget Pattern
Drafting an SCA gorget pattern begins with the body, not the metal. You need accurate measurements of the neck, shoulders, and chest, plus a clear idea of how your helmet sits. A pattern that looks correct on paper can fail completely if it does not account for the way your helm’s lower edge overlaps your collarbone or how your shoulders rise when you lift a shield.
The smartest approach is to make a mockup from poster board, cardstock, or heavy craft foam before cutting expensive materials. Tape the mockup together, wear it under your helmet, and mark every pressure point. Adjust the front curve, side height, and back plate until the gorget feels stable but not restrictive. This mockup becomes the master pattern that you trace onto leather, plastic, or steel.
Essential Measurements and Materials
Start with a flexible measuring tape and record your neck circumference at the base, mid-neck, and just under the jaw. Measure the distance from your throat hollow to the top of your sternum, the width between your shoulder points, and the vertical distance from your collarbone to the lower edge of your helmet. If you wear a padded hood or arming collar, take measurements while wearing it, because the gorget must fit over that layer without pinching.
For the mockup, gather poster board, a pencil, a ruler, scissors, and tape. For the final piece, common choices include 16-gauge mild steel, 18-gauge stainless steel, heavy vegetable-tanned leather, or rigid plastic where kingdom rules permit. You will also need rivets, washers, buckles or straps, closed-cell foam or felt for padding, and a way to roll or pad the edges. Edge finishing is not cosmetic; sharp edges can cut through padding and become a safety problem.
Step-by-Step Pattern Drafting
Draw a baseline around your neck circumference, then add vertical lines for the front, back, and side seams. Shape the front plate so it rises over the throat and dips slightly over the sternum, and shape the back plate so it follows the curve of the cervical spine. If you want articulation, divide the side sections into overlapping lames and leave enough material for rivet holes and movement.
Transfer the adjusted mockup to your final material and cut slightly outside the line so you can grind or sand to fit. For metal, dish the plates gently to match the neck and chest contours, then roll or hem the edges. For leather, wet-form the piece over a mold or your mockup and let it dry before adding straps. Test the assembled gorget with your helmet, gambeson, and shield arm before you rivet everything permanently.
Common SCA Gorget Pattern Variations
There is no single perfect SCA gorget pattern. Fighters choose different variations based on their persona, budget, materials, and fighting style. Some prefer a solid collar that feels bombproof, while others want articulated lames that move with the neck. Some hide plastic under leather for lightness, and others invest in stainless steel for durability and shine.
The variation you choose affects how the pattern is drafted. A solid gorget needs a more precise initial fit because it cannot flex. An articulated gorget needs careful spacing between lames and enough overlap to prevent gaps. A leather gorget may need a thicker pattern to achieve rigidity, while a metal gorget can be thinner but must be shaped and padded to avoid pressure points.
Articulated Versus Solid Gorget Patterns
A solid gorget pattern is usually simpler to build and very strong. It consists of a front plate, a back plate, and a collar band, often riveted or stitched to a padded liner. The main advantage is security: there are fewer moving parts and fewer places for a rattan sword to catch. The drawback is reduced mobility, especially if the plates are too tall or the neck opening is too tight.
An articulated gorget pattern uses overlapping lames, similar to a historical collar, so the neck can bend and turn more naturally. Each lame slides over the next, and rivets or sliding rivets hold the assembly together. This style is more complex to pattern because every lame must overlap without binding. When built well, an articulated gorget can be remarkably comfortable, but it requires more maintenance and careful inspection before every practice.
Customizing the Pattern for Helm and Fighter
Your helmet dictates the upper limits of the gorget pattern. A close-fitting bascinet may sit low and leave little room for a tall collar, while a larger bargrill helm may need a higher back plate to cover the gap at the base of the skull. If you wear a bevor or an attached mail drape, the gorget should work with those layers rather than fight them. Measure the helmet’s lower edge and mark where it overlaps the gorget so you can avoid interference.
Body shape matters just as much as helm shape. Fighters with broader shoulders may need a wider back plate and a lower front dip, while fighters with longer necks may need extra vertical coverage. Left-handed and right-handed fighters may also prefer slightly different side heights depending on shield position and weapon guard. Adjust the pattern, make a new mockup, and repeat until the gorget feels like it disappears under the helmet instead of demanding attention during a bout.
With a well-fitted SCA gorget pattern, your neck protection becomes one less thing to think about when the fight gets close and fast. Start with a careful mockup, confirm the design with your local marshal, and choose materials that match your kingdom’s rules and your own comfort. Every refinement you make to the pattern is an investment in safer, more confident fighting, so take the time to measure twice, test thoroughly, and build a gorget that serves you for many battles to come.