/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

>>2610638
Well, a smooth, shiny surface serves a practical purpose on armor by preventing rust, and medieval blacksmiths were really really good at what they did, so most brand-new medieval stuff probably wouldn't have looked much different from brand new modern stuff. But if you're looking for reference of gear that's seen a lot of use, try looking up full-contact fighting reenactment/sports like the Battle Of Nations or the. The weapons are blunt, the armor's a little thicker than it should be, and both are probably not as well-cared for as they would be if their owners' lives depended on them, but it's probably closer to what you want.

That said, there's a lot of different ways armor was finished, historically*, so this might be something where you want to do a little research for yourself.

*Aside from the mirror finish adored by museums, other practical ways to prevent rust include covering it in cloth, purposeful oxidization ("browned", or "blued" armor), some had the soot of the forge left on (sometimes with just parts polished to a mirror sheen - called black and white armor), some was painted...