Buff leather coats were worn light cavalry in the 17th century.

Buff coats were made from the hides of cattle, treated but not tanned. They were then died a distinctive ochre yellow colour.

Leather buff coats offered good protection against sword cuts but not pikes or guns. They were however lighter than steel and worn with a bullet-proof breastplate allowed the harquebusier to be more flexible and mobile as a force.

This particular buff coat is English from about 1650 and came from the armoury at Littlecote House.

Marks: Inscribed inside the collar in brown ink “Ph. Mann(e)ring”; at the right of the waist, beneath the overlap is a red wax seal impression.

• Height: 90.0 cm (35.6 in)
• Width at armpit: 42.5 cm (16.8 in)
• Width at hem: 85.6 cm (33.8 in)
• Width of each skirt: 58.2 cm (22.4 in)
• Sleeve outside length: 56.8 cm (22.4 in)
• Weight: 2.6 kg ( 5 lb 12 oz )