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
![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.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
![Ballistic protective properties of material representative of English civil war buff-coats and clothing | SpringerLink Ballistic protective properties of material representative of English civil war buff-coats and clothing | SpringerLink](https://media.springernature.com/lw685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00414-020-02378-x/MediaObjects/414_2020_2378_Fig2_HTML.jpg)