Iron

• Iron was one of the most common metals used in making suits of armor. Iron was used because it has excellent and versatile properties for construction. Iron is strong and malleable, making it easy for blacksmiths to make armor with it. Iron has downsides, however. Iron is heavy and has a propensity to rust when exposed to excessive moisture. Iron has a shiny white, bright color.
  
  

Steel

• Steel was another frequently used choice for metal in armor construction. Steel was used due to its excellent malleability and durability. This allowed armor makers to form steel into the requisite shapes and curves in a suit of armor, while its durability and strength yielded excellent protection for knights. Steel has a bright silver gray color.
  
  

Leather

• Leather was used in armor making due to its beneficial material properties. Some armor was made entirely of leather and very little metal, while metal armor suits used leather for interior components, straps and the like. Leather has a high tensile strength, resists tearing, resists puncturing, and has good insulation properties. Leather stays warm in winter and cool in summer, which helped keep knights comfortable. Leather also resisted fire and mildew, and could be easy molded to create shapes needed in armor making.
  
  

Brass

• Brass was another metal used in armor making. Brass was generally used for decorative or minor uses on a suit of armor, and not as the primary construction metal. Brass was used and prized for its strength, resistance to wear, hardness, color, and resistance to corrosion. Brass also had good malleability, which made it easy to shape. Brass was used on armor for decorative components or details. Brass had a range of attractive colors, ranging from red to yellow and gold and silver.