Buff coat The European buff coat ( so - called because of its yellowish colour ) was an item of leather clothing worn by cavalry and officers during the 17th century , it also saw limited use by some infantry . It was often worn under armour . It was derived from the simple leather jerkin s worn by huntsmen and soldiers during the Tudor period , these in turn deriving from the arming doublet worn under full plate armour . Production , appearance and variation . Buff coats were made in sleeveless and sleeved variants and were garments typically crafted from cowhide or buffalo hide . The very finest buff coats were made of elk - hide . Buff leather was produced by a method of " oil tanning " ; following treatment with lime the hide was scraped to remove the outer layer which gave the finished product a matt surface . The hide then had cod oil worked into it in a process called " kicking " and was finally air - dried . The oiling and drying steps could be repeated . The finished leather attained its characteristic buff colour and was supple , durable and weather resistant . Due to the thickness of the leather , the seams of these coats were all butt - jointed , with hidden stitches . Extant examples are lined , either with coarse linen or silk . Many high quality examples show apparent fastenings of gold or silver tape at the front , however , these were merely decorative , the real fastenings being hidden hooks and eyes attached to the inside of the join . The extant collection of buff coats preserved at Littlecote House dating to 1649 - 1660 , contains examples with leather varying from 0 . 06 to 0 . 22 inches in thickness and entire coats weighing between 4 lb 4oz and 7 lb 8oz . Most surviving examples have sleeves , but a minority are sleeveless . Sleeves could be of a single thickness of leather from shoulder to wrist , or alternatively of a double thickness from the shoulder to the elbow , with a single thickness , to allow freedom of movement , to the wrist . All types had deep skirts attached , which protected the upper legs of the wearer . Some of the highest quality buff coats , typically shown in portraits of officers , had multiple stripes of gold or silver lace running lengthwise down , or hooped around , the sleeves . Use . The coat provided some protection against swords and other edged weapons , however , the buff coat was ineffective against firearms , possibly excepting spent bullets . The buff coat was worn under armour , where it helped to cushion the wearer from chafing or bruising by the armour ' s edges , but it also was worn as an alternative to wearing metallic armour . The finest quality buff coats were expensive , which may account for their widespread association with officers and other men of material substance . Together with the lobster - tailed pot helmet and cuirass it formed the basis of the equipment of the harquebusier , the typical type of cavalryman of the English Civil War and other European conflicts of the 17th century . Buff coats were issued to a minority of musketeers in the pike and shot formations to give them some protection during hand - to - hand combat . The buff coat was also worn by civilians requiring a protective and durable garment , such as huntsmen and men travelling on horseback .