Camail, flat rings – wedge-shaped rivets, 8 mm

Product description

Around 1320, the camail emerged — a chainmail collar that was attached to the lower edge of the bascinet helmet and provided protection for the wearer’s neck. Camails featured a leather strip along the top edge, in which holes could be made to insert the vervelles (metal pins) of the helmet. A leather or waxed cord was then threaded through the vervelles, securing the camail like a collar beneath the helmet. The chainmail of these collars was often attached to a padded gambeson collar, offering additional neck protection and greater comfort. Camails were commonly worn until the mid-15th century.

This type of camail was frequently worn in the Middle Ages combined with for example bascinets. Originals of camails like this can be found at i.a. the Wallace Collection in London.

This camail is made of 1,6 mm wide flat rings with an inner diameter of 8 mm. They are woven four in one and subsequently riveted with wedge rivets. The camail can be attached to a helmet with a 4,5 cm wide leather edge at the upper side. It weighs approx. 2,6 kg.