Camail, mixed flat rings – wedge-shaped nails, 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.

The camail was frequently worn during the Middle Ages in combination with, for example, bascinets. Originals of camails such as this may be found amongst the collections at the Wallace Collection in London.

The camail is constructed from flat rings riveted with wedge rivets and round, butted rings, interwoven in a 4-in-1 pattern with an inner diameter of 8 mm. It may be attached to a helmet by means of a 4.5 cm wide leather edge at the top. The camail weighs approximately 2.95 kg.