What is a mail coif?
It is a piece of armour which is very similar to a hood, so we could call it a chainmail hood.
This kind of hood is totally made of intertwined rings which become an efficient defense against sharped weapons.
A mail coif in proper conditions could mean the difference between life and death, given that any every single stab could be lethal and it could also protect a warrior's chest depending on the model.
This part of the armour has been used since Middle Age, when Knights and Warriors took place in several battles. We can appreciate it often in a classic Templar Knight armour. Nowadays mail coif has lost its relevence, due to the fact that ir limitated movement capacity and range of vision of the person who wore it.
Samurai warriors wore a singular type of mail coif which one only let eyes not being covered.
Types of mail coif
There are very several types of mail coifs, they vary by historic age or people/nations who wore them. Medieval armour coif mail; it's the classic one, it covers the chest, shoulders and the forehead leaving the face uncovered. It was mainly used in Europe.
Gorget: It is a mail coif which only protects the throat, a part of the chest and shoulders.
It implies that a warrior's head was not covered. We could appreciate it in Nordic countries and Central Europe.
Japanese armour coif mail, it is the one which more protects however its use implies a huge lost of movement capacity and rang of vision. It mainly covered chest, shoulders and face but the eyes. It was very common in Asia, above all in Japan.
Mail coif's materials
Mail coifs were made of a huge variety of metas, such as:
- Steel
- Carbon Steel
- Stainless Steel
- Galvanised Steel
- Nickel Steel
Mail Coif's size
We can not classify mail coifs depending on their size, given that they only have a standard size.
That's why they can adapt theirselves to any head size and sometimes we put them under a soft pad to avoid someone's hair get wrapped into the chainmail rings.
If you wear a templar costume or a chainmail, probably, you will need a mail coif to complete your dressing. As we have mentionned before, all of our mail coifs have a standard size, they can be worn under a soft pad or a helmet.
If you have any further suggestions, you need more information or just want boy a mail coif; do not hesitate to contact us.
