What did a mail coif really look and work like? -- myArmoury.com

Sander Marechal

With my gambeson ordered, it's time to move my attention to my next piece of kit: A nasal or kettle helmet. But since it needs to go over a mail coif I'll need to look at those first.

I have been looking at several coifs and at pictures from e.g. the Morgan bible, but it doesn't rhyme for me. Pretty much all the reproduction coifs I found are very loose fitting garments that leave a lot of the face exposed. I've attached one such example. Another example is the coif worn by Margot in the girl armour thread. But when I look at e.g. the Morgan Bible I see much closer fitting coifs that leave a lot less of the face exposed.

So, what did those kinds of coifs really look like? Did they have ventails like the coifs that KoA sells? It's hard to tell from the Morgan Bible pictures. How do they fit into them? I've read a remark somewhere that there was a slit in the back so that it would fit over their head. When it was on, they would close the slit with a leather lace (I don't remember where I read that though). Is that correct? Any pictures from extant coifs that have this?

I am also wondering how a coif would protect you. I intend to wear a helmet over mine and one of these padded arming caps underneath. But I think a blow to the side of the head or to the neck would still kill you outright. So, what value did a coif add over a helmet or secret? Or did they wear something else beneath it than just a standard arming cap?

My plan so far is to get a standard coif and tailor it into something more realistic. But I need to know what to make of it.

Thanks in advance!

Randall Moffett · Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 7:55 am Post subject:

Good question. OK. Before you get the mail coif you need the padded hood or coif, or whatever you wish to call it. Most padded coifs for knights appear just to cover the head but the images from the Mac Bible indicate clearly it was padded. So get one of these first. You can likely make it on your own fairly easily. I think there is on on the Armour Archive patern gallery. Here is this as well.

http://www.virtue.to/articles/coif.html

Remember to leave extra fabric as padding will take up some space.

Next step is that mail, and yes for the most part they should be much tighter on the head than is often shown, but make sure you have padding. Many times it is very loose because they lack this. There are three possible solutions I have seen: Have it just tight enough to get on, have it lace/tie/buckle on the back or lace/tie on the front.

I made my 14th century coif fit by cutting a few rows along the back and reriveting a row shut. Looking back it may have been easier to just lace it close but I am very happy with how tight it is.

Good luck with that!

RPM

Sander Marechal · Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 8:55 am Post subject:

Felix R. · Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 9:06 am Post subject:

This is a good link to get an idea of the fitting of maile armour. And with the pattern for the coif you will most probably get something tight fitting. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/trevor.barker/fa....htm#sect4
When I look at the Italian knight picture attached, the coif is really snug. You will make this work only buy closing it in the neck. This will be the type of coif I will do sometime.

When you say a direct blow to the neck will kill you outright. Yes, I could imagine it would be so. But on the other hand, any glancing blow will let you get away with not too much harm. Remember the close neck coif will give you good movability, while still saving the very vulnerable neck region, considering all the blood vessels and nerves.

Sander Marechal · Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 9:15 am Post subject:

Quinn W. · Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject:

I had been wondering about this, too. I just purchased my first mail coif and noticed that the fit could prove problematic in combat, as I have to occasionally readjust. Lacing it could definitely help that problem, as could simply using more padding than I currently do beneath it. Thanks for the help!

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 7:41 pm Post subject:

Under the coif one can wear a Cervelière that was a very tight fitting steel skull cap.

These where sometimes worn over the coif also and evolved into the Bascinet first worn under the Great Barrel Helm and with a visor worn instead of the Great Barrel helm.

Cervelières also are similar or related to later " Secrètes " ( French for Secret ) that could be worn under a soft hat so that one's head would be secretly protected. Oh, a maille shirt worn under civilian clothes could also be called a Secrète.

Size opening in the coif:

A) Wide opening are convenient as the coif can be pushed back over the back of the neck to cool down but the opening has to be bigger for this to be possible. Some form of closing, maybe simply lacing through the links below the chin would seem to be an easy fix to close the overlarge opening.

B) Close opening that must be removed completely to cool down. Might be more a problem with integral to a hauberk as then the whole Hauberk would have to be taken off for temporary cooling.

Historically I'm not sure if both options where used or both used for all periods or is it a Hollywood thing where a Coif that can be worn without hiding most of the face is preferred to not hide the actor's face ?

Sander Marechal · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 1:27 am Post subject:

Pekka Pasanen · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 7:25 am Post subject:

One original from Gotland:

www.actakonservering.se/acta/KonserveringTofta.html#grid

Randall Moffett · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 7:32 am Post subject:

Sander,

Something I should throw in before you decide on what to do that may or may not be important. Of the mail coifs remaining all but I think but one are solid links without lacing. I think off the top of my head the mail coif in the royal museum of scotland, is the only medieval example that has lacing.

RPM

David Eason · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 8:03 am Post subject:

My understanding of chainmail is that it requires freedom of movement in order to work properly. I've heard that hanging chain especially, acts like water - the higher the velocity the greater the stopping power. You can put your hand through water with ease, but jump off a high bridge and it can act like concrete.

Thus, I always thought loose coifs and aventails were a form of protection against arrows. A gorget would be worn beneath for real protection for that most vulnerable area.

Steven H

Craig Shackleton · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 11:54 am Post subject:

Years ago I used to fight with a different group than I do now. We weren't allowed to target the head, but helmets were required. I wore a simple nasal helm with a butted spring-steel coif that I made,and just a leather liner with no padding.

A few times I was hit on the head under unusual circumstances. Obviously my info is not scientific, but I very much felt that the coif gave me significant cushioning. I could literally feel the impact being dispersed along the weave of the links, as well as the links compressing and pulling together around the point of impact, absorbing some of the force.

Obviously the outer helmet helped with the effect, but any time I've been hit on just 'plate' armour with enough force to feel it, I could feel the isolated point of impact more clearly, sometimes with the energy dispersed to the specific points where the armour had the most contact with/support from the body.

I realize this just my unscientific anecdote, but I truly believe that the combination of coif and helmet has defensive value greater than the sum of its parts.

Allan Senefelder · Industry Professional

Pekka, is that the coiffe discovered 6 or seven years ago in if I recall a church tower?

János Sibinger · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 12:12 pm Post subject: Some pictures...

Greetings!
Recently I am working on a coif, and I found a picture (please find it included) wich shows interesting, -and for me- a bit confusing detail. As you can see the lower part of the coif, with the mail collar (I don't know the correct word for it) is being attached to the upper parts by means of laces. The string, or thin strap seems to go all around the head, over the mail on the sides, than at the forehead it goes under the upper part of the coif.
I hope that I was able to help.
It is interesting to note in the Morgan Bible that the discussed pieces seems to be separated diagonally. This might be the representation of the occasionally occurring line of brass rings, by wich the coif was attached to the padding. The brass or bronze rings were mentioned in the book "Armour from the Battle of Wisby 1361" It was used in the cases of gauntlets too, where the outer tissue of mail was attached to the gloves. The softer and stainless metals might have its benefits from the cheaper iron.
Best wishes!
John

Timo Nieminen · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 3:24 pm Post subject:

Sander Marechal · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 3:56 pm Post subject:

@Pekka: Interesting piece. It seems reasonably well fitted and doesn't show much face, but as far as I can see it's all one piece. No ventail.

Pekka Pasanen · Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 8:46 pm Post subject:

Allan, it's the same.

No ventail, but it's a typical style for that period. Many of the coifs found in Wisby are tailored in similar way.

Craig Shackleton · Posted: Tue 06 Apr, 2010 4:49 am Post subject:

What are the two ties on the coif from Gotland? Are they modern additions? It almost looks like they are intended to tie the back flap of the coif across the face, which is not inconsistent with some of the other images. But to me it doesn't look like there is enough to reach that far. Also, it does look to me like the ties must be newer than the coif itself.

I'm also curious that the lower part of the coif seems to be front and rear flaps, rather than an expanding circle, leaving the shoulders uncovered. Is that the design, or just the way the piece deteriorated over time?

It's a really interesting piece.

Allan Senefelder · Industry Professional