Description
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Mail armor, or Hamata as the Romans called it, was a staple of their battlefield gear from the days of the Republic through the height of the Empire. This shirt is fashioned from countless tiny iron rings, each one carefully butted closed by hand and darkened to slow rust and reduce shine that might catch an enemy’s eye. The edges around the sleeves and neckline are bound with leather strips, not only to make the armor easier on the skin but also to strengthen the points most prone to wear. Removable studs along the surface serve as attachment points for additional pieces of armor or personal embellishments, much like a legionary would tailor his own equipment. Sized to fit up to about a 50-inch chest, this shirt balances protection with the mobility a soldier needed in the thick of combat.
Mail armor, or Hamata as the Romans called it, was a staple of their battlefield gear from the days of the Republic through the height of the Empire. This shirt is fashioned from countless tiny iron rings, each one carefully butted closed by hand and darkened to slow rust and reduce shine that might catch an enemy’s eye. The edges around the sleeves and neckline are bound with leather strips, not only to make the armor easier on the skin but also to strengthen the points most prone to wear. Removable studs along the surface serve as attachment points for additional pieces of armor or personal embellishments, much like a legionary would tailor his own equipment. Sized to fit up to about a 50-inch chest, this shirt balances protection with the mobility a soldier needed in the thick of combat.
- Weight: 18 lbs
Fun fact: Roman chainmail was so valued that soldiers often took their Hamata home after service, sometimes passing it down through generations as prized family heirlooms.
