Riveted Chainmail Aventail

Genuine Hand-Made Chainmail Shoulder Armor from House of Warfare

The sound of war horns blast through the fog and echo around the narrow pass. Before you can even draw your sword, the Norsemen are upon you. An enormous Dane lunges at you with his enormous two-handed axe, slamming it down into your shoulder, and you fall in a heap… It takes you a moment, gasping in the mud, to realize that you’ve not been split from neck to hip – your chainmail aventail, broken and burst, has saved your life. This time. 

Our Riveted Chainmail Aventail is a fantastic period-authentic representation of the kinds of chainmail shoulder armor that existed from around the 10th century through to the end of the High Middle Ages. It has been made for us by Delhi-based manufacturers House of Warfare, whose re-enactment and stage reproductions consistently blow us away in accuracy and quality. Our Riveted Chainmail Aventail would be a magnificent match for our historical Norse helmets, like our Norman Spangenhelm.

Currently available Riveted Chainmail Aventails: 

• Aluminum / Round Ring / 10mm / Round Rivet
• Mild Steel / Flat Ring / 8mm / Round Rivet
• Mild Steel / Flat Ring / 8mm / Wedge Rivet

Choosing the Right Chainmail Aventail

As you can see, we have a range of Riveted Chainmail Aventails available – this is so that we can cater to the widest range of wearers. Each configuration is suitable for different uses. So – which one is right for you?

Material

Our Riveted Chainmail Aventail is available made from either mild steel or aluminum. Mild steel is an excellent historical material, and is very robust – but it is generally heavier and more expensive than lightweight aluminum. If you expect to be doing simulated fighting on the LARP battlefield, or re-enactment battles, then mild steel is a must. Aluminum cannot withstand direct impacts, but it is an excellent choice for a purely aesthetic Riveted Chainmail Aventail.

Ring Type

Round rings are made from wire which is round in cross-section. Flat rings are stamped out from sheet metal. Historically speaking, round rings were used throughout most of the Early and High Medieval Era, with flat ring construction emerging with the improvement of iron production from the 14th century onward. In terms of function, they are very similar – some will swear that flat rings are stronger in contact with heavy late-medieval piercing weaponry – but if you’re expecting to be shot by a crossbow you’re probably a time traveler from medieval Genoa and have bigger problems. For a LARPer, the difference is largely aesthetic. 

Ring Size

Generally, a smaller ring size will give a stiffer, tighter weave that it more resilient. Our steel Riveted Chainmail Aventails thus use small rings, with larger rings used on our aesthetic aluminum chainmail aventails for sale. 

Rivet Type

Riveted chainmail rings are closed in two different ways: round rivets or wedge rivets. Round rivets are closed by flattening the ends of the ring, puncturing a hole through them, and inserting a short length of wire, which is then closed with a riveting tool. Wedge rivets are made similarly, except a wedge-shaped sliver of flat metal is used instead of a length of wire. Again, debate is endless – some contend that wedge rivets are more secure, whilst round rivets are more historically accurate to medieval chainmail. Again, unless you are participating in full-contact blood sports, the difference will be largely aesthetic.

So – broadly, if you’re looking for a lightweight, affordable chainmail that you don’t anticipate to use in stage fighting or simulated contact battles, then aluminum round ring-chainmail is excellent. However, for those seeking the feel and look of authentic medieval chainmail, or want more rugged maille that can be used in simulated combat, then our steel chainmail aventail for sale is for you.

Aventails Aplenty

The aventail – also known as ‘camail’ – is a curtain of maille to protect the neck and shoulders. The earliest chainmail aventails emerged in about the 8th or 9th century in Scandinavia, and they were attached directly to the helmet. The most complete surviving Norse helmet, known as the Gjermundbu helmet, dates from the second half of the 900s CE – and it has rivet attachments that indicate it once had an aventail. They were common throughout the High Medieval era, and are depicted in many contemporary artworks with surviving examples attached to the helmet with leather. They were made obsolete by the plate armor gorgets of the 15th century. 

Technical Specifications: 

Material: Mild Steel / Aluminum

Ring type: Round / Flat

Ring size: 8mm / 10mm

Rivet type: Round Rivet / Wedge Rivet

Configuration: 4-in-1

Finish: Mild Steel / Aluminum

Sizing:

Aluminum / Round Ring / 10mm / Round Rivet – https://www.larpdistribution.com/product/aluminum-chainmail-aventail-with-dagged-edges/

• Neck Circumference: 28 Inches
• Front Length: 13 Inches
• Collar Height: 2.5 Inches
• Shoulder to Shoulder: 26 Inches
• Weight: 2.55 Pounds

Mild Steel / Flat Ring / 8mm / Round Rivet – https://www.larpdistribution.com/product/flat-ring-round-riveted-chainmail-aventail-with-dagged-edges/

• Front Length: 12 Inches
• Back Length: 14 Inches
• Collar Width: 2.5 Inches
• Neck Circumference: 28 Inches
• Weight: 5.7 Pounds

Mild Steel / Flat Ring / 8mm / Wedge Rivet – https://www.larpdistribution.com/product/chainmail-aventail-with-dagged-edges/

• Neck Circumference: 17-19 Inches
• Front Length: 11 Inches
• Collar Height: 1.75 Inches
• Shoulder to Shoulder: 21 Inches
• Weight: 4.8 lbs