The exhibition presents ring mail, an armor woven from iron rings, and a metal net to protect against cold weapons. No leather or fabric was attached to the ring mail. It was widely spread in the period of Kievan Rus and was used up to the end of the 17th century. Russian historical science believes that this armor is also mentioned in the Old Russian chronicles under the name “bronya”: brunja from the Gothic, bharaṇa — “defense” from Sanskrit. It was only in the era of Muscovite Russia that the modern name (kolchuga — from the Russian koltso — ring) spread.

By the early 1970s approximately, 112 ring mails of the 9th–13th centuries were found on the territory of Old Russia in about a hundred archaeological complexes. 40 of them were complete, the rest — in fragments. Some experts attribute the oldest find from a burial on the Oskol River in the Voronezh region to as early as the 8th century. The Persian encyclopedist Ibn-Rusta, who wrote in 903–913, noted that the “Slavic king” had “beautiful, durable and precious ring mail”.

According to the Soviet and Russian archaeologist Anatoly Kirpichnikov, in the second half of the 12th century Old Russian ring mail began to be made entirely of riveted rings, previously alternating with welded ones, and around the year 1200 flat rings appeared. In the 1470s, a new type of fine-weaved mail, called “pansyr”, appeared in Russia. In the 16th century the mail, consisting entirely of flat rings — baidana — became widespread. The Russian ring mail had short sleeves and reached approximately to the middle of the thigh. A small slit could be made in the front for convenience when walking and getting on a horse.

Sometimes mail was shortened at the back: it was made for the convenience of the rider. Ringed armor, or shirt, as it was called, effectively protected from chopping blows and from penetrating blows of some thrusting weapons. But not even the flexible ring armor could save from injuries and fractures. Often crushing weapons (maces, hammers) inflicted the strongest injuries without damaging the armor, so a soft padded jacket could be worn under the chain mail.