The Museum of the History of the Resort City of Sochi presents afe (or afekh) — the traditional Adyghe chain mail. Such armor was an essential part of the weaponry of a noble Adyghe warrior.

Foreign travelers noted that the Adyghe would place their chain mail under their heads when going to bed so that they could put it on quickly in case of an attack. Making chain mail required considerable blacksmithing skills, as each ring was riveted by hand. The slightest mistake could lead to a rupture, resulting in a hole that would form where six rings had been. The edges of the wire used to create the rings were flattened, with holes made in them. A conical spike was attached to one edge, and a second hole was placed at its tip and flattened. This method helped make a rivet head on just one side, while the other side remained smooth to avoid tearing clothing. Riveting was accomplished through hot welding, a process that demanded great experience and knowledge. The rings were riveted while hot, and the appropriate temperature of the metal had to be judged by eye, which is why the work was carried out in a dark forge. If the metal was too cold or too hot, the chain mail could break. The length was designed to reach the middle of the thigh, with sleeves extending to the elbow. Chain mail was worn over a thick padded jacket to absorb the impact of arrows (and later bullets) that did not penetrate the armor, preventing injuries such as broken ribs. It also provided protection against the effects of metal heated by the sun or cooled by winter cold. For the same reasons, chain mail was often worn under outer garments.

Chain mail, along with other parts of the protective armament, was in use until the mid-19th century, although its protection functions had been reduced by then. The value of chain mail was so high that it was one of the obligatory items included in the kalym (bride money) paid for a bride from a noble family. The older the armor, the more valuable it was. There was a legend that in ancient times chain mail was made by takhkhuts — maidens who could endow the armor with special strength and protective power, surpassing the work of modern craftsmen.