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One type of Bakhterets is shown on the
left. This was a type of pantsir orkol'chuga — mixed scale
or plate (lame) armor— 16th century. Such armor was called
"bakhterets" or "bekhterets" (from the Mongol
word "bekter" which denotes a type of armor).
"Bakhterets" were assembled of narrow oblong horizontal and
slightly curved iron plates, (lame) arranged in vertical rows. It could contain
1500 narrow lames in 12 to 21 rows.
The kalantar' (as shown on the right), was used
at Kulikovo in the 1380's. The armor was made in two halves, front and rear,
like a vest without sleeves, which were clasped together on the warrior's
shoulders and sides. Each half, from the neck to the waist, consisted of a
number of metallic plates arranged horizontally and fastened together by a
ringed mesh (kolchuga). These plates were larger than the ones used in
making the bakhterets. The so called "skirt", which was mail
ending at the knees, was attached at the waist. The kolontar's rear
plates were thinner and smaller than the front ones. When the kalantar'
was used as part of ceremonial armor, and was decorated with gold inlay, deep
decorative patterns and engravings, its price rose to almost 1000 roubles - an
astronomical amount for the 17th century. A Russian armor of the
kalantar' type was highly regarded by the royalty of the time including
neighbors of the Muscovite state.
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