Metallipanssari

Metallipanssari is the Finnish term for metal armor, the protective armor worn by soldiers to guard the body in combat. It refers to equipment made primarily from metal—commonly iron or steel—designed to cover the torso and often the shoulders, arms, and legs to resist blows, cuts, and punctures.

The word combines metalli (metal) and panssari (armor). It is used in Finnish-language historical and military writing to describe metal-based protection, as opposed to leather or textile armor.

Historically metallipanssari existed in several forms. Plate armor consists of rigid steel plates forged and riveted to a garment to cover the body while allowing articulation at the joints. Lamellar armor uses small metal plates laced together, while scale armor employs overlapping metal scales attached to a backing. Chain mail, if described in Finnish sources as metallipanssari, refers to interlinked metal rings used for protection. Plate armor became dominant in medieval Europe, with varied regional styles and extensive integration with helmets, gauntlets, and leg protection. Production involved forging, shaping, and riveting, with internal linings for comfort and mobility.

Across cultures, metal armor appeared in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, each with distinctive designs. The rise of gunpowder weapons and changes in warfare led to a decline of traditional metal armor in the early modern period, though ceremonial and parade armor persisted in many places. In contemporary contexts, metallipanssari is primarily of historical, ceremonial, and fiction interest; modern protective systems favor lighter composites and ceramic plates, though steel armor remains used in some ballistic applications and reenactment settings.