the byrnie could not withstand solid blows with the axe
Example sentencesExamples
That mailshirts and helms would have been widespread is shown by the fact that Ethelred commanded that every eight hides provide a helmet and byrnie.
The mail byrnie of the Vikings had been sufficient to give reasonable protection to the fighting man at close quarters from the sword-blows of his adversary.
Their byrnies were gleaming, the strong links of shining chain-mail chinked together.
They had shields and helms, but no byrnies, except a hundred men that were most lissom.
He said that his armour was almost useless, his byrnie broken, his helmet burst open.
In common we all share sword, helmet, byrnie, the trappings of war.