Tolkien uses some references to “fish’s mail”(i.e. Since it is written in the Silmarillion that the Dwarves of Belegost were the first to contrive mail of linked rings, it is my opinion that any body armor used by the elves in Valinor would be scale armor. It was written that during Melkor’s stay in Valinor during his feigned repentance, he counseled the Noldor that it was good to go about bearing armor and weapons.
There are references to the Elves carrying weapons in Valinor (swords, spears and bows). This at least means weapons, but whether armor is included is not certain. In the ancient days when the Elves were making their journeys west to Valinor, the Vala Orome supplied them with arms to aid in the protection of their hosts from the creatures of Morgoth. The oldest descriptions of fighting equipment are not very detailed, but there are some clues. The average warrior’s equipment was completed with a sword, axe or spear, and usually a shield. Vambraces and greaves could also be added, and/or a coif of chainmail to the head and hose for the legs and feet. The predominant type of body armor was a coat of chain mail with a light helm (either conical or round). Since the topic at hand is armor and weapons, it can be here noted that in this matter the First to Third Ages of Middle Earth had a parallel to those later Ages. Note that this is only a broad comparison Middle Earth was not a “carbon copy” of those times ranging between 500-1100 AD, but was a unique creation unto itself. The “flavor” that Tolkien has depicted in his books is that of an Ancient World similar in many ways to what historians call “The Dark Ages” or “The Viking Age” in Earth’s more recent history. One of the aspects that is of great interest to me is the armor and weapons used by the warriors and armies of Middle Earth through It’s long history. The works of JRR Tolkien have inspired people to study the various aspects of the world he created.
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