Later polybian equites were all chainmail equipped. It was now a standard, quite mode affordable and procuded in large quantities. Equites were described by Polybius (History, book VI, the roman military institutions, 25): (resuming) In the past, these equites wore a simple tunic, giving them ease both to mount and dismount promptly, but rendered them weak in the closefight. More, their spears were poorely efficient : They were too thiny and fragile, and could be easily broken by hitting everything on the path or by the effect of the horse galloping vibrations(...). Furthermore, only one extremity was giving a spearhead, and once broken after the first blow, it was useless(...). Their shields were covered by beef skin and resembling our ceremonial pancakes(...). As barely supporting any schock, they rendered few services during the charges, and in bad weather, once the rain had softened the leather, these shields were useless(...). That's why by experience the roman horsemen saw themself less well equipped than the greek ones (by comparisons from "magna grecia" cavalry and pyrrhus formidabbe macedonian style heavy cavalry, as samnite, and especially campanian aristocratic cavalry). \n\nIn fact, roman conulare equites (the close bodyguard of the consul) was similary equipped as the triarii, havind a good aspis, strong pike, and bronze armor. Others equites were probably equipped with a small bronze plate or nothing. The 600 Camilian equites were in fact, successors of the 300 Royal "Celeres", an Etruscan style noble cavalry, thes 600 knights beeing appointed to normally two legions (6000 men without velites), as two legions were mustered each year, in these warring times. Later, according to livy, during the siege of Veies in 403 bc, they were exceptionally three classes in this equite ordo, the original 6 centuries of patrician equo publico, 12 additional plebeian equo publico centuries (which all could afford their own horse and equipment), and emeregency equo privato (volunteers receiving a pay). After the pyrrhus wars, and before the punic struggle, equites were more usually equipped with chainmails. This was slightly less efficient as bronze armors, but lighter and more flexible. Lightest Equites were in fact armed as tarentines, with javelins for close-combat, spear and sword. They used the greek-style kopis sword which was more suited for cavalry closefight, but turned to use the longer spatha later. The small rate of cavalry compared to infantry was compensate by socii "alae" containing 900 cavalrymen for the same number of infantry than in a roman legion. After the second punic war, the roman army arose to 21 permanent legions, and the original 600 equites were spread mostly between the equites centuries as officers and singulares bodyguards. The main part, around 6300 cavalrymen, were raised in the first class of volunteers plebeians.