Convert Russian Archin (archin) to Nail (Cloth) (nail) instantly.
About these units
Russian Archin (archin)
The archin was a Russian unit of length equal to approximately 71.1 cm. Like many traditional European units, it was based on body proportions and was widely used in textile trade, tailoring, land measurement, and carpentry. Before Russia adopted the metric system in the early 20th century, the archin formed part of a larger system of customary units such as the sazhen and vershok. Merchants relied heavily on the archin when measuring cloth and other traded goods, making it central to the economic life of Imperial Russia. Today, the archin appears in historical documents, literature, and museum records. Understanding the archin is essential for historians studying Russian industrialization, daily commerce, and rural life before modernization efforts transformed the measurement landscape.
Nail (Cloth) (nail)
The nail is another small unit in cloth measurement, roughly 2.1 cm (0.83 inches), sometimes used interchangeably with the finger in English tailoring. The nail allowed fine precision in textile cutting, marking, and assembly. Its practical relevance lay in breaking down larger units like the yard or ell into smaller, manageable increments suitable for artisans. Though obsolete in modern industry, the nail continues to appear in historical accounts, tailoring manuals, and legal documents concerning cloth trade in England.