Ancient chainmail

[Megas Methuselah]

That is nice, man! Do you plan on adding that half-skirt part that protects the upper legs?

[Vasiliyi]

I haven't decided on that yet. That might be a later addition. This is what I plan it too look like.

[Megas Methuselah]

By half-skirt, I meant the area of the chainmail below the belt, as shown in your pic. I can't wait to see how this turns out, bro.

[Vasiliyi]

Well then, there definitely be be a skirt. Its long enough, it just doesn't stretch when its layed down like that.

[Vasiliyi]

Well, I just got back into making my maille, and i want to warn you guys not to work on it all day. Having the flu and being bored is not a good excuse to make it all day. Your hands hurt really bad the next day.

Just a pointer, take a break.

[Vasiliyi]

Almost done, All I have left is the strip thats under my armpit. I stuffed a pillow in a shirt and then put the maille on.



A close up to what it looks like.


Its not that heavy. Id say its about 20 lbs. Im gonna weigh it one of these days.

[J.R.M]

My GOD!!, amazing job Vasiliyi

[a completely inoffensive name]

How many rings are in that would you say? Say....over 9000?

[Megas Methuselah]

You gonna double-layer it?

[A Very Super Market]

Yes, let us talk about cataphracts instead.

They are shiny, and are on horses. Discuss.

[satalexton]

i'm ashamed, though I make tinier rings, mine is only the size of a keyboard D=

[Vasiliyi]

That's sad avsm. If u actually got to see it and see what it feels like on your shoulders, u might actually chang your mind. That said, I don't think ill be double layering it. Too much work and twice as expensive. I did do kingsmaille on the shouldre pads to make them stronger. I still have atleast 10 hours of work to do though, but this is definatly better than before.

[Power2the1]

Whats the ID on your mail? 1/4?

[TruePraetorian]

Very nice looking maille.

I too spent countless hours a few months back making myself some Lorica Hamata. Only problem was about half way through I began researching a little more..big mistake. Found out that butted maille was basically non-existant in antiquity as it was largely ineffective in battle. The rings aren't sealed together and therefore break apart when they are struck, or even when moving.

Instead, at least for the romans, half of the rings were punched like a washer. The other half of the rings were riveted together. This made the maille virtually impossible to break.

So, craving historical accuracy I gave up on my half-done maille and won't be making another suit until I can purchase some plate metal. Of course then I need something to punch the rings out with..oh and I also need a hole puncher to punch the riveted rings..and need to make a riveter out of pliars...

Overall it should be worth it though, as most LARP groups purchase hand-made authentic maille over butted maille due to the nature of the sport for between 400$-800$.

[teh1337tim]

very nice...indeed. Whenever you get to post pictures do it.


Side note..... what do you call chainmail made of paper clips?
I bought 50k paper clips from dollar tree to do a side project.. haha :D

[Vasiliyi]

Very nice looking maille.

I too spent countless hours a few months back making myself some Lorica Hamata. Only problem was about half way through I began researching a little more..big mistake. Found out that butted maille was basically non-existant in antiquity as it was largely ineffective in battle. The rings aren't sealed together and therefore break apart when they are struck, or even when moving.

Instead, at least for the romans, half of the rings were punched like a washer. The other half of the rings were riveted together. This made the maille virtually impossible to break.

So, craving historical accuracy I gave up on my half-done maille and won't be making another suit until I can purchase some plate metal. Of course then I need something to punch the rings out with..oh and I also need a hole puncher to punch the riveted rings..and need to make a riveter out of pliars...

Overall it should be worth it though, as most LARP groups purchase hand-made authentic maille over butted maille due to the nature of the sport for between 400$-800$.

Bah, i know its not authentic, im ok with that. The weight is similar, and so is the feel. I dont plan on using it in combat, if your asking that. Personally, the experience of making it has really taught me a lot and I think thats what counts. I might make another one some day, Roman style with rivets and washers, but thats far in the future.

very nice...indeed. Whenever you get to post pictures do it.


Side note..... what do you call chainmail made of paper clips?
I bought 50k paper clips from dollar tree to do a side project.. haha :D

Thank you, perhaps you could call it Chain mail lite?

Whats the ID on your mail? 1/4?

By ID you mean size of the rings, right?

[Power2the1]

Oh, sorry. I was referring to the interior diameter (also known as the ID of the rings). Its the average size of the ring once its butted or riveted.

[TruePraetorian]

Bah, i know its not authentic, im ok with that. The weight is similar, and so is the feel. I dont plan on using it in combat, if your asking that. Personally, the experience of making it has really taught me a lot and I think thats what counts. I might make another one some day, Roman style with rivets and washers, but thats far in the future.

Perhaps you and I can duel after we finish our battle readys

[Vasiliyi]

Oh, sorry. I was referring to the interior diameter (also known as the ID of the rings). Its the average size of the ring once its butted or riveted.

Id say its a little more than 1/4 inch.

Perhaps you and I can duel after we finish our battle readys

I shall never turn down a duel, I accept.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Just stumbled on this and saw the photki. Stunning work, Vasiliyi, stunning work. How skilled do you have to be? The amount of work is irrelevant, but skill is. I may be patient and relatively hardworking, but definitely not skilled with tools. I cannot help but wish I could do the same nevertheless.

[Vasiliyi]

Just stumbled on this and saw the photki. Stunning work, Vasiliyi, stunning work. How skilled do you have to be? The amount of work is irrelevant, but skill is. I may be patient and relatively hardworking, but definitely not skilled with tools. I cannot help but wish I could do the same nevertheless.

Actually AP, the work is easy, its the amount of work that takes the toll on you.

First off, you need to get a system down. Once you get the system of how you want to make everything and in what order, its pretty easy. Of course, I would not recommend linking the rings together for more than 2 hours in one sitting, unless you have massively strong hands. Im sure right now I could really hurt anyone's hands if I wanted to (by shaking hands as russians always do).

Anyways, ive kinda hit a lazy spot again, and quite frankly I dont have extra cash to buy more wire. I have enough to finish the sides I think, but Then I need to buy either leather or raw hide to decorate the maile, and then I have my semi-circle of a shoulder pad to do. Lots of work left.
Thanks for the compliment though.

[A Very Super Market]

From what I've read, chain-mail is more time-consuming than it is difficult. Is this true?

[satalexton]

very, and a lot of patience (which i don't have enough of)

wires are quite cheap in where I'm from =/

[Watchman]

I know I've made chains out of silver wire, which was already rather tedious "gruntwork" for the most part once you grasped the procedure. Iron has to be rather less cooperative a material, nevermind now that the number of links in a simple shirt runs in the thousands...

[Skullheadhq]

How fat have you come? I want regular updates!

That depends how much fastfood he ate...

[Vasiliyi]

Well, after about 3 months of toiling over this project, im nearing the completion. Overall this project has probably cost me about $100 in wire $50 in tools and another $15 in leather. Its been fun and a great learning experience. Its definitely helped me pass by the AI turn during EB.




Anyways, ill post more pictures when im completely done as I plan to add leather padding to the shoulders for comfort, also I plan to add another set of chain to wrap around my shoulders.

Bah, my hair is too short to look like a celt, i tried to make my brother take the picture (hes got skater hair) but he refused.

[keravnos]

And some pictorial evidence from 145 BCE, present day Sinai, back then it belonged to the Ptolemaic Kingdom.



some chainmail armor, or in greek "Alysidotos thorax" IIRC, aka "chain armor" found in Macedonia.

[MeinPanzer]

Tried sending you a PM, keravnos, but your inbox is full. Thanks a lot for the information.

Do you have any other information from the auction? These finds are sometimes published in auction catalogues and the like.

[Vasiliyi]

And some pictorial evidence from 145 BCE, present day Sinai, back then it belonged to the Ptolemaic Kingdom.



some chainmail armor, or in greek "Alysidotos thorax" IIRC, aka "chain armor" found in Macedonia.

and where would you purchase this? Oh and does anyone know a good informative website or book for celtic mail? I find it hard to find anything worth reading, as most of it just has a paragraph about it and then talks about the Romans.

[Aemilius Paulus]

My, my, what a hunk! A true Russian bogatyr'

No kidding, you do look quite very handsome, much better than in your other photo.