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Armours

Chainmail. The word conjures images of noble knights astride horseback, lances leveled, with pennants flying. This elegant, flexible armour has been known from Roman times. It has been used as the sole protection for nobility, flak protection by British bomber crews during World War II, and even for pot scrubbers!

I am Lord Theodrik of Skane, First Sword of Esfenn, OLM, AA, CA, and am by no means an expert on this subject. However, I am willing to share my knowledge of this and other methods of period defenses. This will be the first of several articles on this subject.

Chainmail is, technically, a fabric, albeit a heavy one. It is constructed of thousands of interconnected rings of metal, normally iron or steel. The most common pattern is what is called "four-in-one." The pattern consists of one ring with four others interlaced with it. Each of the others also have four links through them, and so on. This provides a surprisingly protective, flexible suit of armour.

The thickness of the links depends partially upon whether or not the rings are riveted (a tedious process) or welded (not much better). Riveted mail is considerably stronger that butted mail, which is rings that are just touching instead of being joined. However, in the SCA, butted mail is by far the most common type found. It is much easier to construct, but not nearly as durable. The gauge of the wire used in chain mail varies depending on the inner diameter of the rings and the strength required. Wire as light as 16 gauge galvanized can be used with an inner ring diameter of 1/4", but most mail is 12 to 14 gauge, as the common ring diameter is 3/8" to 1/2". Of course, the heavier the wire used, the heavier the mail. Surprisingly, the smaller the links, the lighter wire you are able to use and the lighter the over all suit will be. However, a 'byrne' (a mid-thigh length short sleeve shirt) will take much longer to make. A shirt of 14 gauge, 3/8" rings weighs 37 lbs. and has about 35,000 links. A byrne the same size made from 16 gauge wire with 1/4" rings weighs about 30 lbs. and has about 60,000 links in it; about twice the work for about a 25% savings in weight.

Chainmail is surprisingly cool and comfortable to wear. I have worn plate, a coat of plates, and chainmail, and prefer mail over all. It is cooler than any other, being full of holes. However, it must be belted to relieve the strain on the shoulders as otherwise they carry all the weight. It provides excellent protection, provided that it fits. While chainmail is as close to 'one size fits all' as there is in medieval armours, it must have room to shift size. It is this slight oversizeness that provides most of the protection. Chainmail protects mainly by using its mass to decelerate the blow.

With the current rules of SCA combat, we are trained to count blows to the body as if we are armoured with it. During wars, it carries the disadvantage of being no protection versus arrows; a fact that is compensated by the fact that the wearer is more comfortable and less likely to have heat problems.

For my next article, I will discuss how to make chainmail. In the future, I will describe padded, leather, plate, splint, and combination armours. I will also delve into some period styles and their SCA equivalents.

Until next time, may thee and thine enjoy good health and luck.

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