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Post by csills2313 on Jan 26, 2019 2:25:41 GMT
I was shopping around today for some chain mail Armour. I am looking for decent quality without having to break the bank. Please share some of your experiences and recommendations.
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Ifrit
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Post by Ifrit on Jan 26, 2019 3:55:41 GMT
I second this. I'm also in the market for some good maille
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jan 26, 2019 19:15:56 GMT
I made a coif and mantle using Lord of Battles high tensile rings. It was a good experience. I also bought a Lord of Battles half sleeved haubergeon, SNC152N. I think KoA sent me somebody’s return on this one as the grease was almost nonexistent and it turned out to be smaller than advertised but I added 2 panels in the front and back each and filled in some in the neck area, having extra rings on hand. All are more than strong enough to withstand short combat. I’ve given the shirt a good whack with a machete with no damage and the Zombie Go Boom channel did a video on butted mail and it gave surprising good protection, and would have worked better if they had used a gambeson or something underneath. If I were a reenactor and used mail on a regular basis I would want something more durable but for my purposes it works more then OK. The downside is they are made of high tensile steel wire that is subject to rust. I haven’t had such a problem but I am careful to spray down with WD-40 and store in unsealed plastic bags with moth balls. The oils later transfer to my clothing so I use one dedicated light gambeson under the mail. It was originally brown in colour but has turned largely to a shiny black looking much like leather.
Getting tired of messing with the oil and its effect I purchased a riveted dark stainless steel coif by Lord of Battles that I think is great. Its flattened rings make it thinner than the one that I made and it’s lighter too. It is much cleaner as there is no oil to mess with. I should mention it’s more comfortable to wear. If I obtain more mail it will be stainless.
Whatever you get I suggest that you get some extra rings in case of a repair or alteration down the road. With riveted mail you will need a tool for the rivets.
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Ifrit
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Post by Ifrit on Jan 26, 2019 21:37:09 GMT
Hmmm... You know. I wouldn't mind giving butted maille a chance. If I ever have the tools and time, I could always solder them closed. Would be a neat project
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jan 26, 2019 21:46:54 GMT
I like your new avatar.
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Ifrit
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Post by Ifrit on Jan 26, 2019 22:09:51 GMT
Thank you. I appreciate you saying so
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Post by csills2313 on Jan 26, 2019 22:36:50 GMT
I found a set of butted chain mail that was marked down. It is made of mild steel rings with a black finish. It was going for $114.00. I ordered the extra large size that fits a 60 inch chest. Hopefully that will be big enough to accommodate a gambeson. I will post pictures when it arrives. I will have to keep it oiled of course
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Post by csills2313 on Jan 26, 2019 22:38:16 GMT
Thank you. I appreciate you saying so I like your new avatar too. Looks much better than the old one
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Ifrit
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Post by Ifrit on Jan 26, 2019 22:55:48 GMT
Thank you. I appreciate you saying so I like your new avatar too. Looks much better than the old one I figured I would put "me" as my avatar again. Its been a while
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jan 27, 2019 0:29:12 GMT
I found a set of butted chain mail that was marked down. Let us know what you think. Is it possible to give it a test whack or two? I think the biggest weakness in butted mail is its reaction to a thrust although the one that the Zombie Go Boom crowd tested did better than I thought it would in that respect. They threw several types of knives and I think stabbed with a knife. The real test would come from a spear or a good point sword, neither of which I expect to encounter.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
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Post by Ifrit on Jan 27, 2019 1:13:41 GMT
I found a set of butted chain mail that was marked down. Let us know what you think. Is it possible to give it a test whack or two? I think the biggest weakness in butted mail is its reaction to a thrust although the one that the Zombie Go Boom crowd tested did better than I thought it would in that respect. They threw several types of knives and I think stabbed with a knife. The real test would come from a spear or a good point sword, neither of which I expect to encounter. Which video is this again?
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jan 27, 2019 3:53:22 GMT
Let us know what you think. Is it possible to give it a test whack or two? I think the biggest weakness in butted mail is its reaction to a thrust although the one that the Zombie Go Boom crowd tested did better than I thought it would in that respect. They threw several types of knives and I think stabbed with a knife. The real test would come from a spear or a good point sword, neither of which I expect to encounter. Which video is this again? Zombie Go Boom did a demo using a butted mail coif over one of their zombie heads. The video preview just flashed up and I clicked on to it. I am not a big fan of theirs but occasionally they have something that catches my eye. I just did a search through their videos and failed to find it, but it wasn’t a good search as all sorts of stuff kept popping up. I then did a search on YouTube for “testing chainmail” and got more videos than I can shake a stick at, but failed to find that one. I did not book mark it as I did not feel it that important. I’ll search later after a night’s rest. Here’s one that I did. I just made one cut as I was not making a destruction test and valued the edge on that machete. I think if you do a search you’ll find videos more interesting .
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 27, 2019 3:57:19 GMT
I'm not sure but isn't butted mail heavier than riveted? I have a cheap butted mail shirt xxl size and it's too heavy for me to be fun, 36 lbs. It's possible to wear it but putting on and off that weight as a slippery thing is a real problem. I remember me squirming on the floor like a worm to come out alive.
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Ifrit
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Post by Ifrit on Jan 27, 2019 4:14:05 GMT
With my severe claustrophobia, that sounds like a nightmare tbh
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 27, 2019 5:17:54 GMT
I went through the five phases of mourning until I found the solution!
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Post by tancred on Jan 27, 2019 5:45:12 GMT
I'm not sure but isn't butted mail heavier than riveted? I have a cheap butted mail shirt xxl size and it's too heavy for me to be fun, 36 lbs. It's possible to wear it but putting on and off that weight as a slippery thing is a real problem. I remember me squirming on the floor like a worm to come out alive. That's what squires are for, Andi! I usually have help getting in and out of my mail from either a brother or my unfortunate niece. My butted mail from MRL is just fine, but I've wanted some more historically accurate riveted mail that was also aluminum so as to cut down on the weight. I haven't bought any yet, but I've been keeping my eye on a site recommended to me. Their prices seem pretty good. Hopefully the mail is worth it. That site is: allbeststuff.com/Chain-Mail-ArmourLooks like the OP has already made a purchase, but just in case anyone else is interested.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Jan 27, 2019 5:52:11 GMT
I wouldn't get butted mail unless you are just using it for a costume.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 27, 2019 5:54:33 GMT
Yeah, for festivals I'd buy aluminium mail now, but that's three times the price. On the other side, butted isn't cheaper any more if you had to acquire an accessorial squire.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
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Post by Ifrit on Jan 27, 2019 6:16:48 GMT
I'm not sure but isn't butted mail heavier than riveted? I have a cheap butted mail shirt xxl size and it's too heavy for me to be fun, 36 lbs. It's possible to wear it but putting on and off that weight as a slippery thing is a real problem. I remember me squirming on the floor like a worm to come out alive. That's what squires are for, Andi! I usually have help getting in and out of my mail from either a brother or my unfortunate niece. My butted mail from MRL is just fine, but I've wanted some more historically accurate riveted mail that was also aluminum so as to cut down on the weight. I haven't bought any yet, but I've been keeping my eye on a site recommended to me. Their prices seem pretty good. Hopefully the mail is worth it. That site is: allbeststuff.com/Chain-Mail-ArmourLooks like the OP has already made a purchase, but just in case anyone else is interested. Nice find! Even I could afford it
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Post by tancred on Jan 27, 2019 7:59:50 GMT
Nice find! Even I could afford it Yeah, the prices are pretty nice; very affordable. I'm going to go for aluminum, but not ready to pull the trigger yet. I just hope the mail is good. No experience from this site yet, so I couldn't say for sure. Don't quite remember who recommended it, but it was some one here on SBG. That was a few months ago at least, and I've had the site bookmarked ever since. Maybe another poster with experience from this site will chime in on the quality of the mail.
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