livinghistory.ie

I'd like to get some opinions on this set of chainmail from a company in the UK. He doesn't mention this in the listing, so I emailed him and his responce was: "Length from top of shoulders is 30" and the sleeves from top of the shoulders to end of sleeve are 21"." Sounds short to me (I'm 6 feet 2 inches tall). Thoughts?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

30" is pretty small, not even a yard. Of course, if you plan to wear it Roman style i.e. hang just below the waist and cut off the sleeves then it's just right

Knowing you are a man who respects quality, I'd say only get mail from Historic Enterprises or Capapie.co.uk - they make good quality, light mail. Others are either heavy, crude, or crappy.

The zinc-plated ones often look quite dull after a few months - I'd highly recommend going for awesome-looking forge blackened (needs to be oiled) or tin-plated (super shiny and authentic for high-status).

My hauberk is 34" long - and certainly not too long.

John

John,

Thanks for your input. I will probably take your advise and pass on this one and check out the two companies you mentioned. Its better to get it right the first time than have to replace something later!

I have a question ...
you want to use the chain mail on the early Middle Ages.
but do you have sources on this?
Irish certainly could use armor killed the Vikings.
but as far as I know there is no archaeological sources that
could confirm the use of mail in Ireland.
Of course I could be wrong in its conclusions...

Alexander,

I probably posted this on the wrong area. I want to use it for a Gallowglass impression, ca 1300s and 1400s.

Well
if you're doing 14 and 15 century
mail it to you right
I would be interested to know
What is the cost of mail
and how they are correct in terms of manufacturing

oldrat wrote:but as far as I know there is no archaeological sources that
could confirm the use of mail in Ireland.

I came across this article which might be of interest to some.

On a Hauberk of Chain Mail, and Silvered Badge Found in the Phœnix Park, Dublin
Robert Day
The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, Fourth Series, Vol. 4, No. 36 (Oct., 1878), pp. 494-498
Published by: Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25506738

Don't suppose anyone has jstor access ?

This article is out of copyright, so there is no problem passing it around.

Afraid there would be copyright on access via Jstor so best way would be from original Journal - perhaps public library.