Chainmail

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From the book of war: 3.1.4. Chain – Metal Armor constructed of interlocking metal rings


Contents

Terms and Definitions

Weave: “weave” refers to the pattern of interlocking rings. Different weaves are discussed in section 2.

Gauge: “gauge” refers to the thickness of the wire that forms the ring. The most common gauges are 14 (1.6mm) and 16 (1.3mm). Only even numbers are used for gauges unless you get really small. Note: the smaller the gauge, the bigger the number. That is to say, a length of 16 guage wire weighs LESS than an equal length of 14 gauge wire.

Diameter: the diameter of the rings, measured by the SPACE inside (does not include the length added by the wire itself). Diameters are generally measured in inches. Some common diameters are 3/8 and 7/16. It is uncommon to have diameters greater than 1/2 inch.

Types of Chainmail

European Chainmail

European mail is the most common type of chainmail. There are three common varieties.

4 in 1

In this weave, every 1 link crosses 4 links, forming a rectangle.

6 in 1

In this weave, every 1 link crosses 6 links, forming a thicker rectangle.

8 in 1

You guessed it, every 1 link crosses 8 links (forming a rectangle). This is essentially a double-layered 4 in 1. It is also called Kingsmail.

Other European Weaves

Artofchainmail.com lists a 9 in 1 Kingsmail, but I think it’s cheating because while each ring technically crosses 9, it does not do so in the spirit of European weaving. Additionally, the entwined doubling of rings to add nine weakens both involved links, and I wouldn't be surprised if your chainmail started to pull itself apart. I myself am in possession of a 10 in 1 belt. Maybe I’ll post a picture.

Japanese Chainmail

Japanese weaves are looser than European weaves. They are also more compled in that each ring does not pass through the same number of links as each other ring. However, they are easier to make.

4/2

The 4/2 pattern can be thought of as a composite of 4 in 1 and 2 in 1. It is made of single units of 4 in 1, which are connected by single rings that each pass through only one of the four rings in each single unit. The weave forms a rectangle.

6/2

The 6/2 pattern is made in the same fashion as the 4/2 pattern - single units of 6 in 1 are connected by single rings passing through only 1 of the 6 rings in the single unit. This forms a hexagon.

Persian Chainmail


Persian weave is sometimes divided into the subcategories 3 in 1 and 6 in 1. However, 3 in 1 refers just to the chain, whereas 6 in 1 is the weave created by connecting these chains.

Making Chainmail


If you want to make your own chainmail (it may fit better than purchased mail, and you will be proud) here are some things you will need:
If you use premade links:

  1. Pliers
  2. Another pair of pliers

And… go

Making Links


If you want to make your own links, you will need many more things (you should be able to get all of these at a hardware store):

  1. Wire
  2. A metal dowel rod
  3. A screwdriver
  4. A vice grips or something else with which to FIRMLY attach the wire to the dowel rod.
  5. A sturdy glove (VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM)
  6. Wire cutters.


First, screw the dowel rod into your screwdriver as you would a drill bit.
Next, attach one end of the wire to the dowel near the screwdriver.
The remaining wire should be in a coil. Wrap that coil around something stable (I have seen: a second dowel suspended between two chairs).
Put your glove on the hand you will be using to guide the wire (left if you are right handed). Sit with the dowel over your knees and CAREFULLY, SLOWLY until you get used to it, start the screwdriver. This will cause the dowel to turn, pulling the wire around it. Hold the uncurled wire with your gloved hand, to make sure it is being loaded straight. Make sure the handle of the vice grips is not thwacking your knee!
When the wire has curled to the end of the dowel, cut it with the wire cutters. If you run out of wire before you run out of dowel, go VERY SLOWLY and hold very carefully onto the end as you guide it around. This is the most dangerous part, because if you let go you will have a sharp wire end flailing around in circles.
When you have reached the end of the dowel or wire, turn the screwdriver off and slide the spun wire off of the dowel. Now it almost looks like rings!
This part is easier: cut the rings apart with the wire cutters. Hefty wire cutters can do three at a time. Others can only do one. A tip: only put as many rings in the wire cutter as you can cut. If you are trying to cut 3 and accidentally enclose 4, not a one will be cut through.

Weaving


There are many different approaches to this, and all would be useless to describe without pictures. So instead of telling you how I do, I’m just going to refer you to external links.

External links


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