The Armour Archive

I am contemplating making some chainmail. I would like to do some riveted mail, but was thinking about using punched flat rings along with the riveted rings since it should work for period chainmail (late 12th Century). I was wondering what is the best source for the flat rings. I didn't know if washers would be acceptable to use or if there is something in particular I need to look for. When I search the internet, most times it gives me links of pre-made chainmail. I did find some bulk flat rings, but they were located in Germany, so I figured that shipping on something like that would be higher than I would like to pay.

Thanks for the help.

gman8176 wrote:I am contemplating making some chainmail. I would like to do some riveted mail, but was thinking about using punched flat rings along with the riveted rings since it should work for period chainmail (late 12th Century). I was wondering what is the best source for the flat rings. I didn't know if washers would be acceptable to use or if there is something in particular I need to look for. When I search the internet, most times it gives me links of pre-made chainmail. I did find some bulk flat rings, but they were located in Germany, so I figured that shipping on something like that would be higher than I would like to pay.

Thanks for the help.

Ringlord has solid punched rings, but only in galvanized and only in one size. Not sure if this helps.
http://theringlord.com/cart/shopdisplay ... 7555004214
(almost halfway down the page)

McMaster-Carr supplies Shims and shim stock -- click on Round Shims. Seems you can specify ID, OD, and Thickness. Or else they can tell you what they actually have on hand, I dunno. The site works by scripts, so enable 'em or you get hardly anything.

Ordinary washers are simply too massive to do this work well; they're too thick. It'll about kill you to walk around under a coat of washers.

Seastrom ( http://www.seastrom-mfg.com/ ) sells washers that are very close to the dimensions of medieval mail. You just have to order a LOT to make them not be really expensive.

Ordinary washers are simply too massive to do this work well; they're too thick.

Are they? When comparing pictures of today's affordable flat ring maille with historic maille I'm always surprised by how thin the currently produced stuff is compared to the real thing.

Weigh a few thousand of the ordinary sort of washer, or for instance a few thousand split-ring lock washers.

These have been tried. They have not taken over the fighting mail end of things, regardless of variations designed or attempted.