European riveted mail types and timeline.

[Ernst]

James, That certainly fits the modern business model of buying rings from the Indians to assemble somewhere else. Looking at something like Wallace A8 or Wade's M2 makes me wonder if some folks weren't making mail "by the bolt" and selling it "by the yard" to be cut up and assembled elsewhere.

Then there are pieces of iron mail with copper alloy rivets, too. The Sutton Hoo shirt is done like that.


If we attempt to use the riveting method as a dating system, then the existence of both demi-riveted and all riveted construction co-existing in a single piece indicates
EITHER
* Any piece showing mixed construction only dates to a defined transition period (c.1300-1350?), or was modified later in its working life by being cobbled together from previous pieces or receiving additions.
OR
* The transition was never a complete one in Western Europe.

[worldantiques]

James, That certainly fits the modern business model of buying rings from the Indians to assemble somewhere else. Looking at something like Wallace A8 or Wade's M2 makes me wonder if some folks weren't making mail "by the bolt" and selling it "by the yard" to be cut up and assembled elsewhere.

Then there are pieces of iron mail with copper alloy rivets, too. The Sutton Hoo shirt is done like that.


If we attempt to use the riveting method as a dating system, then the existence of both demi-riveted and all riveted construction co-existing in a single piece indicates
EITHER
* Any piece showing mixed construction only dates to a defined transition period (c.1300-1350?), or was modified later in its working life by being cobbled together from previous pieces or receiving additions.
OR
* The transition was never a complete one in Western Europe.

I think there are as of yet to many unknown variables to make any determination, for instance....as an example, where the decorative brass mail makers a completely seperate entity from the defensive iron/steel mail makers? If so the defensive mail makers could have stopped making demi riveted mail much earlier while a small decorative mail shop kept making outdated demi riveted brass mail, maybe a bunch of stubborn old coots who just refused to change with the times.