Chain Mail

Making Your Own

Making chain mail is no harder than knitting, and not much more time consuming.  You just use pliers instead of knitting needles, and wire instead of yarn.

Ravenwoods' University of Maille is the best tutorial on making chain mail that I have ever seen.  It is clearly explained and clearly illustrated.  Great work!

DeCordené Wire Works sells chain mail tools and supplies, and their Web site features this great discussion of various cutters and pliers.  Very helpful.

Buying Chain Mail

Chain mail is now commercially produced in India, and sells on eBay for as little as $200 for a hauberk and coif. 

• Bad mail is made with large rings of odd material. 
• Good mail is made of steel wire, with each "butted" link bent to close neatly.  Often, it is galvanized to prevent rust, which is not authentic, but is very helpful. 
• Better mail has a tiny rivet holding each link shut, and costs double.  That's what I use.
• The very best mail has rings of fine wire that are all hammered flat, with alternating rows of forged circles and  wedge-shaped rivets holding the links shut.  It costs 4 to 5 times as much as butted mail.

There are American hobbyists who make mail for sale, but the price of labor here is so high that you are better off making your own.