Combat Gear Guide

Section 2.3

Armour

 

Mail

While it is acceptable for things like concealed breastplates or fencing cups and abdominal protectors to be worn, only armour that was worn during the period concerned (700-1066) may be visibly worn. This means ring-shirts (with or without gambesons) are the dominant form of armour, but mail was a sign of wealth so it is no to uncommon to see a high percentage of warriors fight without any armour other than Helmet and Gloves.

While butted mail is acceptable because of the cost and labor involved in riveting, it should be noted that riveted mail is considered much more desirable. The weave should always be limited to European four in one weave, and the links should range from one quarter inch inner diameter (6.4mm) to no more than half inch inner diameter (12.3mm). Due to the lack of commercial availability of pure iron wire or wrought iron wire, mild steel should be considered the material of choice. Galvanized wire, stainless steel wire, aluminum wire, and copper alloy wires are not permissible.

Recent discussions among mail armourers place Viking age mail as round wire riveted rows connecting square sectioned, punched, solid rings. Since there are no commercially available sources for this style of mail, most forms of round wire using round rivets or flat rings with wedge rivets will be acceptable for all periods and locations. Alternating riveted rings with solid punched rings is also an acceptable practice. Welded and forge welded rings are also allowed; however, machine made welled mail (such as butcher’s mail) is not permitted. The ratio of wire diameter to ring inner diameter should range from 4:1 to 6:1. Butted mail will need to be denser than riveted for structural reasons; however, overly dense weaves will lead to armor that is overly heavy, restrictive, and aesthetically inaccurate.

Shirts can range from just over waist length to past the knees. Full suits of mail are acceptable but represent the upper level of Viking Age society. Only those with kits that match upper society entirely, should pursue such armor. Shirts must also have sleeves, mail ‘vests’ are not acceptable. Sleeve length can range from short sleeve length to full wrist length. Normans can incorporate ‘mittens’, but still must pass safety standards for combat if used on the field. Additionally, mail shirts should be constructed with sleeves woven directly out from the body of the shirt. There should be no visible seams on the chest or on the shoulders. These types of sleeve attachments are modern inventions and should be avoided. The only seams that should exist in a shirt is the one in the arm pit area, where they are generally not seen.

Leather trim on mail, can be an option, but should be used sparingly and with the knowledge that only later period, very wealthy persons would have used it. Some early period events may not allow the use of trim on mail. No copper alloy Viking Age links have yet been discovered to definitively show their use by Scandinavian cultures and it is recommended that they be avoided as trim and never as a complete garment. Dagged, jagged, or decorative weave edge treatments should also be avoided until archaeological evidence can support their use in the Viking Age. Some consider the Bayeux Tapestry to show examples of warriors with trim on their maille but there is a conflict over whether it is trim on the mail or the undergarment protruding out of the mail.  As a side note, while leather trim isn't recommended  it does do a wonderful job of keeping butted maille from ripping or tearing.

 

Here are some examples of the various types of mail allowed:

 

 

Lamellar

Although it is attractive, lamellar or scale armour is unknown from the archeology for the UK so it's use is very limited.

The closest find of lamellar are the plates found in the excavation of the Garrison at Birka.