08-01-2011, 09:53 AM
If I remember correctly most roman mail was made of alternating rows of riveted and solid rings.
Like most armors the effectiveness of mail depends on a number of variables including the thickness/quality of the metal (1.5 mm wire rings are going to be considerably more difficult to cut than 1 mm rings) and how much 'padding' is worn in conjunction with it (in theory, if a warrior's armor wasn't doing the job he could just add more and more layers of cloth/leather underneath it).
This video demonstrates the latter rather effectively
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGu4bpb4eTI
There is a very good MyArmory article on the effectiveness of chainmail called "Mail: Unchained" if you want to read through it.
Like most armors the effectiveness of mail depends on a number of variables including the thickness/quality of the metal (1.5 mm wire rings are going to be considerably more difficult to cut than 1 mm rings) and how much 'padding' is worn in conjunction with it (in theory, if a warrior's armor wasn't doing the job he could just add more and more layers of cloth/leather underneath it).
This video demonstrates the latter rather effectively
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGu4bpb4eTI
There is a very good MyArmory article on the effectiveness of chainmail called "Mail: Unchained" if you want to read through it.
Henry O.
