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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ryujin" data-source="post: 6108263" data-attributes="member: 27897">I've recently (the last 6 months) started making Chainmail and chain jewellery, much like you. In fact one of my ongoing projects is a 3/8", 12 gauge butted ring suit of aluminum chainmail. I'm not willing to haul the 3x the weight that steel chain would be, so call it "Elven Chain" <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />  The chain shirt will weigh in at roughly 30 pounds, when I'm finished. My first significant project was a 3/8", 16 gauge aluminum chain shirt for a friend's 5 year old son. I purchase my materials from The Ring Lord and cut my own brass and aluminum rings.I agree with you about chain. With the rows of links hanging vertically, it will expand by a remarkable amount. It would be held up at the waist with a leather strap run through the rings or held up with a belt, so that at least some of the weight would be bourne by the hips. Underneath would be a gambeson, aka padded armour, which would help absorb impact, resist chafing and wear, and absorb sweat. Unfortunately it would also absorb blood, making it the one thing that would likely require replacement. As it's generally quilted and padded cloth, this shouldn't really present an issue. It should be relatively easy to put together a set of chain, from various pieces that are undamaged. The sleeves could well be laced on, to make donning the armour easier. Scale mail might be an even better bet. While people like you and I would make it by joining the scales with appropriate sized rings, historically it was also made by sewing scales to leather or padded jacks. This would make it very easy to scavenge a butt-load of quality scales, then fit them to existing leather armour. Plate presents issues, since it would more likely be made for specific individuals. If you can afford plate, then you can afford to have it fitted.There are many scenarios that could result in virtually undamaged armour, but the death of the wearer. Stab between plates and at joins. A femoral artery slash. Mace to the head. Etc., etc., etc..</blockquote>

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