Crafting Armor in Medieval Times

[Xeriar]

Historical tidbit:

During the age of mail - that time period right around the crusades, when plates were not yet the standard for armor - entire villages would be conscripted to make chain mail. Most would be involved in making the wire, winding the links, and cutting them, and then a handful would knit the links into chain cloth. Such a village, due to the level of specialization that could occur, cranked out suits of chainmail dozens of times faster than otherwaise possible.

There was a shop in Italy that apparently turned out 40 full suits of chain mail a month.

Litterally, an 8-man shop or so. Don't know if they just bought the links, or what...

 

[Angcuru]

Just wanted to point out that plate mail was never the standard. The most that the average footsoldier ever got was a chain hauberk and a helm, if he was lucky. Plate was reserved for knights and other high-ups, due to it's complexity, crafting difficulty, and sheer expensiveness.

I'm thinking that I might eventually take up swordsmithing as a hobby, but armor is still interesting, but right out for me. Anyone who has the patience to sit around and stick together links in a suit of mail has my admiration.