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<blockquote data-quote="Enkhidu" data-source="post: 520167" data-attributes="member: 351">A lot of what happenes in this situation depends on what other protections are also begin used.For example, chain mail by itself - no under or over padding - isn't very protective at all (for the purposes of this discussion, we'll assume that he or she is wearing quality riveted chain mail with a good density - butt-linked chain or chain mail that hangs in such a way as to be &quot;see through&quot; is much worse that what I'm about to describe). If it has a aketon (basically what you think of as padded armor) is worn underneath, then it does much better, and if it also has a gambeson (padded armor worn over the chain) it's even better.In all cases, chain mail protects against cuts, but does little to protect against impact. Therefore, a sword that hits chain mail will almost certainly not get through all them links to cut deeply into flesh. It might burst some links, but the edge will most likely not cut through the armor. But, depending on where it hit, it's liable to break something. A solid sword cut to the collarbone - even through chain - is likely to snap the bone, and ribs are likely to be cracked by a solid hit. But the chain will probably hold back the edge from anything but a heavy, two handed axe or a charged/set spear). At it's best, chain mail (with the proper padding) can also repel arrows from 50 to 75 pound pull bows. Crossbows are another matter entirely.Enk - who has wound waaay to much 16 gauge wire into chainmail springs</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Enkhidu, post: 520167, member: 351"] A lot of what happenes in this situation depends on what other protections are also begin used. For example, chain mail by itself - no under or over padding - isn't very protective at all (for the purposes of this discussion, we'll assume that he or she is wearing quality riveted chain mail with a good density - butt-linked chain or chain mail that hangs in such a way as to be "see through" is much worse that what I'm about to describe). If it has a aketon (basically what you think of as padded armor) is worn underneath, then it does much better, and if it also has a gambeson (padded armor worn over the chain) it's even better. In all cases, chain mail protects against cuts, but does little to protect against impact. Therefore, a sword that hits chain mail will almost certainly [I]not[/I] get through all them links to cut deeply into flesh. It might burst some links, but the edge will most likely not cut through the armor. But, depending on where it hit, it's liable to break something. A solid sword cut to the collarbone - even through chain - is likely to snap the bone, and ribs are likely to be cracked by a solid hit. But the chain will probably hold back the edge from anything but a heavy, two handed axe or a charged/set spear). At it's best, chain mail (with the proper padding) can also repel arrows from 50 to 75 pound pull bows. Crossbows are another matter entirely. Enk - who has wound waaay to much 16 gauge wire into chainmail springs [/QUOTE]

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