Research on a fine medieval German mail shirt.

Swordfish · 11th February 2012, 06:00 PM

The attached photos show a European (German?) mail shirt of the second half of the 15th century. The shirt is of medium length with short sleeves,
constructed entirely of riveted rings of equal diameter of c. 5.5 mm, except
for the collar, which is made of a close mesh of smaller rings with a border
of latten rings. On the right side of the breast is a lead Arsenal-mark with
an impressed tamga. This indicates that the mail shirt was once captured
by the Ottomans, and stored at the St.Irene Arsenal in Konstantinople,
where it was marked with the tamga. This is a well known markt that can
be found stamped on many pieces of arms and armour, especially on breast-plates of mainly Ottoman, or rarely European origin, as well as on sword-
blades of European origin, captured by the Ottomans in the many battles in southeast Europe and the Mediterranean area.

The special feature of this mail shirt is that it is made of an incredible
number of small riveted rings wit an outside diameter of c. 5-5.5 mm, a wire diameter of 0.8 mm, and a weight of 0.047g. The weight of the mail shirt is 6.6kg. The whole shirt is therefore constructed of c. 140.000 rings. This
number must be compared with with the usual number of rings of a basic
mail shirt, which is made of c. 20.000-25.000 rings, or a mail shirt of high quality, which is made of c. 30.000-50.000 rings. But not only the huge number or rings is admirable. The rings are so small and the slots for the
rivet is hardly visible. I assume that the whole rings must have been riveted with the help of a magnyfying glass, comparably with watchmakers today. This must have been a huge amount of work, which probably lasted one
year or longer. Therefore the shirt must have been very expensive.

The other aspect is, that the rings are so weak, that this mail shirt could never have been used for fighting. It must be a splendor-shirt, used only
for celebration activities. The smaller the rings, the higher the number of rings, the higher the price, the higher the rank of its owner. Therefore it
is unlikely that it was captured during fighting. It was surely booty from the armoury of a nobleman of high rank.

11th February 2012, 06:00 PM	#10
Swordfish Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 129	A medieval European mail shirt with an incredible number of riveted rings The attached photos show a European (German?) mail shirt of the second half of the 15th century. The shirt is of medium length with short sleeves, constructed entirely of riveted rings of equal diameter of c. 5.5 mm, except for the collar, which is made of a close mesh of smaller rings with a border of latten rings. On the right side of the breast is a lead Arsenal-mark with an impressed tamga. This indicates that the mail shirt was once captured by the Ottomans, and stored at the St.Irene Arsenal in Konstantinople, where it was marked with the tamga. This is a well known markt that can be found stamped on many pieces of arms and armour, especially on breast-plates of mainly Ottoman, or rarely European origin, as well as on sword- blades of European origin, captured by the Ottomans in the many battles in southeast Europe and the Mediterranean area. The special feature of this mail shirt is that it is made of an incredible number of small riveted rings wit an outside diameter of c. 5-5.5 mm, a wire diameter of 0.8 mm, and a weight of 0.047g. The weight of the mail shirt is 6.6kg. The whole shirt is therefore constructed of c. 140.000 rings. This number must be compared with with the usual number of rings of a basic mail shirt, which is made of c. 20.000-25.000 rings, or a mail shirt of high quality, which is made of c. 30.000-50.000 rings. But not only the huge number or rings is admirable. The rings are so small and the slots for the rivet is hardly visible. I assume that the whole rings must have been riveted with the help of a magnyfying glass, comparably with watchmakers today. This must have been a huge amount of work, which probably lasted one year or longer. Therefore the shirt must have been very expensive. The other aspect is, that the rings are so weak, that this mail shirt could never have been used for fighting. It must be a splendor-shirt, used only for celebration activities. The smaller the rings, the higher the number of rings, the higher the price, the higher the rank of its owner. Therefore it is unlikely that it was captured during fighting. It was surely booty from the armoury of a nobleman of high rank. Attached Images