Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: missilemaster on February 26, 2015, 09:31:50 pm

Title: Chain mail shirt
Post by: missilemaster on February 26, 2015, 09:31:50 pm
This has been a 6 year project. I got it about it 90% done and it stayed that way for about 4 years. I just now got up to finishing completely. It weighs 32 pounds and has over 9000  steel links, each one coiled, cut, opened and woven together. Its 12 gauge wire so it will definitely stop a blade thrust. because of how it s made, it is a one size fits all. When it hangs down it is at its narrowest, but has a lot of "stretch" without giving up a lot of length. The sides I tapered to fit my frame. Its good to finally get it bone, I dont plan on doing another! :o
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: missilemaster on February 26, 2015, 09:32:27 pm
more
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on February 26, 2015, 10:00:58 pm
That's awesome!  I bet that was monotonous work man, good job sticking it out, looks great.
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Stringman on February 26, 2015, 10:03:12 pm
Holy cow! I bet you got some hours in that! I am just floored!!
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: adb on February 26, 2015, 10:15:24 pm
Now see if you can punch an arrow thru it!  ;) Not while someone's in it of course...
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Badly Bent on February 26, 2015, 10:17:29 pm
 8) Your a man of many talents 8)
 Turned out great Cody
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: paulsemp on February 26, 2015, 10:35:36 pm
Fit me like a glove.
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: DC on February 26, 2015, 10:45:22 pm
Now you have to break out the torch and weld up all those joints. >:D Check back in twenty years ;)
Great job!!!
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: bubby on February 26, 2015, 10:50:53 pm
You got some mad skills there Cody
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: mullet on February 26, 2015, 10:55:45 pm
Wow, Why! :)
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: missilemaster on February 26, 2015, 10:56:56 pm
Thanks guys. It really made me appreciate the guys who used to do it for a living!
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: missilemaster on February 26, 2015, 10:57:58 pm
Wow, Why! :)

 Cause it was on my bucket list Eddie!  :)
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: mullet on February 26, 2015, 11:01:00 pm
 ;D ;D ;DI just told Kathie that's what you would say. ;)
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Pat B on February 26, 2015, 11:05:45 pm
Pretty darn cool, Cody.   8)
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: soy on February 26, 2015, 11:08:22 pm
Damn Cody that is cool!
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: osage outlaw on February 26, 2015, 11:27:32 pm
That is very impressive work Cody.  Are you going to wear that on your trip?  I'm sure it would prevent road rash and I bet nobody would mess with you. 
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: stickbender on February 26, 2015, 11:35:01 pm
     Dang!  That is amazing! :o  Are the joints, just closed together, or did you solder them?  Ok, now you have to do a build along! ;D  So did you have a body form, like a sewing form to use?  What did you use to form your rings on?  So now you have to make the heavy under garments! :P  The thick wool, jerkin, the heavy boiled and waxed leather vest.  Then you are going to have to get K. Halverson to make you a broad sword, a fighting dagger, and buckler, maybe even a full sized shield, and then you need to start making the chain mail leggings, and have K. Halverson make you some metal boot coverings, and shin guards ........  6 years? :o  You better get busy! ;D
That is great.  I always thought about doing something that.  That is a great job.  Hey, if you get snowed in, this coming winter, you can go back, and double up on the links, for even more protection!  Don't forget to put some "Frog Lube" on it. ;)  Great job!

                                    Wayne
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Sidewinder on February 27, 2015, 12:10:18 am
Dang Cody thats just plain cool. It fits you perfect too. I don't know how you could have stayed with it to finish. I guess that goes to show you what desire will do to ones resolve. Amazing work.  Danny
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Pappy on February 27, 2015, 04:43:54 am
Very cool, to bad you are biking to the Classic, you could bring it along/wear it and we could see if it really works. >:D >:D Love it Cody. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: chamookman on February 27, 2015, 04:49:13 am
Very cool Cody - impressive! A Smithy making chain-mil, I'll be darned  O:). Bob
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Aaron H on February 27, 2015, 07:09:30 am
That is really cool, good work
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: missilemaster on February 27, 2015, 07:36:33 am
Thanks everyone. joints are just batted together. No way I was welding or soldering each one. What do you think I am? Crazy? ::) The rings are 1/2" ID.  And no, I will absolutely NOT be doing a build along. Plenty of info online.
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: madcrow on February 27, 2015, 09:16:54 am
I made several of them a few years ago, two were long sleeve and mid thigh.  You did a fine job on it. 
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 27, 2015, 09:35:41 am
Taking it with you on your ride for protection buddy?
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: silverfox on February 27, 2015, 11:51:46 am
WOW, that is really cool
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: paoliguy on February 27, 2015, 01:13:34 pm
Very cool, to bad you are biking to the Classic, you could bring it along/wear it and we could see if it really works. >:D >:D Love it Cody. :)
   Pappy

If it rains at the Classic we could also see if it rusts!
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Aaron H on February 27, 2015, 01:50:17 pm
Are those stainless links?
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: bobbykelley on February 27, 2015, 03:42:30 pm
That's really cool. Great job.
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 27, 2015, 09:50:57 pm
I have woven a little bit of chain mail and I understand why it took you so long!  I have done some 4/1 chain and a little bit of 6/1.  I have never tried 8/1, I surrendered and wore out the white flag with the six in one links! That's a whole heck of a lot of work!!! 

I had a 6" square of the 4/1 links and tried shooting thru it with an arrow.  I pinned it to a bag type archery target and stood off 20 yards.  After shooting, I picked up my arrows and shot them again at 10 yards so I could have half a chance to hit it. *SIGH*  First arrow went straight thru!  Nothing but a plain field point from a 50# draw bow.  Unless the links are welded, they yeild easily to arrows and blade thrusts, even though they will save you from a slashing cut. 

Any estimate to how many hundreds of hours you have in that hauberk?
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: DGF on February 27, 2015, 10:21:06 pm
Simply awesome! You are a man of many talents.

-Dan
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: missilemaster on February 27, 2015, 10:24:52 pm
Appreciate it fellas. I couldent begin to guess how many hours I have in it. Supposing it takes a minute to coil, cu, open, weave and close each link, thats over 9000 minutes, or 150+ hours.  :o
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 27, 2015, 10:34:46 pm
You get mega points for sheer coolness!
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: Del the cat on February 28, 2015, 03:58:26 am
It would prob' stop a bullet better than a bodkin not that I'm suggesting you try.
I admire your tenacity and workmanship :).
Del
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: JackCrafty on February 28, 2015, 09:05:39 am
Very cool!  I made one many years back and like JW I shot arrows at it.  Went right though.  It takes about 6 to 8 layers of un-riveted links to stop a field-point-tipped arrow from a 60lb bow at 10 yards.  A long, narrow, bodkin tip doesn't even need to open a link to reach the heart.

Don't feel bad, though.  That's not what those shirts were made for.  They were made for hand-to-hand fighting with blades.  :)
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: mhof86 on February 28, 2015, 10:37:00 am
That's great work. I just dug mine out last night. Turns out it shrunk or I got fat over the years lol. It's really tight on me now but full length sleeves down to waist with leggings from mid thigh to boot. I went with 3/8" rings but wanna say 14-16ga wire. Not sure to be honest.

Great job on the tailoring as well. It's not as easy as one would think. Try the 6 in 1 stuff like someone else posted lol I was gonna do all the edges trimmed in it but it turned out to be a bracelet as that's all I could take lol.

Again really nice job!
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: MWirwicki on March 02, 2015, 12:32:29 pm
Wow!  Cody, that is excellent.  You never cease to amaze us with your "bucket list."
Title: Re: Chain mail shirt
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 02, 2015, 09:09:36 pm
That's great work. I just dug mine out last night. Turns out it shrunk or I got fat over the years lol. It's really tight on me now but full length sleeves down to waist with leggings from mid thigh to boot. I went with 3/8" rings but wanna say 14-16ga wire. Not sure to be honest.

Great job on the tailoring as well. It's not as easy as one would think. Try the 6 in 1 stuff like someone else posted lol I was gonna do all the edges trimmed in it but it turned out to be a bracelet as that's all I could take lol.

Again really nice job!

Seriously, it had to have shrunk!