Ringbrynje

Welcome to The Armoury. Following is a brief introduction to the history of
chainmail. If you are interested in more detailed information on the
chainmail made at Ringbrynje, enter one of the armoury's rooms by clicking
on one of the shield links above.

History of Chainmail: From the 6th century until the 13th, chainmail was the
primary form of armour worn by the medieval, European warrior. In those
days, chainmail was made by hammering iron into thin rods and then
drawing the rods into wire. The wire was then formed into rings by coiling it
around a mandril and cutting it with a hammer and chisel. The ends of the
rings were overlapped, flattened, and pierced with a punch. After linking the
rings in the standard European pattern, four rings through a common fifth,
the rings ends of each ring were riveted. A full suit of mail could cost a
warrior as much as a year's salary.

Japanese mail was formed by joining together rings with no join.
These rings were formed with a double wind similar to a split key-ring and
were very strong, reputedly able to stop arrows.