r/chainmailartisans • u/Chaotic_Evil_558 • 1d ago

Help! Equipping an Army!

Trying to figure out the best way to go about equipping an army with decent chain mail. My biggest issue right now is figuring out sizing. Ideally I want a one size fits all solution. Is there a standardized style of chainmail that would allow me to equip 95%+ of my forces with the same Hauberk/top? E.g something with straps and/or that folds over itself with a belt?

Ultimately I want to be able to give almost everyone the same piece and have sufficient adjustability for it to work well enough. I know this might mean many will be wearing more weight than absolutely necessary but so be it.

Still early in the process here and really just looking to learn more any and all feedback or advice is highly appreciated.

0 Upvotes

33% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/darkrid3r 1d ago

In theory you should have access to what sized T-Shirt they wear when gear was issued. That data will allow you to build a "once size fits all" the issue with chainmaille is it does not expand like a shirt does, so if they gain or loose weight you may have issues.

Your guy that wears an XL will size up to a 2xl on chainmaille, but that will be super heavy and excessive for a guy in am medium shirt (upsized to a large)

Im not sure that this is an easy thing to accomplish.
You can easily put in straps to "suck it up" so to speak, or have leather on the side where they would put it on like a smock and tie the sides up.

What is the purpose of outfitting them? anti stab? It wont block a round from a gun, even if its stainless steel. Anti stab yes. 12g aluminium would do that too vs stainless steel.

So many questions.

3

u/sirkudzu 1d ago

Are you making this armor or buying?

3

u/altiboris 1d ago

I know this is the chain mail sub but just in case this helps (I don’t know what the context is); Monty Python used chunky knit pieces with the purl (back) sides out to resemble chain mail. Much lighter weight. However if you need it to actually work for defense it won’t do much.

2

u/semper_sunshine 1d ago

If you really wanted one size fits all, I think you could do front and back vest pieces with leather lacing on the tops of the shoulder and the sides. The place you’re going to run to customization issues is neck hole, arm hole, and waist so something like leather straps would give you flexibility. If you wanted sleeves you’d also need lacing down one side of those. But it probably wouldn’t look like ‘decent chainmail’