Chainmail rings and accessories
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Chainmail rings form the basic material for all chainmail armour – whether you want to make your own chainmail shirt, repair existing armour, or undertake a historical project such as the Roman lorica hamata. In this category, you’ll find individual chainmail rings in various materials, sizes and styles, as well as the appropriate tools and accessories for working with them. If you’re looking to buy a hauberk or haubergeon, you’ll also find ready-made pieces in the shop – this section is all about making and repairing your own.
Materials at a glance: steel, brass and aluminium
The choice of material determines the appearance, weight, maintenance requirements and historical authenticity of your project. Every alloy has clear strengths – and limitations.
| Material | Suitability | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel | Reenactment | A robust classic, the most authentic look, prone to rust – regular maintenance required |
| Blued steel | Historical | Slightly oxidised surface, reduces light reflections, historically accurate appearance |
| Brass | Antique / Roman | Golden hue, corrosion-resistant, ideal for ancient armour and Lorica Hamata |
| Aluminium | LARP | Very light, easy to maintain, rust-free – silvery sheen, not historically authentic |
Ring types: round, flat, stamped and riveted
Not all rings are the same – the cross-section and fastening method determine the density, stability and historical accuracy of the finished weave.
- Round rings: Circular cross-section, easily malleable, easier to bend – ideal for beginners
- Flat rings: Flattened cross-section, lies closer to the surface, historically documented type, particularly from the High Middle Ages onwards
- Both types are available in rivetable versions – for maximum stability
- Stamped rings: Made from stamped sheet metal, cheaper to produce, suitable for simpler projects and repairs
- Riveted rings: Sealed with a rivet head – the most historically authentic method, significantly more stable than simply bent rings
- Riveted versions require suitable tools and take more time
Understanding ring dimensions: inner diameter, gauge and wire width
Anyone buying chain rings will inevitably come across three technical specifications: inner diameter (ID), gauge (wire thickness) and ring width. The interplay of these values determines whether rings can be woven into a load-bearing mesh at all.
Inner diameter (ID): This determines how dense or open the finished weave will be. Typical sizes available are 6 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm and 10 mm. Smaller IDs result in a tighter, heavier weave – larger IDs are quicker to work with but are less dense. For classic chainmail, 8–9 mm has established itself as the practical standard.
Gauge (wire thickness): The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. 18 gauge (~1.3 mm) is suitable for finer patterns such as brass weave, whilst 16 gauge (~1.6 mm) produces more robust armour. The ratio of ID to wire thickness determines the so-called aspect ratio – too small a value makes the weave rigid, too large a value makes it unstable.
Rivet types: For rivetable rings, a distinction is made between mushroom-head rivets (round, flat-lying heads), round rivets and wedge rivets (triangular rivets). Wedge rivets are historically documented particularly for the late Middle Ages and allow for a particularly secure fastening – but require a suitably shaped rivet pliers.
How many rings are needed for a chainmail shirt?
The number of rings depends on the cut, size and ID used – the following guidelines apply to the classic 4-in-1 weave with an 8 mm inner diameter:
- Short-sleeved chainmail: approx. 15,000–20,000 rings
- Long-sleeved chainmail (hauberk) with hood: up to 30,000–40,000 rings
- Chainmail hood alone: approx. 5,000–8,000 rings depending on the cut
As a rule of thumb: 1 kg of steel rings (8 mm ID, 1.6 mm wire) yields approximately 1,200–1,500 rings. A complete hauberk therefore requires around 20–30 kg of ring material. If you wish to add chain hoods, chain arm guards or chain leg guards, it is best to plan generously and buy materials in larger quantities – this not only saves on postage costs but also ensures that all parts come from the same batch and match in colour.
Time required: For a short-sleeved, unriveted chainmail shirt, 200–300 hours is a realistic estimate. A fully riveted version can take 400–500 hours or more – riveted rings take significantly longer per piece than simply bent ones.
Historical manufacturing techniques: From antiquity to the late Middle Ages
The technique of chain mail weaving has evolved over the centuries – from simple iron rings to elaborately riveted plate composite armour.
Antiquity: Lorica Hamata
The Roman chainmail Lorica Hamata consisted of brass and iron rings. Characteristic features included the double-layered shoulder panels and hook-and-eye fastenings on the shoulder guards – archaeologically attested in Camulodunum and Dangstetten, among other sites. For reconstructions today, faithful-to-the-original brass rings with matching hook-and-eye sets are used.
Early Middle Ages
Unriveted round rings dominated production. The construction was simpler and quicker – though also more susceptible to deformation under strain. Many early medieval chainmail coats were comparatively short and were worn over a gambeson.
High Middle Ages: The breakthrough of riveting
From the High Middle Ages onwards, the technique of alternating riveting became established: in the classic 4-in-1 weave, punched and riveted rings were used alternately. This resulted in significantly more stable weaves that could withstand even heavier sword blows. The hauberk became the standard armour of the knight.
Late Middle Ages: Flat rings and wedge rivets
Flat rings with wedge rivets (triangular rivets) enabled particularly dense and heavy weaves. Chain mail was increasingly worn beneath plate armour and used to fill gaps between breast, arm and leg plates – visible, for example, in chain mail gloves and chain mail collars.
Tools for the chainmail maker: pliers, riveters and chain-making pliers
The right tools make all the difference between a pleasant and a frustrating working experience. Anyone who works with many thousands of rings will quickly realise why specialised chainmail-making tools are not a luxury option.
Ring-bending pliers: The most important basic tool. The special flat head with a hand-forged joint allows for precise bending and closing of the rings without slipping. The pliers are designed for typical ring diameters of 6–10 mm – at approx. 21 cm in length, they sit comfortably in the hand, even after several hours of work.
Riveting pliers for round rivets: The soft tip of the riveting pliers prevents damage to the rivet head surface during closing. This version is the first choice for mushroom-head rivets and round rivets.
Riveting pliers for wedge rivets (triangular rivets): The angled head allows access at an angle to tightly woven rings where standard pliers cannot grip cleanly. Indispensable for historically accurate late medieval work.
Vervelles: Brass rivets for attaching a chain collar to a helmet crest – a specialised accessory required for helmet integration. Sets of 12 are available individually.
Which material for which project?
Loose stamped steel rings in 8 mm are ideal for initial repairs to existing chainmail pieces or as affordable practice material. No riveting required – round-nose pliers are sufficient.
Aluminium rings are considerably lighter than steel and completely rust-free. Ideal for performers who regularly wear and transport their armour. The silvery sheen is well suited to fantasy performances, but not authentic enough for historical re-enactment.
Blued or ungalvanised carbon steel, riveted round rings in 8 mm with mushroom-head or wedge rivets – this is the basis for a historically accurate portrayal. Brass round rings with mushroom-head rivets in 6 mm or 9 mm for Roman portrayals (Lorica Hamata), including a matching hook-and-eye set.
Whether you want to make a complete chainmail shirt yourself, repair individual parts or reconstruct an antique piece such as the Lorica Hamata – here you’ll find the right rings, tools and accessories for every task. Browse through our range and get started on your project.
Frequently asked questions
That depends on the intended use. For historical re-enactment, burnished or ungalvanised carbon steel is recommended – it looks authentic, but is prone to rust and requires maintenance. For LARP and stage use, aluminium is the better choice: significantly lighter, rust-free and easy to maintain. For Roman re-enactments such as the Lorica Hamata, brass is used – corrosion-resistant and historically documented.
A short-sleeved chainmail shirt in the classic 4-in-1 weave requires around 15,000–20,000 rings with an 8 mm inner diameter. A long-sleeved hauberk with a hood can require up to 30,000–40,000 rings. As a rule of thumb: 1 kg of steel rings (8 mm, 1.6 mm wire width) yields approximately 1,200–1,500 rings.
For a short-sleeved, unriveted chainmail, 200–300 hours is a realistic estimate. A fully riveted version can take 400–500 hours or more, as riveting each individual ring is significantly more time-consuming than simply bending and closing it. The craftsman’s experience plays a significant role in this.
In the High Middle Ages, the 4-in-1 weave with alternating punched and riveted rings became the standard. Rings were wound from iron wire, cut to size individually and then hooked together by hand and riveted – an extremely labour-intensive manual process. In the Late Middle Ages, flat rings with wedge rivets emerged, producing a particularly dense and stable weave and were often worn beneath plate armour.
Stamped rings are punched from sheet metal and are cheaper and quicker to produce, but less sturdy – they can open more easily under stress. Riveted rings are secured with a rivet after being interlocked, resulting in a significantly stronger connection. Riveted versions correspond to the historically more authentic method from the High Middle Ages onwards and are clearly preferable for re-enactment.