Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/212

Fig. 509. The manufacture of chain mail

According to the theory of the late Mr. A. Burges, A.R.A., from "Ancient Helmets and Examples of Mail," reprinted from the "Archaeological Journal"

A. The foundation or rod on which the wire is wound, with wire in position
B. The wire in rings, the ends overlapping
C. The ends of the rings flattened by hammering
D. The flattened ends of the rings pierced by a punch
E. The triangular rivet in position
F, G. The joint finished off between two punches, an upper and lower
H. A ring of mail double riveted by a clamp
I, J, K. Method of making a ring when it was desired to thicken the rivet juncture and so
      stiffen the mesh
L, M, N. Method of making an unjoined ring, the centre punched out, the outside trimmed off

Perhaps before we mention those complete hauberks and other portions of chain mail that we can assign to the end of the XIVth century, we should say a few words as to the construction of the apparently complicated mesh of which they are composed. As in the case of many manufactured articles the make of which seems difficult to understand, the process of chain mail "weaving" once grasped is seen to be extremely simple. The actual medium of the chain mail was iron wire, of varying thickness according to the need, either drawn out mechanically, a process discovered, it is maintained, in the early years of the XIVth century, or formed of thin strips of metal rounded by means of the hammer. This thread of iron of the requisite thickness had then to be made into rings. This was accomplished by obtaining a cylindrical bar of metal, a little smaller in diameter than that of the ring. Round this was carefully wound the wire, each twist being afterwards cut with a chisel; for the iron was worked cold. The cut ends were then flattened with a hammer or strong pincers until they overlapped; and