Making Mail Armour (Part 1)

I made my first proper metal mail when I was about fifteen. Using galvanized garden fence wire, I wound it around a wooden dowel and cut the rings by hand with a hacksaw—it was a slow process. Later, in my school’s metalwork room, I used a lathe to wind coils around a steel rod, which made things much easier.

In this video, I talk about making butted mail using pre-made links, offering a more efficient approach to this traditional craft.