Hey y'all,
Anyone have any experience with Von Sussen (a seller of Mail on Ebay)? I've looked around for decently priced mail, and like the look of his flattened wedge-rivetted mail shirts. Otherwise though, I'm just looking for some good makers to go to for rivetted mail shirts (hauberk or byrnie); preferably with flattened rings. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)

Haven't dealt with them (got mine from Kings lance) but I have heard good things about them. It seems their mail is almost identical to those which people say are "high quality" but at a cheaper price. How ever it seems that the trade off is that the quality control is somewhat lacking and you will need to replace a number of links.

I have a Von Sussen Wedge Riveted Hauberk. Its great, although it did need a handful of links replaced. A friend also has the stainless round rivet shirt. It is also of good quality. Don't buy the mild steel round rivet however. I have heard unfavorable things about it....
If you have any more questions, or would like some pics of the hauberk, PM me...

alright thank y'all very much :)

I'm luckily not particularly a fan of galvanized shirts; I like the look of the darker "baked-on" oil finish as he calls it. Does anyone know a good resource for learning just how to replace bad links in such a shirt? I've never dealt with mail before, so I should probably start reading up on that before I spring for the 8mm flattened wedge byrnie. Thank y'all again!

I use 9mm rings from Forth Armoury for repairs, since the Von Sussen Hauberk I got, though advertised as 8mm, was actually 9mm. It was a long though, at 36" from shoulder to hem, as opposed to 30", so perhaps thats why its 9mm. You'll also want a pair of riveting tongs. It makes the job much easier...

As for other places to get flat riveted maille, I've seen www.wholesalearmor.com selling round riveted flat rings.

M.

Yeah wholesalearmor.com is Kings lance on e-bay. Their mail is decent and cheaper than von sussens but it is the zinc dipped stuff so be prepared to do some vinegar soaking. Plus like Mr. Eversberg said it is round rivet on flat link that they have most often. Every once is a while you will see a wedge riveted one fore about $50 more.

so I got a shirt from wholesale armor; galvanized and flat, round rivetted. Thank y'all very much for the advice!! Now though, what is the actual process one needs follow to remove zinc plating and, hopefully achieve a "baked on oil" appearance/protection for the mail? Thank y'all again!

Your going to need to do an over night vinegar bath to strip the maille. Muratic acid works as well, but you need to be careful, since it'll strip through the zinc pretty fast, and starting eating away steel. PLEASE, PLEASE be careful of the zinc fumes done either way. THEY CAN KILL YOU! Only do this outdoors!!!
To get the baked on finish, you will have to do that as a seperate step. Personally, I like the look of a steel finish. It takes more maintanence, but is more historical I believe. You can also seal in floor polish for a less hassle approach. However if you still want a blackened baked on finish, it can be achieved by soaking the maille in oil (not sure what kind) and placing in your oven set on high. I believe throwing it on the grill will work too. It doesn't really add that much rust prevention. However once blackened, a rust converter product can be used on any rust that develops and it will match the blackened finish, since rust converters turn rust black.
I would like to add that a steel finish is not hard to maintain. My hauberk gets fought in weekly, often twice a week, and I don't have any rust. And this is the humid swamps of Louisiana. I do keep it lighty oiled with Ballistol, but will soon be sealing with floor polish...