Has anyone had recent experience getting a historically accurate mail hauberk (around 1200-1225ish)? I've perused the threads on this topic but most aren't exactly current. I'm looking to begin building a 13th century kit that may be able to use the mail for other related kits.

Historical accuracy is a sliding measurement. Is the wire made from streaky steel or wrought iron with silica stringers? Is the size and shape of the ring accurate? And the list can go on...

Even worse, what extant mail can we date to that period to use as a metric for comparison?

Yep. The best we can do is select a specific museum example and try to make the replica as close as possible. That means having an example from which to take measurements and metallurgical analyses.

This day and age, you are pretty much left with three choices--Buy India-made mail, buy custom made mail($$$$), or buy rings and make it yourself as you see fit. I bought my haubergeon and coif from KOA, made by Lord of Battles, and I'm perfectly happy with it. Fits like a second skin, especially now that I have edged the sleeves of the shirt and the face of the coif with leather and lacing to be able to draw them up a bit. :) ....McM

Thanks all. Dan, you bring up an excellent point and one I've considered; recognizing that these variables are even more compounded by location - i.e. Scandinavia versus continent, etc. ad infinitum. Ultimately, I'm looking for mail that could be considered accurate for some key markers that seem to be shared by extant fragments and sources of the period (and as far as mail is concerned, even carried over form earlier eras). Two of the most important being the alternating rows of riveted and solid rings, and a four-in-one pattern.

I recognize that doing it on my own is the best method...but I'm wary of the amount of skill necessary to produce the necessary pattern.

Dan, your article here on mail was very instrumental in my desire to begin a harness of this time period. Thanks for your scholarship.

I'd get in touch with Isak Krogh. I've never seen better maille than the one he makes himself. For customer he takes Indian maille and reworks it entirely to fit the customer. And he 's cheap since he 's new in the business. I'll get some stuff from him as well ^^

There are several good Polish makers. https://www.facebook.com/loricator/

Take a look at AllBestStuff

Thanks for the helpful info.

There is very little mail that can be securely dated as coming from that time. I doubt flat link was in use, yet, but early wedge rivets might have been used. About certain that half the rings were still solid. The weight of the shirt might well be a lot heavier than later shirts. Check the 'heavy shirt' (37 lbs) posted on the 'Authentic Mail Pictures' thread. I believe it is the oldest armour I have worked on. It has few parallels, and I think it predates 1300 A.D. I wonder what Simon Metcalf would say.
http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=293...;start=460