Does anybody know SN Exports -- myArmoury.com

Reinier van Noort · Posted: Wed 13 Jun, 2007 6:24 am Post subject: Does anybody know SN Exports

SN Exports
www.eindiabusiness.com/wedgerivetedchainmail

They are from India and make relatively cheap riveted maille; if they are for real...

Does anybody here have any experience dealing with them? So far they seem friendly and helpful, but I am not sure if I can trust my hard-earned cash to them... (the dutch and their money, huh).
I was hoping that perhaps somebody here had experience in dealing with them, or knew somebody who had bought some of their product.

Cheers

R

Robin Smith · Posted: Wed 13 Jun, 2007 7:35 am Post subject:

I have bought a wedge riveted coif from them, and there are members on ArmourArchive who have had good dealings with them. So far they seem to be on the up and up...

Mikael Ranelius · Posted: Wed 13 Jun, 2007 11:53 am Post subject:

I've ordered a haubergeon from them (together with others in a single large order). unfortunately the shipping has been delayed but I hope to get it next week. But I know of people who have ordered from them and are satisfied with the result

Reinier van Noort · Posted: Thu 14 Jun, 2007 2:29 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies. I had encountered their website before in my searches for affordable maille, but never knew what to think of it. A day after I decided that riveted maille would be out of my reach for another few years, a thread about them sprung up on armourarchive.org.

Because of the posts there, the reactions here, and another reference I found on the internet, I and two friends of mine have now ordered three hauberks and 3 coifs of wedge-riveted maille from them. I will keep you guys updated. It seems that it may take a while before we get the stuff (few months) but the service is very friendly (so far) and I am excited!

R

Robin Smith · Posted: Wed 20 Jun, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject:

Per request by Chad, I will post my thoughts on my transaction with SN Exports:
Overall I was impressed with the quality of the coif I received from SN Exports. The entire process, from payment to recieving of the coif took about a month. It was the size I wanted, and my only major complaint was that I had asked for one in steel oil finish, and the coif I received was blackened. However, this wasn't that big of a deal, since I could vinegar bath it more cheaply than I could ship it back to India.
Here is a pic of me in the coif from SN Exports. The hauberk is from Von Sussen.
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=10423
All in all, the quality control was very good on the coif. I didn't have to replace any links on it so far. I've not had any problem with durability or shedding links either.
So all in all, I think SN is pretty decent. I'm not sure what to think about them sending a blackened finish, when I made it clear I wanted steel oil finish in several emails though. Nothing that couldn't be fixed however, as you can see in the pic. I managed to get the finish quite close to my hauberk with a vinegar bath, so...

Michal Plezia · Industry Professional

What kinds of payment do they accept?Credit card?

By the way-which type of rings would be best(most historically correct) for 2nd half of the 15century?

Reinier van Noort · Posted: Thu 21 Jun, 2007 6:38 am Post subject:

Bank transfer and similar methods only.
That's the downside.

Michal Plezia · Industry Professional

Bank transfer Worried

hmm once tried to buy some brass nail from Czech Republic for my new brigandine...the cost of the transfer was 40%of the cost of the nails+shiping Worried

Dan Dickinson · Industry Professional

Well, it looked like they also accepted Western Union Money Orders, which I believe you can many places for around $.60 With one of those instead of a bank transfer it would be significantly cheaper,
Dan

Robin Smith · Posted: Thu 21 Jun, 2007 9:43 am Post subject:

I paid them via Western Union. You can do this online, and its not much to do it...

Michal Plezia · Industry Professional

This is strange.This is what they said to me:

Robin Smith · Posted: Fri 22 Jun, 2007 9:22 am Post subject:

My order was made about 6 months ago, so perhaps the policy has changed since then.

Mikael Ranelius · Posted: Fri 06 Jul, 2007 10:14 am Post subject:

My wedge-riveted haubergeon has finally arrived, after much dealy. Despite this, I'm very happy with my order and I can honestly recommend SN Exports if you want good quality maille at a resonable price. The shirt weighs 8kg or 17,5 lb, the flat, blackened rings are 9 mm ID, and are neatly riveted without flaws. My only "problem" is that it feels a bit long for me (I'm 172 cm or 5 ft 7"), but it should fit a 6 ft person perfectly. Anyway shortening the shirt with a couple of inches would not be too difficult.

Photobucket image

Reinier van Noort · Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 5:44 am Post subject:

That looks really nice.

I am quite hopeful that our order will be sent in about a week now...

Reinier van Noort · Posted: Wed 05 Dec, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject:

I received my order today. It was delayed in customs for over a week. The mail hauberk looks really nice (and totally black; whereas the shirt on the picture above looks more metallic).

My hauberk has slits up the front and back, long sleeves that are longer than my arms and wide enough for movement, and a headhole that's different front to back.

The coif fits very nicely both with and without padded coif underneath, and has really nice long skirts.

I'm going to an event this weekend, so that should give me ample oppurtunity to test the hauberk, and get some nice piccies made. So far I am very very happy!

EDIT: According to my wife, my hauberk ring colour is the same as in the above picture.

Sean Smith · Posted: Thu 06 Dec, 2007 10:13 am Post subject:

There are now two importers of SN mail for US distribution. Icefalcon.com carries round riveted, and Historic Enterprises carries wedge riveted.

Mark T · Posted: Fri 25 Jul, 2014 10:50 pm Post subject:

Augusto Boer Bront · Industry Professional

I think this guy in the US is importing their stuff now http://www.customchainmail.com

Victor R. · Posted: Sat 26 Jul, 2014 7:17 pm Post subject:

It appears Kult of Athena is handling SN Exports products.

I had noticed new mail offerings with alternating riveted/solid ring construction on KoA under the name "Lord of Battles", for what seems to be a pretty good price. In an attempt to research feedback on the supplier, I found the LoB FB page, which links to SN Exports.

That said, I suppose I can look into my "medieval room" (aka, my office) for quality - because of this thread, I now know that the all round-rivet hauberk I got from Icefalcon a few years ago is produced by SN Exports. It's well constructed and I'm happy with it. If I eventually go for the alternating ring variety, I know I'm likely to be happy with the KoA offering.