How to avoid "tear" in maille armpit? -- myArmoury.com

Mikael Ranelius

A problem I've had with my maille shirts - even my new riveted haubergeon - is that one or two rings tend to snap loose in the armpit where the sleeves join the body. Is this unavoidable or could it be fixed?

Jean Thibodeau

Nathan Keysor · Posted: Sun 08 Jul, 2007 5:24 am Post subject:

This probably won't help you too much on a the shirt you have since it is rivetted, but the easiest way to build in some flexibility is to add in gussets (especially with a long sleeved shirt). These are triangular or diamond shaped sections of mail that can be used to add room/countour the mail to fit. Basically, you split open what would otherwise be a straight tube and add the gusset in. This does change the lay of the rings a bit but is not really that noticeable when you are wearing the mail. I don't usually bother to make mail since it's available so cheaply from India, but when I did I would use gussets at the armits, elbows, etc.

Hope that helped,

Nathan

Mikael Ranelius · Posted: Sun 08 Jul, 2007 7:55 am Post subject:

Okey, thanks. I guess it would be pretty difficult to go in and try tailoring the armpits, although gussets would have been ideal. Perhaps one should expect to regularly repair the armpits of a maille shirt?

Lafayette C Curtis · Posted: Sun 08 Jul, 2007 10:50 pm Post subject:

Well, just as an aside, I don't think it would be ahistorical to do repairs/customizations like this--I have no trouble imagining a man-at-arms busting his hauberk's armpit the first time he wore it and then bringing it to his lord's armorer to get a better fit.

Nathan Keysor · Posted: Mon 09 Jul, 2007 8:04 am Post subject:

I agree. If it is possible to acquire some loose links from whoever you bought it from you could add in gussets. Of course this is a lot easier to do on a butted shirt Sad

Mikael Ranelius · Posted: Mon 09 Jul, 2007 8:46 am Post subject:

Well I guess it won't be too difficult. After all, I've made two maille shirts myself + two hoods. How large should the gussets be?

James Barker · Posted: Mon 09 Jul, 2007 10:25 am Post subject:

Extant maille shirts have gussets in them and are tailored for the wearer; I too have had this problem and need to add a gusset; it is on my project list. I think Van Sussen sells loose rings for his shirts; I have a GDFB shirt and I have loose rings for it because I did tailoring to it when I bought it.

Nathan Keysor · Posted: Mon 09 Jul, 2007 11:27 am Post subject:

Depending on how big you are I would say at least 4 inches. On my long sleeved shirt I have them on the points of the elbows as well.