[John H]

I think this is the right forum?

I have a suit of armor being built right now and am looking for a mail skirt to go under it. I have found one that suits my needs online but I am unsure of the size I should be looking for.

My waist is 34 inches (I'm 5'11'' and 185 lbs.). The piece of mail I am considering is 50 inches in circ at the top and 60 at the bottom (20 inches tall). I would be wearing a padded gambeson under it.

So, my question is if this piece is too big for me? I know I want plenty of play so that I can move in it (fight, crouch, run, etc.). What do you say? Thanks!

[Dan Howard]

Depends on whether it is properly taillored on not. If it is just a tube with sleeves then it needs to be much larger than if it has contractions and expansions in the right places to fit the body more snugly.

[John H]

This is just the fauld or skirt that belts at the waist and covers the bottom of your torso under the breastplate.

[Ed Toton]

How is it going to hang? Is it sewn onto a leather belt, or does it have loops/hooks to hang from one, or attached by some other means?

If the measure is the circumference of the maximum extension of the mail itself, you definitely want it bigger than your waist size by quite a bit. 50% oversize sounds pretty good. The mail will pull together under its own weight and is pretty accommodating if it hasn't been restricted in some way.

[John H]

Good info. Actually, I would be interested in suggestions on how to suspend it. It would come with just the mail, no suspension system whatsoever. I was thinking of punching holes along the bottom edge of a belt and lacing/stringing the mail to it. What is the historical approach?

[Bill Grandy]