Myself (and other group members) have been using http://www.capapie.co.uk/ for a while now rather than GDFB.

We found overall better build quality, better customer service, and cheaper stuff (and no baggy sleeves!). Although there's usually a wait time and I'm not sure on Mark's delivery charges to the US (assuming he takes international orders).

He also offers an additional service (through another company) to tailor to your needs before shipping (eg if you want an integral coif/mufflers etc.)

Just be careful on sizing. His chest sizes really are at absolute full stretch, so go for the bigger one if you're unsure..

Thanks for the responses.

Ahmad - my persona within the re-enactment group is of a Sassanian cavalry. However, I don't think the group is too fussed with exact ring sizes and shape, so long as it's made up in an authentic way (rivetted / rivetted with solid links).

Although truth be told I hadn't considered options such as round section / flat section when I asked them. I think Get Dressed For Battle (the online shop, I don't know if it's the same as the GDFB company, which seems to have a separate website, just to confuse matters ...) has a rivetted round ring mail too, but without the solid rings.

There was a piece found at Dura Europos. I think it was 6 mm, my friend has the book so I will have to check with him what the exact specs were.

Thanks for the links. I will definitely consider Cap a Pie. Having not-baggy sleeves is definitely a good thing! Were medieval pieces really that black? Some old ones I've seen are more grey than black. I guess I have a lot to learn!

Some were blackened, some not.

The Morgan bible definately shows some in black mail (although they are the minority)

Thanks Dan. The internet only speaks of one Sassanian shirt found there. I will get the book. Didn't realise there were aventails as well. The best modern representation I suppose would be a 6 mm ID ring (or an 8 mm, for the very few larger pieces)

Thanks Ahmad. Yes, 800 GBP is too much to pay for a shirt. I was considering getting the starter rivetted mail (which is 8 mm, round links, no solid rings) but is much cheaper, and I'd be getting several squares of mail or their skirt to turn into an aventail as well.

Of course, the group leaders will have the final say as to how close I'd need to be to the historic excavated shirts regarding ring size and conformation. These are just my thoughts.

Of course, first I'd need to find out exactly what shape aventail I'd need. Taq-e-bostan shows a full face veil. The Parthian lancer at Dura might be a face veil, or it might be a face mask with a mail neck guard (or it might be nothing at all!). The Firuzabad cavalry don't appear to wearing aventails, and it's unclear whether they are wearing face masks or not. I've seen bits of mail on the helmets at the British Museum, but they are small fragments anyway.
Can anyone recommend me any other references or sources to find out the shape?

Does anyone know how the fit of the long-sleeved Ulfberth mail shirt is (I'll call the shirts from the Get Dressed For Battle UK shop "Ulfberth" to save confusion)>

Thanks :)

so for a viking/ rus/ byzantine era (10th century) kit, would it be more authentic to have flat, or round rings?

Round. I think there is no evidence of flat rings before 14th century if I remember well.

@Luka: Are you sure you're not confusing the shape of the rings with the shape of the rivets? For 10th century I'd say flat rings with round rivet heads.

Hm, I really think there was no flat rings (at least no evidence of them) in viking/norman period, but I'll have to check now...

The earliest flat rings I have seen are a piece attached to the Soghdian-Sassanian helmet (6th - 7th C) in the British Museum. I think there are other pieces of flat maille that correspond to the Turks in Central Asia and Ukraine - I know of a couple of Khazar pieces that appear to have square-section rings (which you could approximate with flat ones).

Not sure whether this would apply any further west than Ukraine/Crimea though ...

I expect someone has already posted this but just in case.

http://www.actakonservering.se/acta/Ringbrynjehuva.html

Rough translation - "In April 2004, found intact in the tower room on Tofta church on Gotland. The hood is unique in view of its exceptionally well preserved and because of its original leather straps remain. The hood was carbon 14 to the 1200s."