For mail to hang correctly the rows must be horizontal.
All the surviving pieces of mail I know of are constructed in this way
That article and description is illustrating my point, Steve - more likely I didnt make myself clear (and I think I know why - have a look at diagram labeled "starting the piece"- thats what in my mind I refered as rows - because thats how you add rings when you make it, pure practicality, shown horizontal, but in the mail - these rows go vertical)
For our discussion - its
horizontal rows of
opposing rings, indeed.
Have a look to compare- here is the diagram from the article (coincidentally, its same article I read about 15 years ago when I started - thank you, it brought some memories
)
and close up where I made a little illustration - you can see what I mean - and this exactly what this mail maker is saying.
The weight of the rings in Rob's version would pull down so not only they would stretch like wool jumper and leave empty spaces between rings, but also the "fabric" of mail would hang like a sack along whole diameter of the shirt.
Where as when its done like on diagram - the rings group together by their own weight and density of rings gets thicker, also they tend to flow around your body like a glove, following your shape thus making armour better.
I am no expert on mail but are we 100% sure that mail was not done other ways .
Kev,
Steve has just answered, but yes, based on surviving examples in Europe, thats the way. Japanese mail is different.
This european example is 1 in 4 rings method, but you sometimes get 2 in 8 - those mails were very rigid, but very secure, usually reserved for kings I believe
