Chainmail in Steampunk?

[Korax]

I now have visions of silver chainmail... not very effective against sharp weapons, but lethal to vampires as they attempt to bite...

Make standard steel mail and then weave duplicate silver rings through it in strategic places. Strong and lyc repellent with minimal weight gain. And also good against faeries.

[hardlec]

If you wish to make mail to be an attractive addition to a costume, you can do some interesting things with using different metals to create patterns. 

Steel  is a good material, relatively easy to work with.  There are types of stainless that work very well.  Aluminium is also useful, but be careful because body chemistry's don't take well to it.  Nickle silver and bronze are attractive, but any copper-based alloy has a strong possibility of turning green. 

Silver mail is unquestionably some of the most beautiful stuff you will find.  It may be better to create a necklace of mail, which also has the ability to put off mosquitoes/lampreys/leeches oh: Vampires.  Were-beavers, were-possums, were-muskrats, oh werewolves find it obnoxious too.

[ganghiss]

Period metals for chainmail available for most Steampunk realms: aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, silver, gold, steel. Titanium could be considered if given some technology leeway (metal form of it produced in 1932 outside labs).

• Aluminum: light weight, pretty, fairly rugged (and used to be considered a precious metal); great for jewelry.
• Brass: need I say more?
• Bronze: contains copper and is a bit heavy
• Copper: previously mentioned turning green issue, also not so great inside the body in large amounts (which can build up over time); great for jewelry
• Silver: tarnishes, cheap but not as cheap as aluminum (now); great for jewelry
• Gold: expensive; great for jewelry
• Steel: very rugged, very heavy
• Titanium: rugged, light weight, expensive

You can accessorize a Steampunk outfit with any chainmail piece (jewelry or non-). Personally, I find creativity allows for more possibilities and explains design choices better than period anal-retentiveness. After all, if not for the wild and creative ideas that formed time machines, analytical machines, and the Nautilus, the existence of Steampunk would have been severely inhibited.

[helios]

I now have visions of silver chainmail... not very effective against sharp weapons, but lethal to vampires as they attempt to bite...

Make standard steel mail and then weave duplicate silver rings through it in strategic places. Strong and lyc repellent with minimal weight gain. And also good against faeries.

Now there's an interesting point. Are the fae susceptible to steel, as well as iron? If so, is there any specific type of steel that isn't? Is it the iron ore content in the metal that repels/harms them, or possibly the magnetic properties? In which case, does stainless steel, lacking the ferrous nature of other steels, harm the fae? And if steel does, does cast iron? I realise it's technically iron, but it has been made in a similar way to steel, with, in point of fact, more carbon content!
And one must not ignore the possibility that I am over analysing this, and that the fae, as  creatures of magic, are not bound by our physical laws.

[T.Taylor the Third]

As a time traveler, I oftan come in contact with people welding blades rather than guns,so i have been pondering having some made in the shape of a vest and then attaching said vest to said mail.

[Mr. Boltneck]

I've recently started experimenting with an old Japanese mail pattern of 6-1, in which large rings are connected by small rings in a hexagonal pattern. It is interesting stuff, and very different from International 4-1 and its relatives. For one thing, it is less "directional" in that it folds and bends equally in any direction, and has a "drape" that is very unlike 4-1. I'm currently working in 14ga. butted steel wire, and it seems quite sturdy in this pattern.

[Levi Cale]

Chainmail curtains would certainly prove useful if some madman besieged you're house.

My mind actually would spring to a Pith helmet, I don't know how I can explain this proper but here it goes.

My fireplace has this fire screen that's made out of something that looks like chainmail. You can divide it down the middle and pull it to the sides. My idea is make something like that, with really small bits of mail make like a shower-curtain you could open from the middle, possibly putting a zipper down the middle. Its real world function would be to attempt to reduce shrapnel injury to the face, and also as a plus side it could be used as a big net.

[Narsil]

I now have visions of silver chainmail... not very effective against sharp weapons, but lethal to vampires as they attempt to bite...

Make standard steel mail and then weave duplicate silver rings through it in strategic places. Strong and lyc repellent with minimal weight gain. And also good against faeries.

Now there's an interesting point. Are the fae susceptible to steel, as well as iron? If so, is there any specific type of steel that isn't? Is it the iron ore content in the metal that repels/harms them, or possibly the magnetic properties? In which case, does stainless steel, lacking the ferrous nature of other steels, harm the fae? And if steel does, does cast iron? I realise it's technically iron, but it has been made in a similar way to steel, with, in point of fact, more carbon content!
And one must not ignore the possibility that I am over analysing this, and that the fae, as  creatures of magic, are not bound by our physical laws.

Actually many stainless steels have similar magnetic properties to other steels, it's only austinitic stainless which is non-magnetic, in fact most steels will form austinitic structures at high enough temperatures and lose their magnetic properties (this is a vital property for heat treating) but only certain classes of stainless can maintain this structure at lower temperatures.

[Brass Lass]

I've recently started experimenting with an old Japanese mail pattern of 6-1, in which large rings are connected by small rings in a hexagonal pattern. It is interesting stuff, and very different from International 4-1 and its relatives. For one thing, it is less "directional" in that it folds and bends equally in any direction, and has a "drape" that is very unlike 4-1. I'm currently working in 14ga. butted steel wire, and it seems quite sturdy in this pattern.

I was going to mention this very flower like pattern myself so good to see someone else knew of it.  It would also be lighter then most 4 in 1 and still effective against slashing weapons as well as pretty I think I'll incorporate it into my treasure hunter/air pirate outfit.

Grrrrr yet another project - but one that uses a skill I already have instead of learning from scratch

[Brass Lass]

Found a picture of the pattern.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Thinking about this pattern and the discussion so far I'd like to take a moment to consider the merits of this style.

Mail draw backs:
1) Weight - This pattern used less metal to cover the area therefore less weight
2) Bullets turn it to Schrapnel - Again Less metal means less added damage
3) Less effective vs Piercing attacks - Even less so but still lighter and more flexible

Advantages
1) Great against blades - Still a layer of metal to ward of slashing and cutting attacks, especialy good over leather
2) Great against animal attacks - Maybe not as effective but still lighter and imedes movement less - practice your dodge and weave..
3) Looks awsome - This style also looks exotic and what world or time traveling steam punk doesn't want that??

[ganghiss]

3) Less effective vs Piercing attacks - Even less so but still lighter and more flexible

You can increase the effectiveness against piercing attacks by making adjustments to the ratio between inner diameter and wire gauge.

[twilightbanana]

I would suggest using even smaller rings for the 'standing' rings than those used in the picture. It will look more tidy, weigh less, and most likely even be stronger (as long as you still use the same wire thickness).

[Mr. Boltneck]

I am, in fact, using much smaller diameter connecting rings (relative to the large rings) than the ones in the picture. It allows the mesh to lie flat.

[hardlec]

Being pulled in two directions:

For protection:  I would use either Titanium if I could afford it or steel. 
Now with steel there are several ways to go. 
One way is to make the rings of mild steel, then pass an intense current through the maile and electrically weld the butt joints.  My welding teacher showed me how to do this, I would talk to instructors at a tech school to find someone who could.  It will take equipment not available to most individuals.   
Make double wrap rings.  Make them of a mild alloy, then heat treat the whole piece and make it spring hard after building.  Another option would be to have the rings case hardened after they piece was made.  None of the above is purely period, but, well, I won't tell if you won't.

The "dragon hide" pattern is one large ring with 4 smaller rings holding them together.  Nearly useless as "armor, the large ring can be a precious or semi-precious metal and the small rings can be beads.  This is very nice for ornamental purposes.

I have whole books of patters for maile.  It can be functional, pretty and sometimes both.   

[Lord Wraste]

From an historical site I used to frequent.
Great information and very well researched, you can find more in their forum on the subject as they then discussed the article.

http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_mail.html

Enjoy.

[Wayland2002]

As a time traveler, I oftan come in contact with people welding blades rather than guns,so i have been pondering having some made in the shape of a vest and then attaching said vest to said mail.

You come across some funny people when you time travel

[Sir Nikolas of Vendigroth]

You come across some funny people when you time travel

Viking Spaceman is awesome.

[Wayland2002]

Saxon rather than Viking (but very close). Looks like a very early cyberman in a way.

[helios]

I now have visions of silver chainmail... not very effective against sharp weapons, but lethal to vampires as they attempt to bite...

Make standard steel mail and then weave duplicate silver rings through it in strategic places. Strong and lyc repellent with minimal weight gain. And also good against faeries.

Now there's an interesting point. Are the fae susceptible to steel, as well as iron? If so, is there any specific type of steel that isn't? Is it the iron ore content in the metal that repels/harms them, or possibly the magnetic properties? In which case, does stainless steel, lacking the ferrous nature of other steels, harm the fae? And if steel does, does cast iron? I realise it's technically iron, but it has been made in a similar way to steel, with, in point of fact, more carbon content!
And one must not ignore the possibility that I am over analysing this, and that the fae, as  creatures of magic, are not bound by our physical laws.

Actually many stainless steels have similar magnetic properties to other steels, it's only austinitic stainless which is non-magnetic, in fact most steels will form austinitic structures at high enough temperatures and lose their magnetic properties (this is a vital property for heat treating) but only certain classes of stainless can maintain this structure at lower temperatures.

Interesting. Thanks for the info. However, what about the fae?

[hardlec]

IIRC:  There is enough iron in steel alloys to discourage the fey, elves and trolls. 

Of course, if the maile is worn inside-out the fey may not get close enough for you to need to find out.

In terms or ornament or protection, be mindful that while two metals each alone do not cause a reaction, two dissimilar metals may cause you skin irritation. 

Maile as protection:  One thing maile can do is make it hard for thieves to slit your pockets to steal your purse.  Likewise, a chain or cable covered with cable can prevent a cut-purse from cutting your purse.

Back to ornaments:  It is possible to "Knit" wire.  It is likewise possible to "knit" the ultra-fine cable used for bead stringing. Some really nice  can be made this way.

[ganghiss]

IIRC:  There is enough iron in steel alloys to discourage the fey, elves and trolls.

This depends on whether fae are affected by cold iron or any iron. Most modern iron is heat worked, therefore, it would not apply to the "cold iron" idea.

[hardlec]

Well:  All iron is worked hot at one point or another, and all steel comes from a furnace.

How much cold working do you need to make it fairy-proof? 

I've never had trouble with the Fae, so I'm not an expert in this area.  I'd rather co-exist.

[Captain]

Has anyone already mentioned: http://www.ringmesh.com/category_s/46.htm  ?  I have some of their mail and it is very light and wearable.  My shirt weighs about 5# and once it warms up to body temperature you can almost forget that you are wearing it. 

While I do not trust chainmail to stop arrows, epaulets and even a hat band might not be back in a general scuffle.  People subconsciously avoid hitting shiny armour (trust me) so even questionable protective pieces can act as target denial devices.  This can even buy you precious fractions of a second in a fight.

  It just might impede a sabre to my ugly head.   

Also most handguns around the turn of the century (19th/20th) were relatively low power and fired unjacketed lead rounds.  I like to think that welded chainmail might do more good than harm against these little pocket guns. 

[T.Taylor the Third]

People subconsciously avoid hitting shiny armour (trust me) so even questionable protective pieces can act as target denial devices.  This can even buy you precious fractions of a second in a fight.

wait you mean a chinmail bikini will attract blows to the un armored areas?

[Captain]

People subconsciously avoid hitting shiny armour (trust me) so even questionable protective pieces can act as target denial devices.  This can even buy you precious fractions of a second in a fight.

wait you mean a chainmail bikini will attract blows to the un armored areas?

This is a worthy question.  In the interest of an unbiased and accurate scientific study.  This will probably involve detailed hands on bruise examination and counting after repeated combat between healthy active ladies wearing chainmail bikinis and not.  There will be a modest "class fee" for all student lab assistants.     Could be more fun than shooting longbows and pocket pistols at chainmail over a ham. 

Michael Longcor Chainmail Mama