12-07-2013, 11:56 PM
Also important to consider is that there are loads of types of mail with many different thickness, diameter and weaves for mail. The thicker the ring and the smaller the denser the weave and the more protection it will give in many ways. But it is far heavier. I think Roman mail tends to be pretty small links that are relatively thick.
I think invulnerable is a major stretch for any armour but I think but there are many accounts that indicate it was very effective against the weapons that were common during its time. Not all of them, all the time but most of them almost all the time. Two handed weapons are more effective against mail as are weapons with narrow and rigid points/blades. I suspect with so many weapons being single handed mail in the classical period was pretty nice investment.
But as Dan has often pointed out there has to be a reason it was looked at as the armour of the elite for a thousand plus years. I tend to think it allowed more flexibility, it could cover more area of the body and still offer very good protection while doing so.
CAC
I think invulnerable is a major stretch for any armour but I think but there are many accounts that indicate it was very effective against the weapons that were common during its time. Not all of them, all the time but most of them almost all the time. Two handed weapons are more effective against mail as are weapons with narrow and rigid points/blades. I suspect with so many weapons being single handed mail in the classical period was pretty nice investment.
But as Dan has often pointed out there has to be a reason it was looked at as the armour of the elite for a thousand plus years. I tend to think it allowed more flexibility, it could cover more area of the body and still offer very good protection while doing so.
CAC
