Lorica Hamata being pierced by arrows

[Nathan Ross]

Roman hamata tended to be a lot heavier.

I'm far from expert in any of this, but the description of the mail given in the test article (riveted/solid links, 14-15 gauge wire, 6.5 - 7mm internal diameter) seems pretty close, if not a bit heavier, than the Roman mail fragments from Dura Europos.

The Dura fragments average 8-9mm external ring diameter, and 1 - 1.25 mm thickness (measurements from James, Final Report, pp116-119). Internal diameter would therefore be about 6-7mm or so. 15 gauge wire is 1.45mm thick, giving the test mail an external diameter of about 9mm or a bit over. The mail from Caerleon seems pretty much the same size and thickness.

Even if this test mail was somehow lighter in construction that Roman hamata, it still seems remarkable effective at protecting against most weapons - I don't know how much heavier or stronger it would need to be, practically speaking. As I think we can all agree, no armour is 100% invulnerable.