chain mail, scale armour, coifs, mantles,
manuals, standards. manufacturers of custom armour.
South Tower Armouring Guild supplies coiled wire,
cut rings and
finished
chain mail in many sizes and styles.
Bill has written a book on
construction
techniques which is available from the source...email
stag@southtower.on.ca
Chain Mail
Scale
Coifs
Chain Mail Mantles
Chain Mail
Instruction Manual
Standard for Chain Mail
Yes, we know some call it chainmaille, and some even call it simply
chain, but we know what we mean. The lovely, wonderful woven metal
fabric
which perfectly defines the middle ages. Prices on this page will
be honoured until the end of May 2011.
After that, email me, and tell me to update my web site!
South Tower Armouring Guild has been making chain for many years,
and
has become a leader in the field in Ontario. We have established some
basic
standards which allow us to go back to old work and repair it easily,
and
determine prices for items coming up in the future.
South Tower supplies chain in many forms. From the plain wire
through
to finished items, we provide it all. We even have a book which goes
into
depth on how to make chain armour. This book is available in both
English
and French, and is the last word on the subject! (I know...I
wrote it...grin!) Knowledge is priceless. The book is however,
only ten bucks.
Prices, well, the cost of chainmaille depends on both the size,
material and the complexity. However, you can usually figure on armour
grade chain to set you back about a hundred dollars a square foot,
maybe a little less for uncomplicated items, maybe a little more for
tricky items like lingerie. Stainless is available for half
again. I don't even pretend to attempt to compete with offshore
dumpers of chain maille, but if you like, I will happily modify the
cheap thing you got at ebay so that it fits you.
The prices are all in Canadian Dollars.
Currency converter here.
Brass wire is now running about $22.00/lb, and I'm sure you can do
the
math (grin!). Beryllium/copper alloy (used extensively in the brazing
field)
is also very pretty, and holds its colour better than brass, however it
is running aroung $27.00/lb at my local welding shop.
standard coils, wound, ready to cut (14 gauge galvanized, 3/8 inch
mandrel) $3.00/lb.
Same coils, cut into little
rings.................................................................................$10.00/lb
stainless coils, ready to cut, wound into 5/16
rings.................................................$6.00/lb
same coils, cut into little
rings...................................................................................$22.00/lb
stainless coils, wound, ready to cut (14 gauge stainless, 3/8 inch
mandrel).........$7.00/lb
same coils, cut into rings (fewer rings per
pound)....................................................18.00/lb
Sarah has asked me to tell folks about her competition....and always
willing to help. Go
here and enter the competion. Win stuff. Let me know how you
did.
CHAIN MAIL ARMOUR
 
Here is a Jason May's long sleeved chain mail shirt which was
placed on consignment with us. This is a lovely shirt, trimmed neatly
in
heavy yellow brass. The rings are 3/8 inch inside diameter, and
the
wire is a heavy 14 gauge. As you can see, it is a beautiful shirt, and
just right for the discriminating client. The waist size on this
shirt is about thirty four inches. Chest forty two.
Matching
coif not included.
This gorgeous shirt is only
$900.00 Canadian,
$840.00 US.
|
Chain Mail Coif
click for larger image
One of the prettiest pieces we make, in its most basic form it simply
covers the head like your hair does...hence the name coif. A great coif
which comes over the shoulders can double the weight and the work, and
consequently the price.
 
Basic coif - $145.00 Canadian
funds, $139.00
US funds
Coif and Mantle (great coif) -
$220.00 Canadian,
$210.00 US funds
|
|
 
(click on Leslie's pictures for larger
versions)
Leslie has built this gorgeous skirt and sleeved
hauberk. She
has left it open on the sides for now, but she tells me she plans to
infill
the sides sometime before she goes on crusade. Obviously I have
captured
her joy at holding that sword! I wonder who she is thinking
of?
Perhaps it is me trying to persuade her to consign it with me!
She
tells me she will make you one if the price is right. Any
offers?
 
|
|
The South Tower Chain Mail Gallery
This gallery is just a sampler of the kind of work we have
done in the
last few years. If you see anything which catches your interest,
let me know....perhaps I can make you the perfect chain mail
outfit.
I have always prefered the look of chain mail as an assessory instead
of
an article of clothing in its own right. This means that the
nicest
pieces work well with leather, or fairly plain shirts, normally in
contrasting
colours. I deplore the "bikini's" made from chain unless they are
VERY well made..and they are not usually very well made.
Click on the thumbnail to see the larger image.
 (click
on pic to enlarge) Gotta love the look!
 And the deck makes a
nice backdrop for the leather and chain.
 This one can be
worn back to front. This lovely lass is wearing
it as a corselette. It was made by a lovely lady who swopped it
for
one of my swords at the festival last summer. I'll make such a
deal
anytime...
Look sultry I said to her. So she looked over my shoulder at her
boyfriend. Shucks.....(grin!)
 What
a nice young couple. Notice that he is looking at the big
claymore
sword beside him instead of the babe on his arm. Next sound you
will
hear is........?
Below is a new piece....a bit of a departure from my
usual line
of armour. I figured it should be worn over a peasant shirt,
perhaps
with a long leather skirt, but Andrea saw it and and decided on the
spur
of the moment to make snowmen, and model chain mail, all after an
evening
soaking in the hot tub and without much wine or encouragement from the
guys. Well, okay, maybe a lot of encouragement from the
guys......
Myles took the pictures (his hand is steadier than mine...my hands
always
shake when I see Andrea in a bathing suit...grin!) and she photoshopped
everything. Such a talent! And I think the piece sets off her
figure
quite nicely.
Sweet!
 (click
on pic to enlarge)
I especially like the little snakes which hold the front closed.
 (click
on pic to enlarge)
Just out for a refreshing dip in the snow......"Hah! I laugh
at the cold!"
 (click
on pic to enlarge)
Now we are just getting artistic here. My next chain mail book
will probably have this pic on the cover.
Jean made this little bit of armour, and no doubt spent a
great deal
of time fitting it to his lovely lady wife. There is more work here
than
you think though...this has to be at least a $250.00 (Canadian) bit of
club wear. That would be, what, about $200.00 US dollars. email me and
tell me if that price is about right, or to make an offer. (stag@southtower.on.ca)
Its made from galvanized 3/8 inch steel, and is a lovely grey in
colour.
I thought about making one in stainless steel, it would only add about
25 percent to the price to get stainless.
Okay, so it ain't chain mail. Its scale, but we gotta put it
in here
since there isn't enough to make a separate room for it.
The model of course is the lovely Soraya, and her tunic is of
scales.
The scales are mostly steel, 20 gauge, with brass scales for
trim.
The scales are all professionally stamped out and have no
sharp edges.
This particular suit is fully integral...there is no leather substrate
at all...all the scales are attached to their adjacent scale with loose
rivets. Where the armour has to be stiffer, we tighten the rivets a bit
more, and we have also brought them closer together around her waist by
drilling the holes a little bit closer together.
The bottom line... Generally speaking scale armour of this
small size of scale runs about
a hundred
bucks a square foot...roughly equivilent to chain mail. The individual
scales are also for sale...5 for a dollar. Drilling to suit will be an
extra 10 cents a scale.
p.s. : This stuff looks fantastic as a helm drape!
|
Select the image at left for a chart of chainmail pricing!
|
SCALE ARMOUR!!!!!!!!!!
This is a
square foot of my newest scale armour. It is totally
integral...does
not need a leather jupon underneath. These scales are 16 gauge,
and
formed from hot rolled steel, so they look very dark and
authentic.
The holes are drilled for 3/16 inch rivets, which are supplied with the
order. Each scale has been rounded over the horn of my anvil so
that
it will absorb impact with little or no deformation. (click on
the
pic to see a life size picture) These particular scales are designed to
point downwards, if you opted for the kind which point upwards, I would
grind off those pretty shield points. You can lace this together,
or you can use rivets. The holes are countersunk both sides in
order
to minimize wear on tear on the laces, and the edges are carefully
sanded
to obviate burrs.
This is the template which I use to set up the drill press. It
shows
the side holes which can be drilled if desired, a popular
option.
These side holes can be used to sew the scale down onto an underlying
leather
garment, or allow it to be overlapped side to side. This would
certainly
make the armour impervious if you were to actually face real arrows,
and
if you were to use this scale to make Japanese lamellar suits, but the
weight penalty would not be worth it for most modern
re-enactments.
You don't need it to overlap sideways in order to be period.
(Overlapping
sideways as well as vertically would be better done with 20 gauge
steel,
and then only for a parade suit...the 20 gauge would get mangled
awfully
quickly. )
Special Introductory price
per scale, drilled, incl.
rivets...........$3.00 Can
You can figure out the US equivalent price by checking the
currency
converter here.
OTHER SCALE ARMOUR
Scale made from leather with some judicious plastic in there just
to keep it legal.
To the left is the original icon I went by, to the right is the
armour I made for Lou.
this
armour as seen from back
this
armour as seen from three quarters view.
Prices on these items are too difficult to state
with assurance because a lot depends on how much you want it to be
customized.
check with me for latest pricing....always happy to
work within your budget.
LAMELLAR ARMOUR
(click on the pics to enlarge them)
This is Jean's samurai suit in the process of being made. The bottom
plates have yet to be powder coated, we just tried to see what it would
look like assembled.
I include this to show the versatility of our shop. The photo in
the centre is from the movie...and was the inspiration. Jean's
finished armour is on the right.
These suits are tailor made from sixteen gauge solid
steel, and are ready to fight.
call me (stag@southtower.on.ca) to discuss your personal suit.
Prices do not include
GST (Canada), PST (Ontario), or shipping from
Metcalfe, Ontario. E-mail for quote on shipping
price (please specify armour type).
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This is a
square foot of my newest scale armour. It is totally
integral...does
not need a leather jupon underneath. These scales are 16 gauge,
and
formed from hot rolled steel, so they look very dark and
authentic.
The holes are drilled for 3/16 inch rivets, which are supplied with the
order. Each scale has been rounded over the horn of my anvil so
that
it will absorb impact with little or no deformation. (click on
the
pic to see a life size picture) These particular scales are designed to
point downwards, if you opted for the kind which point upwards, I would
grind off those pretty shield points. You can lace this together,
or you can use rivets. The holes are countersunk both sides in
order
to minimize wear on tear on the laces, and the edges are carefully
sanded
to obviate burrs.
This is the template which I use to set up the drill press. It
shows
the side holes which can be drilled if desired, a popular
option.
These side holes can be used to sew the scale down onto an underlying
leather
garment, or allow it to be overlapped side to side. This would
certainly
make the armour impervious if you were to actually face real arrows,
and
if you were to use this scale to make Japanese lamellar suits, but the
weight penalty would not be worth it for most modern
re-enactments.
You don't need it to overlap sideways in order to be period.
(Overlapping
sideways as well as vertically would be better done with 20 gauge
steel,
and then only for a parade suit...the 20 gauge would get mangled
awfully
quickly. )
