Art of Mail Armor: How to Make Your Own [Hardcover]

Mary Brewer (Author), Brian Price (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2002

Picture yourself in a full set of shining mail armor at your next reenactment, fair or costume party. And the best part is that you can say you made it yourself. The Art of Mail Armor shows you how to start with a piece of wire and end with a finished garment that costs a fraction of what it would ready-made and fits perfectly because it was custom made just for you. The book features seven original patterns from the author and step-by-step diagrams and instructions for attractive coifs (head coverings), hauberks (shirts), gauntlets, (gloves) and bishop's collars, as well as juggling balls, necklaces, belts, crosses and other jewelry. Find out how easy it is to assemble your tool kit and materials; acquire the best wire for specific items; measure for a perfect fit; join, enlarge, round, angle and fit sleeves; and incorporate decorative trimmings and inlays to make your designs truly unique. Also learn some quick and easy tricks for keeping your pieces clean and shiny - with no scrubbing or expensive commercial cleaners. Whether you are a Renaissance or medieval enthusiast, reenactor, historian, martial artist, jewelry designer or just someone with an interest in armor, you'll want to add this book to your library. Even experienced mail makers will find new ideas and techniques.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Brewer is a member of Society of Creative Anachronism and Ampguard. She sells mail, jewelry and swords at local fairs and offers classes in mail construction.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581603061
• ISBN-13: 978-1581603064
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,282,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Anything but art, November 24, 2002

By 

Hector D. Molina - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Art of Mail Armor: How to Make Your Own (Hardcover)

For a book that is supposed to be a "how-to-book" this book is missing the point.
1. Some of the photos are blurry and it is hard to tell what a the "weave" looks like.
2. It only covers a very small selection of weaves to try.
3. Instead of the book showing you the correct way of making mail it shows the shortcut versions of already simple patterns. This in turn makes the mail look cheap to the trained eye.
4. The names of the patterns are inconsistant with the terminology being used by most mailers around the world. What is called chinese chain 1 in the book is actually a box weave, what is called a chinese chain 2 is actually a byzantine weave, and a 6 in 2 is actually a Japanese Hex.
5. When mail is done correctly it should seem to flow together and rest on the wearer as if were a second skin. Unfortunately, many of the items in this book seem to be pieced together with many "seams" visible.

If you are interested in learning about mail armor I DO NOT recommend this book. Learn from the people who's passion of mail armor shows in their work. You can find great information on the internet by doing a simple searh for Chain maille.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Read the Reviews Before You Buy, December 3, 2002

By 

F. Azizuddin "faruqblacksilver" (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of Mail Armor: How to Make Your Own (Hardcover)

I bought this book at full price, (NOT FROM AMAZON) and that is why I am here now. ...a lot of the directions are hard to follow and the author seems to want you to intuitively feel your way into how to make mail.I've read better directions on the web.

Pass on this one and save your money to buy Brian Price's book....it will give you more insight into how armor is made to SCA standards.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars much better information on the web, February 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Art of Mail Armor: How to Make Your Own (Hardcover)

I received this book as a gift from a friend who wouldnt know any better, but words of caution for anyone looking to buy this: there is much better info on the web. Aside from the incongruent terminology, blurry pictures (probably swiped from the web) and convoluted instructions, it instructs you to use the pincing kind of clippers rather than the shearing kind. The pincing clippers give you link joints that dont meet, creating mail that sometimes won't even stand up to costume wear. She also uses unusually thick wire for my tastes. The only good part is ith glove patterns, though i have yet to try them my self, they seem thought through enugh. Take my advice, look on the web, there are many more comprehensive guides out there than this book.