Welcome to Chainmail: Linking Yesterday and Tomorrow. This website discusses many significant issues involving the history, science and use of chainmail. We will present an informative summary of its origins, discuss development from different areas of the world, and how it was created and used. We will also discuss chainmail's evolution to what it is today, and how it remains a strong part of our society. Some examples of our own chainmail constructions and reconstructions will also be showcased.

Chainmail*, as it is known to most people, is a form of armour that consists of a pattern of linked metal rings. During the first stages of its development it was used exclusively as armour, but over time it has proven itself useful in many other applications. Chainmail is one of the most versatile crafts existing today-its strength is useful in protection, and the vast array of unique patterns make very interesting pieces of sculpture and jewelry. Although its use as armour has declined substantially since the introduction of firearms into warfare, it is still used widely today in specialized ways, such as suits worn by divers who photograph and handle sharks,and the gloves used by butchers.




*The term "chainmail" comes from the french word "maille" and the latin word "macula", which defines a mesh or a chain. Because of this, many historians and people will refer to it as "mail" or "maille", as the prefix "chain" makes the term redundant.