All I can think of is "ouch"

[reynardo]

Watching far too many Youtube vids, and one had a slideshow of pictures from various pre-Raphaelite sources, plus a whole heap that looked like the front cover of half my library some sort of cheesy romance novel.

And one of them showed a knight in chain mail (yes I know it's a tautology) holding the hand of his ladylove. The hand itself was completely covered in chain, like a mitten. Having tried on a fair few chainmail vests, all I could think of was "wouldn't the rings be hurting both their hands?" And surely the chain would go to the wrist only, and an armoured glove with segments or something cover the hand?


So, as I know an awful lot of you reading this are already versed in this matter, am I completely wrong, or is this truly a travesty?

Comments

[panacea1.livejournal.com]

I'm going to defer in large part to scascot who I know has more recent and extensive experience with mail than I do, but...

It probably wouldn't be hurting her hand much, if the mail was properly made (chain links closed completely, burrs all filed off, etc) - my experience is that it's not terribly uncomfortable unless it's being pressed into the skin and/or has sharp edges that haven't been detailed out during the manufacturing process.

For the wearer, a fingered glove wouldn't be practical. You don't need armor between your fingers, and you don't want it on your grip side (which this illustration has). I could see a leather-and-mesh mitten, with or without plates to protect the knuckles, with leather on the grip side so you can hold your implement of destruction, but I don't know if that's period.

[scascot.livejournal.com]

Historically speaking, such a "glove" would not have been produced. It was much more practical and protective to make what is known as a "mitten" gauntlet, with lames covering the the fingers. There are a few extant examples of "finger" gauntlets, wherein each finger is protected individually, but they are far and few between.

However, as malloc1024 points out, modern production quality and technique has enabled us to produce finer knit chain to the point that such a glove becomes practical. However, it's existence would have been unheard of in period.

Thus, the picture is...unfaithful to history. As to pain, and speaking from experience (stop that), the finer the knit and gauge of the metal, the less painful it is to wear.

[malloc1024.livejournal.com]

That's actually very similar to a meat cutter's glove. The chain is very fine on those and they aren't uncomfortable to wear, apart from the weight.

Plus they keep you from slicing your hands up.

[dorukai.livejournal.com]

My first thought was that the mail would be worn over padding. In light of hte other comments maybe that's not the case for gloves though . . .

[panacea1.livejournal.com]

Oh, it normally would even for a shirt, because that stuff is damn heavy and do you really want 40 or 50 lbs worth of weight digging little metal rings into your shoulders? Or anyplace you get hit?

(Mail is flexible, that's one of its plusses. One of its minuses is that, lacking rigidity, it's dead weight hanging there off you unless you've got it held up/strapped to you with belts. Of course, if it's strapped to you, then you lose the inertial damper effect when you get hit and you have to absorb the impact directly, via little metal rings driving into your flesh. Mmm, tasty.)

[moxie_man]

mmmm....meat tenderizing...

[fluffy-cloud.livejournal.com]

My first thought was "Hmm... fake chain mail." Also, it appears that the lady is wearing pail pink nail polish.

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

You know, you're right. It's the "let's knit this out of thick grey wool then spraypaint it metallic" school of mail that is so prevalent throughout movies.

Apparently, during Henry V, the only two people without the knitted stuff were Kenneth B ('cause he was king) and Brian Blessed ('cause he had his own set).

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

I think she'd be fine, but even I have small hairs on the backs of my hands and so on, and those make me think "ow ow ow ow OW!" about wearing that glove. Boy, I hope there was something between it and the skin!