I have a shirt of Indian mail made with solid flat links, and round rivited links in alternating rows, this mail was custom fitted to ME and made from very small iron rings. It looks very similiar to many museum pieces I have seen pictures of. Modern iron does not have the same structure as medieval bloomery iron, but to the naked eye it looks very similiar. Blackened stainless and galvanized steel look very different. If you haven't studied metal enough and can't tell the differance, that's ok.

rust yes, rust no.
the risk of complications is clear ...
I'm going to read this topic...What it historical accuracy?

Ok, just to clear something up, this thread is supposed to be about preventing and repairing rust on maille. I fear this discussion has become more about the authenticity of different types and makes of maille on the market. If we could get back on topic as it started I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
N

Oil or galvanised is solution. The answers seem to exist.
Some responses produce, questions. Galvanised is historical?
all here.
Personally, for convenience, galvanised, like Dan says.
Ciao
Maurizio

I saw somewhere else on one of these forums the idea of de-rusting the mail by using wood chips (the likes of which you would use as a substrate in a cage for keeping pet rodents) instead of sand. I think it was Jeff Hedgecock of HE who suggested it. I haven't tried it myself, but supposedly it does a good job of absorbing the rust particles without marring the metal.

For preventing rust, my favorite solution is just to make the mail out of aluminum! lol :)