[Paul Hansen]

[Jared Smith]

I don't have any mechanical tests. As I mentioned earlier I actually had searched for an affordable modern substitute alloy in reasonable round rod form to try some comparative manual forging on. (Thinking of doing a qualitative assessment of how much advantage there could be in terms of ease of forge drawing, cutting with punches, doing less annealing, etc.)

The properties I mention were originally applied in an engineering sense in early 17th industrial making of high quality wire for instruments like harpsicords. The historical use is pretty easy to find references to in the history of wire making. Supposedly the historical iron strings emitted deeper toned sounds than today's steel core composites, but could fail with hazardous consequences unless the material composition was just right. Examples of material of similar composition and analysis suggesting a high degree of cold forming do apply to historical mail. This reference to "Re-assessing the Sophistication of Merovingian Metalworking" has been brought up repeatedly in prior posts. Check out the magnified cross section of a ring from medieval mail in figure 9, and read the assessment of composition and forming process beside it in the article. http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0508/Ehrenreich-0508.html

Although the few scholars interested enough in other sample of mail (Peter Beatson, Vegard Vike, Arne Jouttijarvi) to section it and assess composition did not theorize purpose behind the composition, they did find very similar composition in samples considered to date from 4th century B.D. through 10th century A.D.. Arne Jouttijarvi actually assessed native ores by region and went to far as to suggest that it was improbable that his sample came from anywhere else but a pretty specific region. (Maybe coincidence, but the region was also an primary supplier for the early iron musical strings.)

[Jared Smith]

[Felix R.]

Great Feature, great review.

Actually, the review is exceptionelly nice, as the Reeve has become one of my favorite single handed swords (I like those short bladed nimble swords, as my Reeve and the Yeoman). Thanks Michael, it was really nice to read.
I´d like to add to the Reeves handling characteristics, that it is really fantastic to cut with. Lately, we had a cutting session after our schools seminar, cutting thick Tatami rolls. Even the less experienced scholars did rather well with the cutting. It is really efortless, easy to control. Like a hot knife slicing through butter.
I myself cut water bottles from the least favoring positions, like underarm left side cuts (when doing sword and buckler; I am right handed). The edge geometry is really fantastic for anything like this. So, all Reeve enthusiasts unite!

[Alberto Dainese]

Very good article on mail! Kudos to Mr Howard !

[Dan Howard]

[Jared Smith]