My problem is that after looking for a supplier of closed rings, I don't really trust any as being as authentic as the riveted stuff I spend days making only a tiny bit of. I don't want to use closed non-riveted rings if they are not authentic, and to use only riveted rings would be authentic but time consuming and would seem to contradict the re-enactment axiom to 'portray the usual, rather than the exceptional.' As there seem to be a fair number of armourers here, and as then last 200 years or so of my period intersects with what seems to be the majority of those on these boards' period, I was wondering if any one could help me with any of the following:

1) supplier of near authentic closed rings
2) ideas on whether punched or welded rings are more authentic (for an Anglo-Norman). I have read many conflicting reports, but since his site says that Erik D. Schmid uses punched rings, then 'works' them to produce an authentic feel, I am tempted to go this way BUT:
3) how should I 'work' modern punched rings to achieve an autnentic look.
4)if welding, other than drawing my own wire form my own smelt iron to get natural flux, what is the best way to do this.
5) does anyone have a detailed resource on how to draw wire (all i can ever find is a print of a medieval picture of the boards and different sized holes needed.)
6) does anyone who has actually handled a Norman hauberk have a rough pattern for one. Please bear in mind I do not really want to use different guage rings in different places, if this is at all possible. (Though I am willing around neck, as this seems to be so standard)

I know that this post is long, contains lots of complex questions, and please forgive me if I have made any blatantly ignorant statements, but I am really struggling to find detailed information on the points above, and where I have, there seems to be a lot of debate.

If you choose to attempt to answer any of the above, then many thanks; also, any really good resources I could be put forward to would be soooooooooooo useful.

Thanks again, sorry for the length,

I don't know anything about anglo-norman mail, but I have tried quite a bit of ring welding. It's quick and easy to do, but the weld will always show on all but a very small number of the rings.
There is also little evidence to suggest solid rings were welded in period, but some good evidence to support them having been punched and even cut from sheet.

If you still want to know how welding is done on ordinary mild steel wire, let me know. I have posted the process and results on a couple of the forums in the past. Maybe here, but most likely Arador or AA.

I think I've diverged from th point a bit, but its late and i'm just typing my thought patterns. Thank you for responding again, I really appreciate it. I Love your ambigous name! Must get worshipped a lot on armour boards! Thanks again.

If anyone else could give me any ideas on how to get hold of as authentic as possible (Norman)punched rings, or how to work mass produced ones, I would be so indebted to you! Also, I think this site is amazing, the people so friendly, and i know there is an incrdible reservoir of (reliable) knowledge here; so if any you would share some of it with me, I would be soooo indebted to you!

Thanks a lot,

There is also a Yahoo group, although I never got enough time to participate; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rivetedmaille/

My welding technique is certainly not up to making authentic looking rings and I would in future also go for punched rings. I was just not able to get hold of any here at the time I started.

I would suggest you contact Erik D. Schmid directly and aks him about the 'working' that he does. No-one else is likely to be able to answer that question.