King's and Japanese Maille

Some of the most esoteric styles of maille are also the most stunning to view. Although there is much more work involved in making these styles, many advanced armourers feel as though they are well worth the effort. The first of these styles is a double 4-in-1 interlacing commonly known as "King's Maille" named for the rulers who were fortunate enough to wear it into battle. The maille was often very heavy, but of the highest quality and much sought after for its superior protective qualities. To make King's Maille, all that is needed is patience. It is a variant of the basic 4-in-1 style, with two links substituted for every one. Thus to make a suit of King's Maille requires twice the time, materials, and will weigh twice as much as standard maille. Once basic units of King's Maille are made, they can be joined into chains and sheets in the usual way.

Unlike King's Maille, the Japanese 6-in-1 style bears no resemblance to the normal European 4-in-1 standard. One of the main distinguishing points of this unique style is the fact that alternating rings would cause a striking sword to be caught instead of sliding off. For this reason, the maille is primarily ornamental in nature. It does, however, make for stunning ornament.

Notice that the rings which appear to be perpendicular to the pane of the screen are not, in fact, connected to six other links. Some have interpreted this as a weakness to the style. This can, however, be overcome by simply doubling up those links.

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