Page "Mail (armour)" Paragraph 16

During the late 19th and early 20th century mail was used as a material for bulletproof vests, most notably by the Wilkinson Sword Company.

Results were unsatisfactory, Wilkinson mail worn by the Khedive of Egypt's regiment of " Iron Men " was manufactured from split rings which proved to be too brittle, the rings would fragment when struck by bullets and further aggravate the damage.

The riveted mail armour worn by the opposing Sudanese Madhists did not have the same problem but also proved to be relatively useless against the firearms of British forces at the battle of Omdurman.

During World War I Wilkinson Sword transitioned from mail to a lamellar design which was the precursor to the flak jacket.