Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chainmail & More?
We are artists who have been professionally handcrafting unique chain-mail jewelry in the USA since 1992. Our chain mail and jewelry wear is comfortable, durable, and there's no need to wait months for it. We'll handcraft your order within the week, usually sooner, and back our craftsmanship up with a money back guarantee and limited lifetime warranty.
How did you start doing this?
Strangeblades & More was started on July 1st in 1992 by Greger and Sunshyn. When it began, the emphasis was on Greger's custom knives. Sunshyn's chainmail and jewelry designs were a brand new sideline. Those designs really kicked off, and we've been coming up with new ideas and creations ever since. Now the knives are a very small part of our business and are never sold via mail order. We handcraft all our items ourselves so our products are all made in the USA.
Strangeblades & More has since become Chainmail & More LLC, but our priority of creating high quality, handmade art has never changed.
Do you have the item I want in stock?
We handcraft our products to order so very few of our items are in finished form beforehand. However, we also
have an exceptionally fast turnaround time for hancrafted works. Our average time for orders to be completed and
shipped is 2 business days after payment is verified. We ship all orders within a week of payment verification.
We do not recommend attempting to purchase any handcrafted to order goods at the last minute and remind you to order early for
Halloween and Christmas/Solstice.
Please be aware that there is a 20% restocking fee on express shipped items.
Why does processing checks take so long?
Due to our bank's policy of using a third party for check processing, we are unable
to find out if a check has cleared for a month after depositing it. For prompt service, please
use a USPS money order or debit card. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Do you have a catalog or storefront?
Our offerings are too specialized to make owning our own storefront a viable option in CT.
We also have very little finished stock onhand because we make our items to order.
We no longer offer a full print catalog. It was discontinued because we found it to be much more efficient to put
that time and expense into our product line and online catalog.
So what's with your low prices?
Our online prices reflect direct from manufacturer discounts.
What is chainmail?
No, it has nothing to do with chain letters. Chainmail (chain mail, chainmaille, etc.) is the craft of forming rings from wire and interlinking them, typically in weave arrangements which were once used to make chainmaille armor in ancient and medieval times. We at Chainmail & More not only create this traditional material with our own hands (OK, with the help of wire cutters and hand pliers), but we bring it into modern times by using it to make wearable works of art never before seen until we imagined and created them.
How should chainmail be cleaned and cared for?
Our products should be kept in a dry place. We recommend storing your items in a re-sealable bag to better keep their shine.
All of our creations are made for fashion use rather than for continuous wear.
To clean, don't do anything that wouldn't be done to jewelry. Do NOT use any sort of heavy abrasive cleaner or method. Doing
so effectively ruins the pieces, leaving scratches and removing any finish. A jewelry cleaning cloth is usually beneficial,
especially on tin-plate and brass items. Most of our work can be washed with soap and water, just be certain to dry it thoroughly
immediately afterward. You may also use non-abrasive jewelry tumbling. Brass links can also be shined
with lemon oil.
Do you actually make this stuff?
Yep, handmade by the artist/owners ourselves right here in the USA. Every chainmail and jewelry item on our site is our own design, many are new ideas which never existed before we imagined them and then worked out how to make it a reality. We handcraft every item ourselves, right down to starting with spools of wire for the majority of our chainmail.
We are proud to be able to offer original, artistic creations made from quality materials at low prices.
Here's what's involved in making most of the chainmail portions:
1) Spin straight wire into spring-like coils
2) Cut the coils into rings (links)
3) Weave each link into place, close with pliers, check for gaps or burrs
Even with all the extra care that we put into our work, we have an extremely fast turn around time
for artist handcrafted creations. Although few items are stocked in finished form, we rarely
take more than a few days to complete and ship even larger orders.
Why don't you sell full shirts/armor?
There are many chainmail makers who specialize in armor. We prefer to create our own unique designs
and leave the armor requests for those who would rather make that type of piece.
The ear cuff seems too large or small. What do I do?
Ear cuffs usually need some adjustment for proper fit. That's the main reason we use sterling silver as its much more adjustable than plated metals.
Remove your ear cuff and open or squeeze it just a bit and try it again. Repeat this, making tiny adjustments and until you are happy with it. Tiny
adjustments are best because you don't want to warp it. Should that happen anyway, you can use something about the size of a small magic
marker to widen and reshape it. Pinching the ear cuff tighter while wearing it on the ear can be painful so that is not advised. Once
the ear cuff is set so that it is comfortable enough that you can forget you're wearing it, you shouldn't have to adjust it again.
Can I order your earrings for non-pierced ears?
Yes. To order ear cuff earrings for entirely non-pierced ears, choose
the Style options for ear cuff and for non-pierced.. Ear cuffs are so named because they cuff, or wrap around, the ear rather than pierce.
For other earrings, just mention that you would like it made with clip-ons when you place your order. There is no change
in price for this.
On a side note: We are proud to say that our ear cuff and multi-pierced earrings are our own original inventions.
In fact, three of our still available styles were among of our very first products when we began our business in 1992.
We were making and selling them before Star Trek Bajoran earrings ever made an appearance.
Is [item name] sold by the pair or singly?
We handcraft each of our products individually and all are sold singly unless otherwise noted in the product description.
Occasionally, a product is often purchased two at a time. In such cases, when we are able to, we offer a lower price per pair as a dropdown box option below the product description.