Chainmail or maille first appeared when metals were produced in the earliest societies.  It has often been debated whether Persians or the Celts were the first to sew bronze rings on animal skins.  It is often called maille which is an early French connotation of the armor.By the 12th century it was a very popular protective armor.  The Crusading armies wore chainmail and so did the Saracens. 

Today chainmail or maille is a very popular piece of armor for reenactors and gamers.  We have chainmail for every budget.  We have aluminum, high tensile and mild steel in butted and rivetted configurations.