u/Main_Economist_5717

I’m ready to purchase a new flat ring, dome riveted 6mm mail shirt for my 15th century reenactment kit.
I’m six foot 1 inch tall, 205 lbs, long armed and 20lbs overweight. I lift weights and I’m moderately stout. Even when I ran marathons I was 185lb so that is just how I’m built. Thing is my chest is 48 inches and the Indian vendor recommends 10 inches over actual size to fit your gambeson. I wear a thin arming doublet that is 1cm thick at the chest. Does the oversizing to 58 inches seem too much or is the space needed for range of motion? The next size down is 55 inches. I don’t mind doing some tailoring cutting and adding rings but don’t want to pay all that money for something that is totally unusable. I’m also looking at the option to have them taper the arms to 14 inches hopefully that’s not too restrictive.
Any folks have any experiences that can guide me?
The vender is allbeststuff.com and they have been unbelievably responsive to my questions but looking for someone that has actually ordered and worn the stuff.
Thanks

I’d like to build a late 14th century pavise to match a 14th century crossbow. I can find many examples in museum collections dated 1450 to 1500 but nothing before that. What did the later shields evolve from, any references to size, shape or decoration? I have only one vague reference to French art from the 1380s that kind of shows a large gutter-less rectangular shield. Are there any surviving examples in museum collections? I’d prefer something from southern France or Italy but anything would be great. Thanks