Edward Haas stitches using metal thread

Edward Haas loves showing off his favorite 30-pound T-shirt. It's a heavy hitter of fashion to be sure, but that kind of weight should come as no surprise. That's because when Haas goes to make garments, he passes up satin and silk - and goes straight for the steel.

Good-natured Haas explains that styles harkening from the Middle Ages simply offer the durability and style to woo the wenches and survive a sword attack, as well.

"I would classify this shirt as knife resistant," he said. "I think it could take a few stabs."

What this Yuma man makes is the ancient art of chain mail. Haas weaves or links metal rings together with pliers to form battle-ready clothing that can be used as armor - or something hot to wear to the club.

"It's a lot like knitting," he said, grinning as he described the process. "A simple weave starts out with two normal chains that you lay next to each other and just stitch them together with more rings."

Centuries ago, fighters used chain mail to form protective garments, including T-shirts called hauberks, coifs that protected the head and bracers that covered the hands. Today, though, the metal garments are mostly popular with re-enactors at Renaissance fairs or folks just looking for that extra unusual treat for their closet. In fact, he can actually cheat and make custom versions that are much, much lighter than traditional versions.

"It's based on the armor used by Europeans, Japanese and the Persians," Haas said. "I take the same styles of weaving they used for safety and I turn them into clothing and jewelry."

Haas, who also makes leather and plastic whips, owns the local home-based business Flail Maile (mail is also frequently spelled maile or maille). He's peddled his exotic wares at a local flea market before it got hot, and he plans to sell out of his girlfriend's metaphysical store when it opens in July.

"I am an armorer, not to be confused with an armoire," he quipped, adding how rare his calling is in Yuma. "I haven't met any others yet, but I haven't been out looking, either. I've been pretty much hermitting."

Armorwise, most of his customers are just looking for clothing and jewelry. Using daintier metallic circles, he makes rings and bracelets, plus ornate hand coverings that link between fingers and wrist. For gals into chain mail, he also knits several snappy models of brassieres.

Prices range from 20 bucks for a copper bracelet to more than $100 for a coif.

But chain mail doesn't just look cool. Haas swears that wrapping yourself in metal feels pretty awesome, too.

"It makes you feel solid. It gives you confidence. When you're a wearing chain mail shirt, you feel safe."

He added that the weight issue doesn't detract from the appeal either.

"Yes, it's heavy, but it fits to your body. You don't just carry it on your shoulders. Your entire body wears it."

Haas moved to these parts not long ago from the bayous of rural north Louisiana, where he learned his curious art.

"This is the closest I can come to actually working in a forge. I've always just loved working with metal. Then to make something beautiful - wow. There is just something inherently manly about taking raw material and molding it to your will."

Haas studied welding in high school - which led him to making metal sculptures - and later studied blacksmithing a bit in college. But he learned chain mail on his own, studying from books and the Internet.

"Making chain mail is not complicated. But it is difficult.

"Complicated means it doesn't take a lot of brain power, but it does take a lot of practice and skill. Something like a (tank top) may take 40 hours."

That favorite hauberk boasts 33,000 half-inch rings. Haas used to make his own rings from plain wire, but now buys them in galvanized steel, aluminum and copper. More exotic pieces are made from silver, gold or titanium.

His largest rings measure a full inch across, while the smallest is about as tiny as a lower case "o." The density of a weave depends both on the size of the rings and the number of connections, which can range from as few as four ring links per ring to eight or more.

Haas stressed that linking the rings does require constant attention, too. He said it would be quite easy to get distracted and end up with an incorrectly linked mess.

"You can't zone out while you're doing it. I prefer to do work while listening to books on tape."

His latest project was completed while listening to "The Stupidest Angel: A Heart-Warming Tale of Christmas Terror."

In his spare time, Haas' hobbies range from fencing to earning extra cash giving tarot card readings over the phone.

But chain mail is always going to be what Haas loves most.

"I just love the artistic challenge of it, especially when people want custom-made jewelry.

"Sure I can make all the standard pieces, but when I customize, I get to create something completely unique. I tell people, 'Now you can have something that no one's ever seen before - anywhere.'"

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FEEL LIKE A FITTING?

Edward Haas, owner of Flail Maile, can be reached by:

- Calling 344-0629.

- Sending e-mail to guardianofthewind@yahoo.com.

- Going to Dragonfly Gift Shoppe, which is set to open along Madison Avenue in early July.

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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.