Sallet design. -- myArmoury.com

Robert S Field · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 1:55 am Post subject: Sallet design.

When it comes to helmets, I really love the look of a sallet. The imposing point and sharp line at the front of the visor looks so perfect to me, so much so in fact that I would really like to make one. The one snag I feel here however is the bevor. Though I have never personally tried one on, I feel like the bevor would be restrict movement, combined with the fact that it would be another complicated piece of armour to make, it's not something I particularly want to tackle. So the instant option that springs to mind is to make a sallet without a bevor, but I feel that this looks incomplete. Last night I contemplated the concept of trying to combine the bevor into the sallet as a secondary visor. After spending about an hour modelling in blender, this is what I came up with:

https://imgur.com/a/aNJeB

So there are really two things I want to ask in this post...

1) To people's knowledge are there recorded cases of sallet design like the one I have pictured above?

2) What tips and advice can people offer for trying to forge a split helmet, and how easily can this be done without heat?

Mark Moore · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 8:33 am Post subject:

I just did an image search, and saw several examples of a sallet that seems to have the bevor permanently attached to the helm, much like your design. I'm not about to link them...image copyright laws.
Forging one without heat would be VERY difficult, in my opinion.

A sallet with a built-in bevor would basically be a 'close helm' with a sallet tail. Wink

......McM

Robert S Field · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 9:15 am Post subject:

Hmm interesting, though I still wonder whether such a design has been seen historically or not...

With regard to making said sallet, my main issue is that I don't have space for a forge. I could probably get away with keeping a dishing stump, and some other simple tools for helping to raise the two helmet halves, but not a propane or coal forge.... Welding them together shouldn't be a problem, and while I understand this isn't an accurate way of making a helmet, I've seen people say that making it in two halves is actually feasable without a forge.
I have also wondered about buying a blow torch and using this to heat small areas of the metal at a time, but I don't know how feasable that is.... Anyone tried this?

Victor R. · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 9:45 am Post subject:

The link has pictures of several museum pieces that have falling-visored sallets. I've seen no arguments that use of a falling visor is an ahistorical method of sallet design. A search for "visored sallet" or "gothic sallet" should lead you to many modern and historic examples.

As for the bevor, my sallet/bevor combo uses a "falling buff" bevor - the visor on the helmet lifts, the buff on the bevor lowers. If made properly, the bevor, like any other piece of armor, will provide protection without impeding movement - just think of it as a gorget with a chin-cup (which is what it is). It doesn't hold your chin in place - there's plenty of room to turn your head if it is made correctly. If fastened correctly, it remains stationary while your head and sallet move.

As for "complicated", I'm not an armoror, so I don't know how difficult it would be to make one; but, if you're skilled enough to make the visor and helm, you are likely skilled enough to make a bevor.

https://www.pinterest.com/nicharrison39/sallets/

Tom King · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 9:59 am Post subject:

Ahistorical, but also an existing design/SCAism due to the annoyance of a bevor and various HEMA group rules about helmet gaps and the like. Darksword armory has been importing something similar for quite a long time.

The historical solution was to nix the bevor entirely; que bellows face sallets and proto closed helms

Mark Moore · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 10:04 am Post subject:

Robert S Field · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 3:43 pm Post subject:

Mark Moore · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 4:32 pm Post subject:

All you would really need is a piece about 10 or 12 inches long. Cutting it might be a chore. Would probably require a hand-held chop-saw with a metal cutting blade----and a cutting torch. The chop-saw I refer to is the kind that is basically a gas-powered chainsaw with a big, metal-cutting disc/wheel. They are used in underground utilities work for cutting pipelines and conduit. Lord knows, I've been on the working end of one more than I care to remember. Wink

The rail track is basically a shape like -- ' II==D' , if you get my meaning. Turn that upright....perfect mini-anvil. Big Grin

....McM

Hamish C · Posted: Sun 03 Dec, 2017 7:19 pm Post subject:

Sallets can be quite tricky to make. definitely go for a two piece with a weld down the middle. A raised sallet from a single sheet of steel is a much trickier project.
What do you want the sallet for, looks or contact fighting? For looks (and some protection) you might get away with using 16ga, 1.6mm sheet mild steel. A contact version you might need to go 12ga, 2.5mm.
A propane/ oxygen set up with a heating tip and torch will be handy to anneal the metal to stop work hardening, and also allows you to work the metal hot. When working hot only work the steel whilst its still red hot. If you let it cool down too much it becomes weak. Either heat it up again or wait for it to cool down back to ambient temperature and work cold.
.

Bruno Giordan · Posted: Mon 04 Dec, 2017 11:14 pm Post subject:

Google Lorenz Helmschmid Sallet, he realized a sophisticated design

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/xtracted/closed-sallets/?lp=true

also on this site

https://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8329

I remember having seen something similar to your design being made but I seem to have lost reference

For one piece helm construction you need to master raising techniques

This is the raising of a single pice german sallet ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gvuo5Xmcp0

techniques are still used by silversmiths but you won't find much indedicated books

it is the most difficult technique, obviously

the split helmet comes close

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN2o2iwBnlI

but you won't realize an half helm without heat

Kristian Vrahlioti · Posted: Tue 05 Dec, 2017 1:19 am Post subject:

In my experience the bevor is essential for the salet to function properly, almost like upper and lower halves of the same unit. I wouldn't worry too much about a lack of movement, I've fought in a bevor/salet combination and it offers much more articulation about the neck than a lot of other contemporary helmets. The only helmet I can think of that's more comfortable and maneuverable with a bevor is a kettle hat.

As previously mentioned later salets subvert this problem by becoming more complex and enclosed e.g in the case of the bellows face. However depending on your needs/period of interest this could be too late, as well as the fact that the salet you've designed is representative of the vast majority of historical examples, even visorless salets are more common in later periods than bellows face examples.

Bruno Giordan · Posted: Tue 05 Dec, 2017 2:44 am Post subject: Re: Sallet design.

Kirk B. · Posted: Tue 05 Dec, 2017 4:25 pm Post subject:

I recently used a stump and inexpensive English wheel from Harbor freight to make a gas tank for a bike cold. It was my first serious attempt at using these tools and have been a little intimidated to even start. But i was surprised how fast and easy it actually went and began to think i could make armor with this thing!

Although it was only 16G mild steel sheet, i’m sure thicker and or harder alloy would be much more difficult to work with a cheap wheel.

I will post pictures if you wish?

Robert S Field · Posted: Wed 06 Dec, 2017 1:44 pm Post subject:

much as I'd love to try using an English wheel for something like this, and it looks like a fascinating piece of kit in general, i feel like a propane torch, hammer, and some sort of anvil is more the way to go when it comes to pricing.

Yesterday i asked my neighbor about the railway track, and unfortunately, while he did have some, I'd forgotten the reason why he was keeping it, which was for the sake of memorabilia, so that's a no go. However we got talking about other metalworking things, and he mentioned they had arc welders on sale in our local Lidl for £39.99. We went there this evening, and sure enough they did! So now I have my own arc welder, which is going to prove helpful for a range of things over the coming year, such as my coursework project....

I also came across a propane bottle in my shed yesterday, and thought I could turn that into a forge with an angle grinder and a few bits of pipe. (In fact, there were two, so I could cut one laterally, for making longer, larger items, and one vertically, for heating discs, such as helmets) Would certainly make for a good summer project.

Mark Moore · Posted: Wed 06 Dec, 2017 2:18 pm Post subject:

Just make sure there's no propane left in them!!!! Eek!

.....McM