Posts: 2 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Wed 29 Jul, 2015 9:02 am
Hi there,
I'm sorry this isn't very concise.
Firstly, what are your chosen time period and geographical area?
Secondly, which BotN group?
Thirdly, are you really sure you want an open face helmet in a brutal full contact fight?
You MAY have extra visibility and breathability over a fully enclosed faceplate or visored
bascinet. But I believe that certain stiles of open face helmet were/are banned or being considered not allowable. Certainly, I'm unsure about barbutes and kettle hats. I know bargrills are only allowable in certain circumstances and even then... I'm not sure they're still allowed at all. Best to ask someone better informed on your local public discussion page for your team/region. If not the BotN UK Fed (Public Forum) page on Facebook is unlikely to reject you. I know some of them and squired for a couple in Croatia 2014 and I am good mates with a few. Some(!) of them really know their stuff so if you have no luck locally (wherever you are) try there. They should be more than willing to help :) Just wait til you have a few replies first. Then draw your conclusions.
If you like any other style of helm I'd say go with that... Knights may have worn Kettles in the late 14th/early 15thC with open faces and full
maille coifs with aventails and padded pellerines. I should know I own a blue and yellow 14 gauge Kettle hat that I use for 14thC pulled blow! It took a beating last weekend. Excellent for projectiles and vertical glancing strikes... not so much blunt force trauma directly to the face.
I know you'll have a grill... but really, there's a reason I want a 15thC South German Sallet or a 14thC British Sugarloaf Greathelm.
It's all about what's practical and what's actually going to protect you.
And no they didn't give a damn about reset broken noses and shattered teeth or even a splintered something to the eye in the mid Medieval period but you might.
I hope this helps somewhat,
best of luck,
Niall
(Team UK - Scottish contingent)