myArmoury.com - What do you call this type of eye slits?

Posts: 146 Location: Japan

Mon 01 Jun, 2009 9:30 pm

What do you call this type of eye slits?

Hi :)

Generally, Bascinets and great bascinets have two eye slits on the visor...
We sometimes watch a slit with the grill or lattice.
I think this type is more protective... But the view becomes worse...

[ Linked Image ]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helm_DSC02155.JPG

I have some questions...
* What do you call this type of eye slits?
* Was not this type popular?
* Was it used by a real battle?

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Kel Rekuta

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Posts: 616 Location: Toronto, Canada

Wed 03 Jun, 2009 9:18 pm

Re: What do you call this type of eye slits?

Ushio Kawana wrote:

Hi :)

Generally, Bascinets and great bascinets have two eye slits on the visor...
We sometimes watch a slit with the grill or lattice.
I think this type is more protective... But the view becomes worse...

Welcome Ushio. The view does become worse but weapons don't get the same chance to enter your eye. Besides, the human brain is capable of filling in the gaps with a little experience. It isn't too distracting, except that its a bit dark inside there. :lol:

Ushio Kawana wrote:

I have some questions...
* What do you call this type of eye slits?

I call this a reinforced occularia. Medieval people didn't describe details on visors, at least not that we have records of.

Ushio Kawana wrote:

* Was not this type popular?

Seems to have been, at least on visors that survive from that time.

Ushio Kawana wrote:

* Was it used by a real battle?

We have no reason to believe otherwise in the case of the Vienna bascinet. The modern reproduction you linked to has too many, too large holes on the left face to be anything other than a tournament visor. I am not convinced it is a specific reproduction but is inspired by the general shape and pattern of late 14th - early fifteenth century Italian great bascinets. I'm sure it would be safe to fight in with rebated weapons though. My globose klappvisor has very similar reinforcement at the occularia and I still have both eyes after hundreds of hours training and bouting. :D

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Ushio Kawana

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Posts: 146 Location: Japan

Fri 10 Jul, 2009 2:05 pm

Thank you Mr. Kel Rekuta :)

Quote:

I call this a reinforced occularia. Medieval people didn't describe details on visors, at least not that we have records of.

Though I examined various sites, the scientific name was not found... and I cannot found a the photo of "reinforced occularia Bascinet"... :(

Photos of partly ;) reinforced occularia...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/2037...211510771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/2037...211510771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/2037...211510771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/2037...211510771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/2038...211510771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/2037...211510771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/2038...211510771/

The "reinforced occularia" is drawn in illustrations of old books... (Of course there is not Bascinet in the times of King Ninus... :lol: )
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Harley 4431 f. 135v Seige of Babylon
http://www.21citizen.co.uk/catalogues/illumin...llID=22619
Harley 4431 f. 137 Death of Polibetes
http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanusc...llID=22622

Harley 4431 f. 136v Death of Hector
http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanusc...llID=22621

Harley 4431 f. 101v Mars
http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanusc...llID=22535

Harley 4431 f. 110 Battle
http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanusc...llID=22559

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Maurizio D'Angelo

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Posts: 649 Location: Italy

Fri 10 Jul, 2009 5:29 pm

Re: What do you call this type of eye slits?

Ushio Kawana wrote:

Hi :)

Generally, Bascinets and great bascinets have two eye slits on the visor...
We sometimes watch a slit with the grill or lattice.
I think this type is more protective... But the view becomes worse...

Perhaps the biggest problem was the weight.

Ushio Kawana wrote:

I have some questions...
* What do you call this type of eye slits?

for these, Lionello Boccia, uses this words: "Visiera" (in part to see) "Barbozza" (bottom).

Ushio Kawana wrote:

* Was it used by a real battle?

certainly

Kel Rekuta wrote:

We have no reason to believe otherwise in the case of the Vienna bascinet. The modern reproduction you linked to has too many, too large holes on the left face to be anything other than a tournament visor. I am not convinced it is a specific reproduction but is inspired by the general shape and pattern of late 14th - early fifteenth century Italian great bascinets. I'm sure it would be safe to fight in with rebated weapons though. My globose klappvisor has very similar reinforcement at the occularia and I still have both eyes after hundreds of hours training and bouting. :D

Here are some pictures of the original Italian armor, the second half of '400.
Maurizio

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