myArmoury.com - Benty Grange Helmet

Posts: 494 Location: Washington

Mon 28 Feb, 2011 8:36 pm

Benty Grange Helmet

Hi, does anyone make an accurate reproduction of the Benty Grange Helmet? If so I would appreciate a link to that smith.
Best Regards,
Robert

Profile PM

Ian S LaSpina

Quote

Posts: 301 Location: Virginia, US

Tue 01 Mar, 2011 7:56 am

The only place I've seen that explicitly makes a Benty Grange helm is Windrose Armoury. They make it specifically for SCA use, so it's heavier gauge steel and has a bar grill. That being said, they're very nice and reasonable folks over there and might be willing to work with you to make it more like what you're looking for. Here's the link to what they build:

http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?m...cts_id=658

Profile PM

Gregory J. Liebau

Quote

Posts: 669 Location: Dinuba, CA

Tue 01 Mar, 2011 8:56 am

Due to the simplicity of the Benty Grange helmet, it is likely that almost any custom armorer can provide the services you need. Below I've linked three prominent armorers who have made helmets similar to the Benty Grange. I suggest getting in touch with multiple armorers so that you can discover which one will work with your budget, payment plan, time-frame and expectations for the project best.

Knotwolf Armoury does custom helmets and has done several in this style. Here's his "historic" range (he typically makes SCA helmets)

Manning Imperial is the same - lots in that style, but nothing particularly accurate to the Benty Grange helmet... They do great work but have about a two year queue most of the time.

And of course Thorkil can make anything as well, and specializes in Dark Age helmets.

Cheers!

-Gregory

Profile PM

Robert Muse

Quote

Posts: 494 Location: Washington

Tue 01 Mar, 2011 7:53 pm

Helmet

Thank you both Ian and Gregory for the information. I really like the Knotwolf helmets, although they would need a bit of changing around. The main problem is the bronze boar, which he seems to be able to get. Also it appears the original, may have been covered in horn, which many craftmen don't seem to want to do.

I will pursue this farther with the informatiion provided.

Again,
Many thanks
Robert

Profile PM

Matt Corbin

Quote

Posts: 336 Location: U.S.A.

Wed 02 Mar, 2011 8:31 am

Robert,

You may already be aware of this, but there is some pretty detailed information on the construction of a replica on this website:

http://www.idigsheffield.org.uk/index.asp?menu=expl

Benty Grange is certainly an interesting helm. It's far less decorative than many from the period, but no less intriguing. I can't help but wonder how effective horn would be for a helmet. I also wonder why horn was used if iron was available at the time.

[ Linked Image ]

Profile PM

Gregory J. Liebau

Quote

Posts: 669 Location: Dinuba, CA

Wed 02 Mar, 2011 9:57 am

Matt Corbin wrote:

Benty Grange is certainly an interesting helm. It's far less decorative than many from the period, but no less intriguing. I can't help but wonder how effective horn would be for a helmet. I also wonder why horn was used if iron was available at the time.

I imagine that with the integral iron pieces holding it together, the Benty Grange helmet was probably pretty protective against light or glancing blows from most weapons, just as any iron helmet of the time would be (although probably to a slightly lesser degree). The Mycenaeans used their famous and extremely expensive (lots of dead boars!) boar tusk helmets for centuries, so they must have been of some merit - they're depicted so often and even shown being used by massed infantry, that they couldn't have possibly just been some sort of ceremonial helmet.

-Gregory

Profile PM

Roderick Stacey

Quote

Posts: 60 Location: Ballarat, Australia

Wed 02 Mar, 2011 6:30 pm

Gregory J. Liebau wrote:

Due to the simplicity of the Benty Grange helmet, it is likely that almost any custom armorer can provide the services you need. Below I've linked three prominent armorers who have made helmets similar to the Benty Grange. I suggest getting in touch with multiple armorers so that you can discover which one will work with your budget, payment plan, time-frame and expectations for the project best.

Knotwolf Armoury does custom helmets and has done several in this style. Here's his "historic" range (he typically makes SCA helmets)

Manning Imperial is the same - lots in that style, but nothing particularly accurate to the Benty Grange helmet... They do great work but have about a two year queue most of the time.

And of course Thorkil can make anything as well, and specializes in Dark Age helmets.

Cheers!

-Gregory

Manning Imperial can make one, its just they haven't been asked to make a custom helmet of that type.

Profile PM

Gregory J. Liebau

Quote

Posts: 669 Location: Dinuba, CA

Wed 02 Mar, 2011 9:00 pm

Roderick Stacey wrote:

Manning Imperial can make one, its just they haven't been asked to make a custom helmet of that type.

If you'll read the top of my post, it is clear that I realize all of these armorers do entirely custom work - I was describing their previous work in the hot links, so that Robert could have some expectation of what he should look at on their site for an idea of their quality and details of craftsmanship. I've ordered completely custom work from Craig Sitch at Manning and enjoy his work very much. I would recommend him above the others, although I realize his long queue can be a bit off-putting.

-Gregory

Last edited by Gregory J. Liebau on Thu 03 Mar, 2011 12:18 am; edited 1 time in total

Profile PM

Roderick Stacey

Quote

Posts: 60 Location: Ballarat, Australia

Wed 02 Mar, 2011 9:11 pm

Gregory J. Liebau wrote:

Roderick Stacey wrote:

Manning Imperial can make one, its just they haven't been asked to make a custom helmet of that type.

If you'll read the top of my post, it is clear that I realize all of these armorers are do entirely custom work - I was describing their previous work in the hot links, so that Robert could have some expectation of what he should look at on their site for an idea of their quality and details of craftsmanship. I've ordered completely custom work from Craig Sitch at Manning and enjoy his work very much. I would recommend him above the others, although I realize his long queue can be a bit off-putting.

-Gregory

I must have just misconstrued the middle part of the post is all, no offence intended. :cool:

Profile PM

Robert Muse

Quote

Posts: 494 Location: Washington

Sat 05 Mar, 2011 9:29 pm

Helmet

Sorry for the late reply, I've Been away. The photo that Matt sent is just what I am looking for. I'll contact Manning Imperial and see if I can afford it. I do have one of his swords and I agree that the work is very nice.

Again, thanks for the links and info.
Regards
Robert

Profile PM