About a year ago, I bought this Sugarloaf Helm from RedSky trader. http://redskytrader.com/sugarloaf-medieval-co...t-944.html

I hadn't done my research on it before hand, and after I got it, I discovered that that style of helm certainly wasn't around in the 12th century. In fact, I'm not sure if this exact helm was ever used, I can't imagine it would be, there is no protrusion for the nose so it's really tight inside...certainly not meant for the claustrophobic.

Well that helm sat in my room, for about a year, ticking me off every time I saw it. One day my brother came in and took a look at it, he pointed out that the dome was all one piece and that with some work it could become a decent Nasal Helm.

And so, we hack-sawed off all the rivet tops and drilled out what was left of them. Then we used a screw driver to pry the face plate and the back plate apart, breaking the spot welds. After the two plates were off, we cut down the brass parts to make them into just a nose piece, rather than the eye-slits. Then we drilled fifteen holes all around the base (from one brass tip to the other, and riveted on a strip of leather to cover the unfinished bottom of the helmet. Finally, we drilled eight holes in the sides of the helmet and tied in a leather liner (to which we attached a chinstrap). This is the finished product:


Here is the front view:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6523437623/

Here is the side View:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6523437493/

And here is the back view:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6...otostream/

Here is a view of the liner:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6...otostream/

Here is the chinstrap:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6...otostream/

Here is a closeup of the nasal guard (blurry though it may be) this piece is thinner than a nasal guard should be, but I think it looks really good:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6...otostream/

Here is a closeup of where the leather is attached to the brass:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6...otostream/

And here is a closeup of the leather trim:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullets4brains/6...otostream/

It may not be the most combat-ready helmet, but I think this thing looks great, especially when comparing it to what it used to be.

Bravo!
I commend you. Very nicely done. I know exactly how you felt about the helm beforehand. I have a less than ideal Gjermundbu that I am in the process of turning into something usable.

After I'm finished, it will still be Gjermundbu, just a much better one!
So far, I've:
Removed a silly and anachronistic neck guard (It looked like something a roman legionnaire would wear)
Re-riveted some parts,
Reshaped the cheek pieces, so they actually fit on a human's face, plus they are now held by brass hinges, instead of 2nd rate leather,(which I was able to tear with no effort)
And now, I am weaving a maille aventail for it.

Wow! That sounds like its going to turn out great! I hope you plan on posting pictures when it's done.