Esteemed forum members:
Over the last year, I've been making the transition from a Vikinger, to a German Knight, Circa 1500.
I've been buying pieces as I can afford them, and nearly have my harness together. I've got lines on most of the things I still need, and will order them, when funds become available. The one thing I'm still unable to find it a suitable helmet.
All the helmets which would look good with the kit seem to be cheap asian-made 18 gauge knockoffs. I was hoping for a good early Burgonet, does any one make a good quality burgonet that's combat-worthy, historically accurate, and not $1000?
Any suggestions about what kind of helmet to order, where to look for one, etc... would be most appreciated


Thanks,
- Wilhelm

P.S. Yes, I know the sword is not exactly right for that kit.

---

 Attachment: 219.57 KB

Okay... get a better look at harnesses of the period; there is plenty of art, numerous effigies and surviving pieces from the time you mention. Finding detailed information is a better use of resources than buying kit on someone else's recommendation.

wasn't Germany still going through the phase of transitioning from Gothic Armour around the year 1500?

so in theory, later period Gothic could suit you just as well, and in theory a sallet or armet would work well enough, theywere two very popular helmet styles around the end of the 15th century as far as ive been lead to believe.... i can help but think the burgonet was a later thing about a decade or 2 later.

I think what you kit needs is one of those 16th century brocade skirts, that would look sweet and it's done so rarely.

Hello Wilhelm,
I want to support Kels advice: don't buy cheap and quick, or you will buy double. And for a german kit, based around 1500 it's okay to get a sallet. Some decades into the 16th century it would be considered outdated, but for 1500 it would be a fairly typical helm.

And if you are looking into this thread http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...allet+sean , you can see, what can be done to make an ordinary GDFB sallet to a somewhat special item. Sean has done a fine job there.

Regards,
Thomas

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ace+Sallet
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...+%26+Bevor
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...sor+Helmet
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...let+Helmet
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...with+Bevor (with collapsing bevor, but not recommended due to steel thickness)
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ted+Gorget
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...with+Bevor

and some burgonets. most are 18ga, decent but not fighable repros
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-1622-burgonet-helmet-ah-3819.aspx
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-14913-burgonet...-6781.aspx
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-11657-royal-gu...-8120.aspx
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-2037-sport-burgonet-ah-6914.aspx (recomended)
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-11861-the-burg...-8114.aspx

based on your kit, you should probably go with a sallet. possibly the bellows face or a sallet and bevor combo. as far as burgonets, the "sports burgonet by deepeeka is the cleanest looking one and cheaper than the other gaudy brass ones

Wow, thanks for all the great advice!

With that kit, and for that period, you'd also be okay with a lined steel cap, especially with rondels over the ears (riveted to the chin straps). I see that pretty often in artwork of the period, even on men in quality infantry armour.

I have a helmet of this type on the workbench horizon, and I'll most likely get one of these "welded mild tops" for ~$60. Depending on what size you get and how you line it, it could either be a steel cap (smaller) or a light sallet (larger).If you don't feel up to finishing it yourself I'm sure this maker could do as much as you want and can afford. For a cap without rondels, the only tools you need are a drill, bit rated for stainless steel, and something to serve as an anvil to set the rivets (a sledge-hammer head works fine, but a 25# anvil is only about $30 at Harbor Freight, and you can drill a shallow rivet set in one end and not mess up a good hammer head.) It's pretty easy to make a padded linen liner and straps. There are several threads covering that in these fora.

http://roughfromthehammer.com/parts.html

By the way, that's my GDFB sallet project in the earlier link, and I'd tend to steer you away from that unless you want a hardcore DIY project. It's a challenge to get the weight off of that thing and even then it's at the top end of the historical weight range. The transformed sallet looks great on a shelf or as a demonstrator and it's comfortable to wear, but If you want to be active in your kit I'd recommend something significantly lighter.

For example, you could add this sallet/cap to the kit you show above and look like you belong in an Austrian painting of this period. :D For a simple version of that helmet, I'd get a larger bowl and either line as-is as a light sallet or go further by flaring the lower edge, maybe turning the edges, and adding the rondels.

---

 Attachment: 201.64 KB

Consider these, from the Guild of St. Olof:

---

 Attachment: 212.5 KB



 Attachment: 224.39 KB