Tried asking this in another thread; no answers so I thought I'd try again...

Now, I have a couple of questions:

1) Were all original sallets made with a lining? Or were some made to simply be used with an arming cap?

2) I can't quite tell from the photos (in the other thread), but how is the lining held on to the leather "ring" that is riveted to the inside of the helmet? Seems like it would be hard to sew it in place once the ring is riveted in, but what do I know?

I ask, because I have an open-faced sallet that came with a chin-strap, but no liner (it does, however, have rivets that make it look like there is a liner in place).

[ Linked Image ]

I don't know if I should bother with a liner, or just use a padded cap. It won't be used for SCA combat anyway, but I will be waring it to Renfests so comfort is an issue.

I have the same cheap deepeeka helmet sitting in my collection. It came with a white cotton arming cap correct? For wear, i actually put some bike helmet pads inside of it to give is a snugger fit. The helmet is built to look like it has a liner (rivets around the crown) but it would be more trouble than its worth to remove the rivets, make a liner, and then rivet it back together. Since it has a strap, just slap the white helmet liner in and wear it around the ren fair. It would be more useful of your time and money to simply upgrade the helmet when you feel like expanding your kit.

http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AH38...allet+Helm
(your current helmet)

A few suggestions
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AB04...sor+Helmet
(I own this one and it is pretty good for a munitions grade piece. It looks really good with armor)
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AB27...let+Helmet
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=PRH3...her+Helmet
(For the light infantryman or archer. It is also better for walking around fair since it is a lighter gauge steel and will provide better visibility and such.)

Thanks! Mine did not even come with an arming cap, so I will probably try to make one.

The liner should be sewn to a leather band, which has been riveted into the helmet. It can be awkward, but a curved needle helps. It would certainly be easier to rivet the liner directly into the helmet, but resist the temptation - it is important that it be readily removable so that it can be washed or replaced.

Best of luck with your project, and if you have any more question, feel free to ask.

-Hildebrandt

I'm all for DIY, but I don't see a way to bring that sallet into anything resembling historical specs. If you can sell that piece, I would advise doing so and considering this one instead: http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...her+Helmet

I have no experience with it, but the form, weight and price are surprisingly good. The lining band/rivets are properly positioned and the lining appears to be functional if not really historical. If that bothers you, just cut that leather liner back to leave just the band and stitch in a quilted linen liner. It's very large, though. Consider your headsize plus padded liner before buying.

Seems like you could save yourself a lot of trouble picking up this one and selling or writing-off the other.

I gave one of those away for free and another sits in my garden upside down with flowers in. Unfortunately they are based on nothing that's real, sorry to say that.

The line of rivets that holds the leather band to sew a liner too is usually just above the ears, across the lower forehead. Anything higher and your liner is not going to give you much protection.

One thing that really is lacking is a place that makes the low end sallet of the 15th century. When I was at the RA last Thom Richardson and I were talking about these and we went to the stores and looked at a few of what were likely the more simple and likely fairly common sallet.

They more or less have simple rounded skulls and short, somewhat rounded tails.

Here is a side shot.

RPM

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I would LOVE for somebody to make the simple steel caps and light sallets, but everybody goes (badly) for the most complex pieces--visored sallets, armets, bellows, etc. It doesn't even make sense! You're not wearing an armet without full harness, and usually not a visored sallet solo, either. A light sallet or cap requires nothing but soft kit for a credible impression. The only "light" production sallet I know of that's of acceptable form is that new Deepeeka cited above, but it's HUGE and too deep for my tastes. Are there really that many NFL defensive linemen doing living history?

The one above has just too many changes needed to me but if I were to do it I'd cut several incvhes off the bottom while allowing some room for a new tail. The way it sets would have to be fixed as well.

RPM

Rich, Sean, and all: not sure if it helps or is of interest, but there's a custom short-sallet-cum-proto-burgonet made by Stanislav Prosek for sale right now over at the Living History forum: http://www.livinghistory.co.uk/forums/viewtop...mp;t=31417