Hi,

All opinions appreciated.

I'm having C15th Milan plate harness made for full contact jousting. Questions are:

1. Which helmet is historically accurate / best vision?

2. Why does everyone (nearly) who jousts where highly polished, chrome finish harness? I'd like blued or black as a preference.

Anyone who can assist or offer some advise, please feel free. Many thanks.

Regards, Mark

Hello Mark,

We've dealt with Warhorse Productions and Hanlon Lee's at the ren faire we work at so all I can tell you
is based on our interactions with them . The chrome plate thing isn't . Its stainless . Jousters seem to be a tad
on the lazy side when it comes to equipment maintenance so rather than polish mild steel harness there seems
to be a trend twords stainless harness . Take it off throw it in the trunk and forget about it .

As for the helmet while there are a variety open to you ( barbute ect ,) from a safety standpoint the troops
we've dealt with would have gone with an armet a rondel for this harness . Hope there was something usefull.

Depending on exactly when in the 15th century yoiu're placing your harness you have a variety of options.
Since I'd imagine that you'd want a fully visored helmet for jousting I'd suggest an armet, a great bascinet, or a sallade with bevor. The last two are often shown in manuscript illustrations as part of blackened/blued harnesses while the armets don't seam to have been treated that way as often. From a practicle viewpoint the armet should allow the greatest freedom of movement, the salade/bevor combo restricts motion to a degree and the great bascinet would be fastened to the breast and back keeping the neck rigid.