Hello

Are there any known examples of riveted kettle hats in the 15th century? I know many earlier pieces, but is seems that most of the helmets in 15th cent were raised from a single piece or perhaps forge welded.

Check out the Dolnstein (Dolstein?) drawings of Swedish militiamen of the 1st decade of the 16th century. They are wearing a combination of old style riveted kettle hats, isenhut with eye slits and even visorless bascinets. Indeed most 15th C kettle hats that survive are artistic masterpieces in steel with complex, graceful shapes, spiral fluting etc raised from a single piece of steel, and very difficult to replicate. However, period art and rusty specimens dug up show that the simple, practical, cheaper riveted types survived well past the 15th C. I,ve seen some pretty crude helmets of riveted construction in little local museums dating to the 16th through 18th centuries, a lot of really old-fashioned armour and weapons continued in use a long time in cultural backwaters like New mexico. I'll let you know when I can find some more information for you.

If you have any pictures please share them :)

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Personaly I don't see anything in Dolnsteins drawings which I interpret as riveted kettle hats, the only visible rivets are those holding the helmet lining.

There are many helmets like kettle hats and sallets that on the low res pics look like riveted from pieces, but when you take a closer look there are only rivets for lining. However I've found this sallet:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thoog/4424360738...296466881/

Is it made of 2 pieces, or is it a decorative row?

Looks like a solid raised peice to me. It's not uncommon for a decorative line around the skull on sallets. Rivets are for the lining.

You are right. It is clearly visible on the forehead http://www.flickr.com/photos/thoog/4423596573...296466881/

Now back to the quest for riveted kettle hats... anything comes to your mind?