[Grzegorz Kulig]

Hello everybody!

I am making now two archer's helmets, based on Trajan's Column (you can see some pictures below) and I have some doubts... . I haven't seen so far any find of it, only some similar helmets (for ex. baldenheim type).
I want to make them this way :

The bowl of the helmet - construction very similar to spangenhelms from Vth-VIth cent., but with narrow ribs, as on Column.
One helmet will have the bowl made of six pieces, second- of eight pieces - as customer wished.
Every rib riveted to the bowl on 4 pairs of rivets.
There is going to be cheeks protection suspended on hinges to the banding

And now my biggest problem : how to make those hinges. I can see something on pictures - it looks like the hinges are mounted outside the helmet, but regarding to Roman helmets, I think they should be mounted inside. Then again - those are Hamian archer's (Syrian) , as I was told, so maybe their helmets were different Then again - still it was auxilias (I am not sure if this is correct in English) I am really confused.

My second doubt is neck protection : it looks like it would be made of some kind of flexible material - leather, I suppose. But I know one XIIth - XIIIth cent. helmet from Cairo museum, which has neck protection made of steel. Yes, I know that it is much later, but I started to think about it, when I saw it.

What do you think about this case? Maybe you have some helpful photos? I would be appreciate for any help.

Best wishes,
Thorkil.

P.S. I apologize for errors - my English isn't very good.

[Martin Wallgren]

Very interessting.

If I where you I´d post the question on the Roman Army Talk Forum

There is alot of guys there who knows alot.

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Thanks a lot, Martin. I didn't know about this forum. I think I will follow your advise!

[Chuck Russell]

ya its a good site. for the hinges go here for an example of how to make them: http://www.larp.com/legioxx/lorica.html they should be folded over themselves (double loobed)

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Thanks Russell, but I know how to make hinges - I was making it many times before. I just asked for some help in making decision whether they should be mounted inside or outside.

I have found some interesting sites. My friend helped me a lot in researching and I think my vision is now more clear.

I couldn't ask for help on romanarmy forum, because I steel wait for activation of my account. However, I found very helpful information, there - even without posting.

I will show the helmet when i'll finish it and also will write information I based on.

Still I ask for any your suggests about this helmet.

Best regards,
Thorkil.

[Chuck Russell]

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=15871

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=7278

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=7275

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=7276

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=7277

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=7274


ok understand. here are some links to read while awaiting to be authorized. (hope they work for you) they are of several "late roman" helmets that needed to be upgraded by deepeeka. but there is a lot of good useful informtion on details etc.

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Thank you very much, Chuck! (and I'm sorry for Russell - it was mistake, made because of the hurry).

I will read those topics. For now I just took a look at the photos. Those forum consist lots of many great photos of original helmets - and it's so great.

I have made my decision - I will make the hinges mounted inside. Also, I gave some suggest to my customer and now just have to wait for answer.

That's all for now. I have to get back to my work - I am making the cheeks, now.

Best wishes,
Thorkil.

[Chuck Russell]

make sure you take pictures of your project a stage at a time. then u can put together a tutorial on how u made its etc. it also helps with any future projects so u can look back and say "hmmm i think that can be done better" also helps u with remembering your steps along the way too.

plus it makes the rest of us ooo and aaaa over your work

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Chuck - too late! The helmet is ready. I was a bit hurry, so I haven't thought about making photos. I have only photos of the bowl without cheeks. I will be able to show the photos of ready helmet on Monday, because today I don't have my camera.

[Chuck Russell]

its ok still, love to see the finished progress

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Hello. Finally I have some time to put here promised photos. Sorry that you had to wait so long.

Those are two different helmets : one is made based on Trajan's Column (I have already attacht photo of thesehelmets in my first post) and second is similar to Bryastovets helmet. Yes, unfortunately, this is not replica, it is only similar helmet, because our customer couldn’t afford higher price of making replica of it. But I hope, one day I will have opportunity to replicate Bryastovets helmet.
I wanted to put the scale as a neck guard, but one customer wanted only thin leather and second preferred chainmail and I always listen to my customer's wishes.

First, few informations and links I found about Hamian archer's helmets, other that I posted here before.

http://www.romanarmy.net/hamians.htm (a very interesting article)

[quote]“In both cases the soldier is wearing what appears to be a conical helmet. The Trajan's Column soldier is seen in profile and both cheek guards and neck guard can be seen. There are two helmet examples which could be classified as archers' helmets. One (in the museum at Sofia) is particularly heavily decorated with depictions of Roman Gods and Goddesses, the other from the other from the Dakovo region of Bosnia, quite plain except for its applied beaded wire decoration. Both helmets have holes in the nape of the neck for the attachment of a neck guard, possibly of mail or scale.”
[code]
Below you can see the photo of helmet from Sofia museum - helmet from Bryastovets.

And here is small citation from H. Russell Robinson's - 'The Armour of Imperial Rome' :