I was wondering what Vendel Era rivets were like. Are they just like a pin that gets hammered flat on the ends? Any info would be great. Thanks. :lol:

Or I guess the better question would be, how can I easily make rivets for a helmet of the period?

Ummmm, I hate to say it but it kinda depends. Could you be a tad more specific as to what it is you are trying to rivet? I know you're working on a helm, but even on the same helm different sized and even styled rivets could be used, depending on whether it was a structural component or decorative pressblech. And even then there can be differences - most rivets seem to be flat headed and relatively flush, but the Ultuna helm uses massive domed headed rivets on the "woven basket" infill. Do you have a copy of Tweddle's book on the Coppergate Helm? That's a good place to start.

Rivet guns are an abomination on any period armouring work....

If you can have only one book on the subject, you really need to get ahold of Tweedle's book. Unfortunately, it is long out of print - my searches on Bookfinder and Amazon turned up nothing, apart from a short booklet that covers only that particular helm. The book you really need is "The Anglian Helmet from Coppergate." The only possibility I can recommend is an inter library loan.

Though not as complete as I'd like, it gives alot of insight into the basic construction details for a wide range of contemporary helms. I wish I'd had this book before building my first helms...

For riveting brass/bronze eyebrows and the like, I use 14 gauge brass escutcheon pins (you may or may not find those easy to find; up until recently I was able I could get them at OSH, but the supply may have dried up. They were made by the Tower Mfg. Co. in Madison, Indiana, 47250). 16 gauge pins will work, but the 14 gauge is heavier and more appropriate. This is reasonably close to period, I believe.

As for the frame of the helm, 1/8" flat head rivets are probably the best choice. Note that one can use regular nails with a 1/8" diameter. Be sure to remove any galvinisation with vinegar before annealing them! (Heavy metal poisoning is NOT cool...). Of course, tinner's rivets of that diameter can be used, as well, if they can be found. Note that I used to use 3/16" rivets - while these work, they seem to be heavier than what was used in period, near as I can determine.

In a pinch, you can make your own rivets, but that is a pain.

Out of curiousity, what sources are you using to guide your reproduction? Depending on what you have I might be able to recommend a few more accesible ones. For example, in my earlier posts I mentioned a book by Dominic Tweddle. He has a smaller booklet, as well, that can be had for perhaps a dozen dollars or so. Even though it is not nearly as informative as the main work, it is (as I review it right now) a pretty good an concise summary of the Coppergate helm. Since many of the construction basics are similar, you might find it useful (granted that the Gjermundbu helm had a pretty radical construction design). Also, there is a new book by Sonja Marzinzik called "The Sutton Hoo Helmet" which is part of the British Museum's "Objects in Focus" series, that has a lot of good info on that helm. I can probably dig up others, so let me know.

Unfortunately the book by Dominic Tweddle, 'The Anglian Helmet from Coppergate' is just about impossible to obtain these days. :( A pity, it is a very good book.
Here are a couple of pictures of Swedish helmets from the Vendel culture though......

Hope that they help.

Regards,

Russ

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