Dumb question about kettle hats and spears -- myArmoury.com

Sander Marechal

I have a rather dumb question about wearing a kettle hat and carrying a spear. How do you carry the spear properly? Every time I carry a spear while wearing a kettle hat, the spear shaft (held in my right hand, resting over my right shoulder) keeps banging into the brim of the helmet. It also pushes my head to the left. I really have to tilt the spear backwards or tilt my head to the left to prevent that. It's at its worst when we are marching.

How are you carrying your spears?

John McDonald · Posted: Sat 14 Aug, 2010 9:55 pm Post subject:

Have you tried carrying it in the crook of your elbow.

Sander Marechal · Posted: Sat 14 Aug, 2010 11:40 pm Post subject:

Nope, but I'll give that a try. Thanks!

Elling Polden · Posted: Sun 15 Aug, 2010 5:43 am Post subject:

Just carry it thumb down. Thus, it will rest more closely on you shoulder, and you can tilt it so that goes under the brim. Unelss you have an obcenely wide brim.

Luke Zechman · Posted: Sun 15 Aug, 2010 8:57 am Post subject:

Here is a thought... maybe an infantry men wouldn't be wearing his helmet while on the march. I think the Roman (not 100% on this) wore their helmets on their front while marching. Once it is time to wear the helmet (business time), the spear would be at the ready. Just a thought.

Sander Marechal · Posted: Sun 15 Aug, 2010 9:53 am Post subject:

Elling Polden · Posted: Mon 16 Aug, 2010 1:13 am Post subject:

Chuck Russell · Posted: Mon 16 Aug, 2010 2:13 am Post subject:

umm no Romans carried there own gear on the march. they did have pack mules yes, but not for their gear

Sander Marechal · Posted: Mon 16 Aug, 2010 5:35 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Lafayette C Curtis · Posted: Wed 18 Aug, 2010 4:02 pm Post subject:

Lack of sources, rather! But I do remember seeing several different ways of carrying polearms in the illustrations to the Maciejowski Bible, so at least that source seems to support the idea that there was no standard position for carrying a spear on the march.

JE Sarge · Industry Professional

As a modern soldier, I always clipped my helmet to my LBV or IBA when not wearing it. I didn't care if it banged against my other equipment or not, because it was worth not having to wear it. You get tired of having the weight on your head for extended periods of time - moreso in the heat. I can only figure that soldiers on the move in antiquity might do the same thing - but it would be interesting to see some sort of historical documentation as to what the most common practice was.

Elling Polden · Posted: Thu 19 Aug, 2010 6:49 am Post subject:

Chuck; Seems they did in "Marius" system. I was confusing it with late legions, where armour was more scarce...

JE: I do the same with my modern helmet, either by a quick relase shackle or a lanyard. There is however significant differences; medevial helmets are heavier, and, most importantly, the only attatchment point is the belt. This means that walking around with your kettlehat in the belt, while handier than having it on the head, strains you hips. It is of course still freqently done, but not ideal.

You can of course attatch the helmet to some other baggage carrying equipment. I have at times carried mine on the strap of my medevial shoulder bag.

David Rushworth · Posted: Sun 05 Sep, 2010 1:57 pm Post subject:

A lot of 16th and 17th C morions have a suspension hole or ring matching a hook on the cuirass, not derectly relevant to 14thC, other than same role and type, but indicative of what a pest a heavy helmet is. By the way, my osteopath recons long term wearing of a heavy steel helmet permenantly damaged my neck, so, I'd advise the carry slung option.