| Author |
Message |
|
Steven Pearson
|
 Posted: Tue 24 Apr, 2012 7:51 pm Post subject: Get Dressed For Battle\Battlemerchant Helms |
 |
|
I have been looking for a nice looking pigface helm for quite a while that would not break the bank.
I saw this one at get dressed for battle and it appears its a battlemerchant made helm as its available at around the same price.
http://www.battlemerchant.com/Helmets/Battle-...:2407.html
http://www.getdressedforbattle.co.uk/acatalog...ieval.html
and the similar ebay helm
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...TQ:GB:1123
Does anyone have an opinion on their helms? Any opinion on their service? Shipping is pretty high to the USA but I was not able to find a USA distributor for this helm.
I also saw this helm on ebay and it appears almost the same helm (But apparently is only slightly different).
Any opinions on either?
I wont be using for SCA or anything probably just occasional re-enactments and display only. I do want something that looks nice and is somewhere historically accurate.
thanks
|
|
  |
 |
|
Reece Nelson
|
| Posted: Wed 25 Apr, 2012 12:04 am Post subject: houndskull bascinet-cheap |
|
|
Hello Steven,
I have a buddy of mine that has used this same helm during a full contact tournament in Australia. You'll see in this video the pins came out...and throughout the event there were several times were the pins came undone :/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0zRBeEPPU&am...AvES0wA%3D
I had asked him the same thing about this helmet and he told me to just save up for something that was custom made for me...and better quality 
Of course if you're using it to just wear around I think its " ok " The lines and shaping of the bascinet don't look correct to me...the top of the helm looks very rounded and the bottom looks to have a large opening that says "stab me here!"  
Course this can probably fixable with adding an appropriate liner
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio Lamadrid
|
| Posted: Wed 25 Apr, 2012 4:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have just one helmet by Ulfberht/Battle-Merchant (not that one, unfortunately). Nothing fancy, but they are solid. Quality is very similar to the GDFB helmets that KoA sells, which is a different company than the GDFB of your link. A bit confusing. 
Battle-Merchant is a well known company this side of the pond. Sometimes their deliveries take longer than they should, but other than that, no complains.
By the way, I was told by GDFB Europe (same as KoA's) that in 2-3 weeks time they will have a new version of their Hounskull Bascinet. You may want to wait a bit to check that one out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Wed 25 Apr, 2012 10:47 pm Post subject: Re: houndskull bascinet-cheap |
|
|
| Reece Nelson wrote: | Hello Steven,
I have a buddy of mine that has used this same helm during a full contact tournament in Australia. You'll see in this video the pins came out...and throughout the event there were several times were the pins came undone :/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0zRBeEPPU&am...AvES0wA%3D
I had asked him the same thing about this helmet and he told me to just save up for something that was custom made for me...and better quality
Of course if you're using it to just wear around I think its " ok " The lines and shaping of the bascinet don't look correct to me...the top of the helm looks very rounded and the bottom looks to have a large opening that says "stab me here!"
Course this can probably fixable with adding an appropriate liner |
Interesting thanks for the feedback Reece. Most combat I have seen with real steel weapons that I have seen pull their shots, but didnt look like those guys were! I wont be using the helm for the purpose though. I already have a sturdy Bascinet for SCA combat. I just was wondering if this helm is worth it for the price.
Cheers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Wed 25 Apr, 2012 10:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Antonio Lamadrid wrote: | I have just one helmet by Ulfberht/Battle-Merchant (not that one, unfortunately). Nothing fancy, but they are solid. Quality is very similar to the GDFB helmets that KoA sells, which is a different company than the GDFB of your link. A bit confusing.
Battle-Merchant is a well known company this side of the pond. Sometimes their deliveries take longer than they should, but other than that, no complains.
By the way, I was told by GDFB Europe (same as KoA's) that in 2-3 weeks time they will have a new version of their Hounskull Bascinet. You may want to wait a bit to check that one out. |
Thanks for the news Antonio, I may just wait to see what the new one looks like. That being said I got a bonus at work and the money burns a hole in my pocket:)
I think this helm looks pretty historical for the price range and looks quite similar to one of the bascinets in the churburg armory I believe which you can find photos of on this site.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 8:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Can I also ask if anyone knows if the Ulfberth helmets tend to run big or small?
I want to make sure it fits good as the shipping is pretty steep.
My head measures 60cm's circumference and the medium they sell says its internal circumference is 66cms, so that looks like the right one. (Probably assuming I dont want to add padding).
The large is 70cm's which I think would be quite a bit too big for my head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio Lamadrid
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phil D.
|
| Posted: Tue 01 May, 2012 5:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
Steven,
Kult of Athena is a US distributor for GDFB,You may want to check them out.Their pricing is good.Their customer service is great and will most likely answer all of your questions before buying.
http://www.kultofathena.com/gdfb.asp
Scroll down the attached page for all of the helmets that you been inquiring about + more.
"A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world." -- Louis Pasteur
"A gentleman should never leave the house without a sharp knife, a good watch, and great hat."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Tue 01 May, 2012 9:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks. I was referencing the http://www.getdressedforbattle.co.uk/ website. It does look like the same helmet though...just one is giving full circumference of the helm and the other is giving what size head it will fit.
It's tricky because I think a medium would fit me, but if it does not shipping is a pain and quite costly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Tue 01 May, 2012 9:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Phil D. wrote: | Steven,
Kult of Athena is a US distributor for GDFB,You may want to check them out.Their pricing is good.Their customer service is great and will most likely answer all of your questions before buying.
http://www.kultofathena.com/gdfb.asp
Scroll down the attached page for all of the helmets that you been inquiring about + more. |
Thanks Phil, it appears they are the distributor for the gdfb.com (The global site) and not the http://www.getdressedforbattle.co.uk/ or battlemerchant. The helm that I like is the one those sites have so I dont know if KultofAthena would carry it.
I did send them an email asking about their Bascinets though so thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Hrouda
|
| Posted: Wed 02 May, 2012 10:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Steven Pearson wrote: | Thanks Phil, it appears they are the distributor for the gdfb.com (The global site) and not the http://www.getdressedforbattle.co.uk/ or battlemerchant. The helm that I like is the one those sites have so I dont know if KultofAthena would carry it.
I did send them an email asking about their Bascinets though so thank you. |
There's some good information regarding the GDFB helms in the GDFB Helm thread. I currently fight in a modified GDFB bascinet and would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
 Attachment: 79.11 KB
[ Download ]
...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped. - Sir Bedevere
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Wed 02 May, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Scott Hrouda wrote: | | Steven Pearson wrote: | Thanks Phil, it appears they are the distributor for the gdfb.com (The global site) and not the http://www.getdressedforbattle.co.uk/ or battlemerchant. The helm that I like is the one those sites have so I dont know if KultofAthena would carry it.
I did send them an email asking about their Bascinets though so thank you. |
There's some good information regarding the GDFB helms in the GDFB Helm thread. I currently fight in a modified GDFB bascinet and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. |
Interesting thread, thanks for Sharing Scott, nice kit!!
I cant seem to find anyone that has reviews on the Ulfberth\Battlemerchant Houndskull Bascinet. I am leaning towards buying the medium because I already have a good fighting helm for SCA so this will be more for display. I would still like it to fit though. Since I'm not padding the helmet I think based on the medium being internal circumference of 66cm's and my head being approx 60cm's the medium should fit just fine with just the as shipped liner.
It's hard to spend a decent amount of money on it when it's overseas and I cant hold it and try it on before buying it and if I have to ship it back it will be a pain.
I think I'm going to go ahead and get it. Will post some impressions\reviews here once it finally arrives.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Hrouda
|
| Posted: Thu 03 May, 2012 9:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Steven Pearson wrote: | | ... I cant seem to find anyone that has reviews on the Ulfberth\Battlemerchant Houndskull Bascinet. I am leaning towards buying the medium because I already have a good fighting helm for SCA so this will be more for display. I would still like it to fit though. Since I'm not padding the helmet I think based on the medium being internal circumference of 66cm's and my head being approx 60cm's the medium should fit just fine with just the as shipped liner. |
In this case, the medium should be OK for display and costume. 
| Quote: | | I think I'm going to go ahead and get it. Will post some impressions\reviews here once it finally arrives. |
Please do!
...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped. - Sir Bedevere
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Tue 08 May, 2012 4:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I emailed kult of athena and the guy responded and said he could get me this helm. He said to respond with which size I wanted and he would send me a purchase link. I did that and never got a response. I even sent another followup a few days later and still no response.
Any who has dealt with kultof athena have this issue? Are they just super busy maybe? Its been over a week with no response.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Pearson
|
| Posted: Sat 23 Nov, 2013 3:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
So its been about a year. I did get the helmet from Kult of Athena, I just called them and got them on the phone and they got the helmet for me even though they don't normally carry it. It took a few months since they special ordered it but wow did it save a lot of money! I paid like 125$ for the helmet and only about 20$ shipping.
So the helmet...for the price I think it is fantastic honestly. Is it perfect? No, but the lines are pretty good and its pretty well made for a sub 200$ helmet. I haven't seen any pigface helms that looked near this good even at the 300$ range. How does it hold up to blows? No idea since I don't fight in it, have another helm for that.
Question for the experienced armorers on here....How do you normally get Vervelles off to affix an aventail? U bought the aventail but it did not come attached. I figured the vervelles were like screws but when I grab them with a wrench and turn them they just spin. Do they have to be peened out with a hammer? If so I would have to rip out the helmet liner since its stitched on..
Some pics
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mart Shearer
|
| Posted: Sat 23 Nov, 2013 8:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Vervelles don't unscrew. Perhaps a picture will suffice.
Attachment: 169.96 KB
ferrum ferro acuitur et homo exacuit faciem amici sui
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Hrouda
|
| Posted: Sat 23 Nov, 2013 9:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Steven, I'm happy to hear you had a good experience with KOA and are pleased with the bascinet.
The lines on mine aren't perfect, the visor lacks some subtle shaping, and the breaths have room for improvement; but at $145 it's a good value.
As Mart showed, the vervelles do not unscrew. You place the aventail band holes over the vervelles and hold the works together with a waxed linen string strung through the vervelles.
You might end up sewing your own liner for comfort, even if the bascinet is just for costume. Mine was sewn and glued in place; not much fun to remove.
This bascinet does seem to hold up well to rattan combat. After a few years of fighting a handfull of dents are barely visible to the naked eye, but that's to be expected from any SCA helm. Fortunately, I've never had my "bell rung" in this helm.
Have fun modifying and playing with your new bascinet!
...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped. - Sir Bedevere
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a standard topic
