[Wilhelm V.S.]

Esteemed forum members:
Over the last year, I've been making the transition from a Vikinger, to a German Knight, Circa 1500.
I've been buying pieces as I can afford them, and nearly have my harness together. I've got lines on most of the things I still need, and will order them, when funds become available. The one thing I'm still unable to find it a suitable helmet.
All the helmets which would look good with the kit seem to be cheap asian-made 18 gauge knockoffs. I was hoping for a good early Burgonet, does any one make a good quality burgonet that's combat-worthy, historically accurate, and not $1000?
Any suggestions about what kind of helmet to order, where to look for one, etc... would be most appreciated


Thanks,
- Wilhelm

P.S. Yes, I know the sword is not exactly right for that kit.

[Kel Rekuta]

[Wilhelm V.S.]

[Kel Rekuta]

Okay... get a better look at harnesses of the period; there is plenty of art, numerous effigies and surviving pieces from the time you mention. Finding detailed information is a better use of resources than buying kit on someone else's recommendation.

[Wilhelm V.S.]

[William P]

wasn't Germany still going through the phase of transitioning from Gothic Armour around the year 1500?

so in theory, later period Gothic could suit you just as well, and in theory a sallet or armet would work well enough, theywere two very popular helmet styles around the end of the 15th century as far as ive been lead to believe.... i can help but think the burgonet was a later thing about a decade or 2 later.

[Sam Gordon Campbell]

I think what you kit needs is one of those 16th century brocade skirts, that would look sweet and it's done so rarely.

[Kel Rekuta]

[Thomas R.]

Hello Wilhelm,
I want to support Kels advice: don't buy cheap and quick, or you will buy double. And for a german kit, based around 1500 it's okay to get a sallet. Some decades into the 16th century it would be considered outdated, but for 1500 it would be a fairly typical helm.

And if you are looking into this thread http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...allet+sean , you can see, what can be done to make an ordinary GDFB sallet to a somewhat special item. Sean has done a fine job there.

Regards,
Thomas

[Tom King]

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ace+Sallet
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...+%26+Bevor
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...sor+Helmet
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...let+Helmet
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...with+Bevor (with collapsing bevor, but not recommended due to steel thickness)
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ted+Gorget
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...with+Bevor

and some burgonets. most are 18ga, decent but not fighable repros
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-1622-burgonet-helmet-ah-3819.aspx
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-14913-burgonet...-6781.aspx
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-11657-royal-gu...-8120.aspx
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-2037-sport-burgonet-ah-6914.aspx (recomended)
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/p-11861-the-burg...-8114.aspx

based on your kit, you should probably go with a sallet. possibly the bellows face or a sallet and bevor combo. as far as burgonets, the "sports burgonet by deepeeka is the cleanest looking one and cheaper than the other gaudy brass ones

[Wilhelm V.S.]

Wow, thanks for all the great advice!

[Sean Flynt]

With that kit, and for that period, you'd also be okay with a lined steel cap, especially with rondels over the ears (riveted to the chin straps). I see that pretty often in artwork of the period, even on men in quality infantry armour.

I have a helmet of this type on the workbench horizon, and I'll most likely get one of these "welded mild tops" for ~$60. Depending on what size you get and how you line it, it could either be a steel cap (smaller) or a light sallet (larger).If you don't feel up to finishing it yourself I'm sure this maker could do as much as you want and can afford. For a cap without rondels, the only tools you need are a drill, bit rated for stainless steel, and something to serve as an anvil to set the rivets (a sledge-hammer head works fine, but a 25# anvil is only about $30 at Harbor Freight, and you can drill a shallow rivet set in one end and not mess up a good hammer head.) It's pretty easy to make a padded linen liner and straps. There are several threads covering that in these fora.

http://roughfromthehammer.com/parts.html

[Sean Flynt]

By the way, that's my GDFB sallet project in the earlier link, and I'd tend to steer you away from that unless you want a hardcore DIY project. It's a challenge to get the weight off of that thing and even then it's at the top end of the historical weight range. The transformed sallet looks great on a shelf or as a demonstrator and it's comfortable to wear, but If you want to be active in your kit I'd recommend something significantly lighter.

[Sean Flynt]

For example, you could add this sallet/cap to the kit you show above and look like you belong in an Austrian painting of this period. For a simple version of that helmet, I'd get a larger bowl and either line as-is as a light sallet or go further by flaring the lower edge, maybe turning the edges, and adding the rondels.

[Sean Flynt]

Consider these, from the Guild of St. Olof: