[Clifford Rogers]

Can anyone suggest a near-contemporary image with a credible helmet for a 1415 English archer? As two points of bracketing reference, Florence's 1369 code called for archers to have "iron headpieces," while a 1440 English indenture called for archers to have "salades".

I'm thinking for 1415 an open-faced bascinet would be likely (recognizing that per Waurin many would not have had metal helmets at all)-- not dissimilar from the ones in the Beauchamp pageant, though that's 70 yrs later. If that seems reasonable, can anyone point me to a museum piece that would match that?

Thanks
Cliff

[James Barker]

Cliff

If you look at a bunch of images in manuscripts in this era you see bascinets of many shapes and sizes including the short round top ones with a maille coif under or fitted maille drape attached.

[Kurt Scholz]

What's the story of the angry ladies in the second picture?

[Clifford Rogers]

Thanks Kurt. Love those images from KB 72A25!

Cliff

[James Barker]

[Tom King]

If you are finding period sources to placate a reenactment group, and haven't found the helmet itself you are going to buy, GDFB sells a few helmet that would match the styles depicted in James' photos.
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AB03...ret+Helmet
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AB25...sile+Steel
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AB04...net+Helmet
http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=AB27...l+Aventail
(round top, early bascinet and their cheapest bascinet and aventail combo.)

The Czechs can probably make one more accurate, but for the price these are good for those looking to build up their hard kit.

[Clifford Rogers]

[Kurt Scholz]

[James Barker]

I should also note I only pulled out images of Archers, there are many images of men on foot wearing many of the same helmets but also helmets made of many parts, scales, etc. Really junky looking stuff.

[Mart Shearer]

While James is correct that most miniatures show bascinets in use, the old adage of archers not wearing brimmed chapel de fer or kettle hats because the brim interferes in drawing is not born out in miniatures.

Here's a couple of early 15th century Grand Chroniques de France images showing archers using both styles of headpiece.
http://www.enluminures.culture.fr/Wave/savima...5608-p.jpg
http://www.enluminures.culture.fr/Wave/savima...5609-p.jpg

And from a 1412-1414 copy of Froissart:
http://www.enluminures.culture.fr/Wave/savima...5617-p.jpg

These are the rare exceptions to the bascinet.

[James Barker]

Mart

What is interesting to note is that in many manuscripts that are English (War of the Roses, the ones from this era are not military in nature) show only sallads and other none brim hats on the English side, while the French have crossbow men and some longbow men in kettles; examples like the Beauchamp Chronicles.

[Mart Shearer]

Indeed. The Grand Chroniques example is French, and only shows them drawing the longbow to the chest, not the face.
It makes one wonder if the technique allows the equipment, or if the equipment dictates the technique.

[James Barker]

I once tried drawing yo my ear with a longbow in a kettle hat, the brim totally got in the way.

[Lars Persson]

Hello everyone!

I´m new here and this is my first post.

I have friends that use brimmed helmets and they say it´s just something you get used to.
It is save to asume that it will work best with a long "mediveal" draw of 30-32 inches.


P.S Sorry if I butcher the English language, it has been some years since school.


//Lars[/img]

[Martin Wallgren]

That's me with the big bow closest to the wall. Black and red on linnen. And a kettlehat with a brim. And oh, just what Lars said!

[Glennan Carnie]

[Lars Persson]

Thanks Glennan:-)
Good to be here. As there seem to be a lot to learn here, I´m glad I found the place.
Wonder why no one told me about it....

[James Barker]

I have a 32 inch draw to the ear, but I am 6'3" with ape arms.

Here I am interpreting at Jamestown in March doing 1411

[Harry Marinakis]