I'm relatively new to the subject of historic arms and armor and have a question about how authentic a visored sugarloaf helmets is. Is there any evidence of this style of great helm possessing a visor or is it just misinterpreted as such by artists and modern reproducers?

Are you referring to a visored bascinet with a peaked crown? I believe those were quite prevalent in medieval times. :) ...McM

To the best of my knowledge, a true 'sugarloaf' helm was one-piece. The terms can get mixed up pretty easily though. :) ...McM

"Sugarloaf" only refers to the shape of the skull, an ogive like the old sugar loafs made before granulated sugar became popular. Unlike most bascinets, the "sugarloaf" is a 'great helm' designed to be worn over a skullcap or basinet, and is constructed of riveted plates, usually with a solid chin. The helms themselves appear in the last third of the 13th century, but the visored examples don't seem to appear until c. 1300.
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4070/7822/
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4070/17273/
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/5188/16562/

When I said 'one-piece', I was referring to the visor-less solid helm that is, yes, made up of riveted plates. I didn't mean to imply a helm made of -one solid piece-of steel. Just to make that clear.. :) ...McM

This helmet has a brass reinforcement in the shape of the cross on the visor. Even though the age of the crusades was by the 14th century already history, emphasising christianity was a substantial part of the chivalric virtues. Chivalry during the 1300’s included the admiration and imitation of the brave crusaders, heroes and defenders of the faith of the previous centuries. Christian symbols, such as the cross, were important and useful external markers of the chivalric virtues. The helmet imitates the style of the crusader helm of the previous centuries, almost like a fan would, but obviously it also worked as a reinforcer and symbol of the carriers faith.

I don't believe I 've ever seen an *original* example with a brass cross....steel, yes. I would be interested to see one. Possibly gilded steel? :) ....McM

Wall painting, early XIVth century, from Artajona, Navarre, now in the Museo de Navarra, Pamplona:
http://www.enciclopedianavarra.com/wp-content...111001.jpg

At least I think that it's a visored sugarloaf open...

Brass oculars would have been extremely rare if we go by the available evidence. We only have one artistic depiction among hundreds of others with iron or no oculars -- and no surviving artifacts (for brass oculars, that is -- we have some with steel oculars and others with none).

http://www.liebaart.org/helm/