Posts: 8,310 Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Tue 31 May, 2005 2:31 pm
Well was to late: The Early Barrel helm was already shipped and I just got it this afternoon.
I'm asking Mike if he can send me a loose suspension for this one that I can install myself: With the Canadian border its not worth the trouble and cost to ship it back. With an expensive sword needing some major repair it might be !
Well, its very nice and would have been even at the normal price.
The Norman Nasal Helm is also very good, no rust or any flaws worth mentionning.
I'm suprised how big these are and pleasantly supprised that my eyeglasses dont get squished by the nasal.
The big " CONEHEAD " look is a bit funny at first :p but the extra roomyness will be a plus when a
maille coif and soft arming cap is worn underneath.
Trying out different helms one after the other is interesting as they feel very different as far as top heaviness is concerned.
The Nasal Helm feels a bit top heavy, my round Cervellière is the least tippy of my Helms followed by my Valentine Armouries Eye Slot Kettle Hat, the Early Barrel Helm is HEAVY but not as tippy ad the Norman Nasal Helm.
Oh, my Cervellière is just a bit too big fore and aft to fit under the Barrel Helm: So its a suspension system with that one and a maille coif. The Early Barrel Helm give coverage stopping at just below chin level making sucking in fresh air easier than with my full sized Sugar Loaf Barrel Helm that goes down to almost shoulder level.
So, there is a trade off between protection and breathing: With the shorter older helm I can feel my neck very " Naked " out there and numerous decapitations must have influenced these to go lower for better protection of the neck and a lower
center of gravity, making the Sugar Loaf Helm less tippy.
Broke down and ordered the Plain
Bascinet WITH liner: So goes saving money because of a sale.
:eek: :eek: :eek:
Starting to look at getting gautlets from Mercenary's Tailor eventually.
Hmmmmmm ...... This is becoming helm collecting :lol: