First Helmet
Hello everyone.I am considering my first medieval helmet purchase & have some questions I couldn't find answers to using the search function.I am trying to chose between a Bascinet & a Salet & am wondering which type offers the best visibility(frontal & peripheral) & range of motion with relation to its neck protection which will be added at a later date.For the Bascinet it looks like it would be used with a Gorget.The Salet is designed to use it's matching Bevore(is that right?).To me it looks like the Salet combo would be restrictive due to it's design but without hands on(or heads on)experience it's tough to decide.Thanks for your input.
Re: First Helmet
G.Alan Beck wrote:
Hello everyone.I am considering my first medieval helmet purchase & have some questions I couldn't find answers to using the search function.I am trying to chose between a Bascinet & a Salet & am wondering which type offers the best visibility(frontal & peripheral) & range of motion with relation to its neck protection which will be added at a later date.For the Bascinet it looks like it would be used with a Gorget.The Salet is designed to use it's matching Bevore(is that right?).To me it looks like the Salet combo would be restrictive due to it's design but without hands on(or heads on)experience it's tough to decide.Thanks for your input.


Well the Bascinet would be earlier period and wouldn't be combined with a bevor it would typically be used with a maille aventaille attached to the edges of the Bascinet.

Visibility is sort of restricted with a visor in the down position and a lot of these would be made with a removable visor.

The Sallet might be worn without a Bevor at times and the Bevor can be restrictive in it's own way depending on type.
The Sallet can be of the German kind with a fixed visor protecting only from the bottom of the nose up or with a movable visor.

The articulated neck versions do permit the helm to be pushed back for better vision or worn in the normal position for more protection.

Italian Sallets may be open faced or with a visor and tend to be closer to the head. A good alternate choice is the Barbute which may technically be considered a type of Sallet.

http://www.kultofathena.com/armor.htm there are a variety here of low cost but semi-decent helms.

Nice Barbute here: http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~AB03...Helmet.htm

Sallet & Bevor: http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~3001...+Bevor.htm

Another Sallet: http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~AH38...+Visor.htm

Articulated neck: http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...ucts_id=58

Fixed neck: http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...cts_id=133

Well if you are looking for top of the line historically correct versions here is one place to look, click English, click product, click Helmets: http://www.flarcheveque.com/#

Here is another top maker: http://www.thorkil.pl/ click on the site and click on Helmets ( Nice Bascinets )
If you like the sallet but worry about range of motion with the bevor (a legitimate concern, especially if you're not getting custom-fit pieces,) then you might consider a sallet--either visored or open-faced--and a mail standard. The standard was very common from at least 1450 and up through the early 16th c., especially on common infantry and archers. A close-fitting, open-faced sallet with standard would probably be my choice for good protection, ventilation, vision and range of motion. Add a jack or brigandine and legs, and you'd have a nice 15th c. infantry kit a-la Froissart's or Beauchamp's Chronicles.

Here's a beautiful example from Francois L'Archeveque (see Jean's link above). With the advantageous exchange rate, this thing is only about $360! Buy that before you even think about shelling out that much for the typical, mass-produced sallet and bevor set.


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If you are thinking of ordering from europe you should check these out also:
http://www.viaarmorari.com/
http://www.olofsgillet.org/per/

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