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Bob K.




Location: USA
Joined: 16 Jul 2009

Posts: 14

PostPosted: Sat 19 Sep, 2009 4:30 pm    Post subject: Technical ? about great helm         Reply with quote

About how tall (top-to-bottom) is the occular opening. I realize there is going to be variations between helm types, but on average, what's your estimate. I have the front plates cut out, but now I'm thinking there is too much space which would allow a spear-point or sword to penetrate. My helm won't be used for fighting or such, but I would like it to be in correct proportions.
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Jean Thibodeau




Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Joined: 15 Mar 2004
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PostPosted: Sat 19 Sep, 2009 7:34 pm    Post subject: Re: Technical ? about great helm         Reply with quote

Bob K. wrote:
About how tall (top-to-bottom) is the occular opening. I realize there is going to be variations between helm types, but on average, what's your estimate. I have the front plates cut out, but now I'm thinking there is too much space which would allow a spear-point or sword to penetrate. My helm won't be used for fighting or such, but I would like it to be in correct proportions.


Just a thought but trying to make the ocular too narrow for a sword to fit through the opening would be difficult to do as most blades are less than 1/4" or even closer to 1/8".

On the other hand getting a blade perfectly angled to go though and ocular means that even a much wide ocular is hard to get through if the blade is even slightly canted to one side.

Oh, there are interrupted oculars that would be more like a series of small rectangular opening side by side rather than being one long slit. ( Not an option for every type of Great Helm as not every Helm would look good or have this style of ocular ).

My estimate would be between 1/8" for extremely narrow oculars but the average might be closer to 1/2", at least based on oculars on my repro Helms.

The closer the occular is to the eyes the narrower it can be and still give a decent field of view and apart from what historical helms can tell us the desigh compromises between best protection and best vision is always going to be the same I think.

I assume that others will chime in with more facts than just opinion.

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Tom King




Location: florida
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
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Posts: 429

PostPosted: Sat 19 Sep, 2009 8:34 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

1/2 or under should be correct. A good idea would be to start smaller and grind the opening until you have a decent field of vision.You might want to talk to the armorer in your local adrian chapter. At least down in florida, there willing to help out like minded non-members (like me) with everthing from cutting the steel to riveting the whole mess together.
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Bob K.




Location: USA
Joined: 16 Jul 2009

Posts: 14

PostPosted: Sun 20 Sep, 2009 11:50 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks for the replies! The first plate (bottom front) looked as though it would be too narrow so I made a second larger one. Now I'm thinking the first one will work better after all. Again, thanks.
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