visor questions?

[freiman the minstrel]

Please forgive my ignorance.

I was looking at a wonderful helmet that "Hal" made (I don't know him). I was struck by how much I did not know about visors.

First, for what periods are falling visors appropriate? Were they the norm for those periods?

Second, how is the visor attached? Was it attached the same ways across history? How much trouble is it to attach/detach the visor? Is it possible to have a helm with a bar grill visor for battles and a strictly period visor for Pas?

Third, how are the visors fastened in the "down" position? How was it done in period? Is that method easy to fasten it when wearing gauntlets? Is there a Non-offensive modern method of fastening?

Is there anything more I need to know?

Note: I am not planning to make one of these in the near future, I would just not like to be ignorant about this one.

[freiman the minstrel]

wow, this is the first time I have ever posted a question on the archive and not received a prompt, informative response.

Am I asking too many Questions?

Perhaps I am asking stupid ones?

[Pathfinder]

Hello Freiman,
I will try to help you.Though by no means am I an expert.

Too many questions? NO
Stupid questions? No such thing.
Lifting Helmet visors?
Earliest I can think of would be the Sugarloaf greathelm of the late 13th to early 14th C.,some had lifting visors some didn't.
For what periods are lifting/falling visors appropiate?
Late 13th onward depending on the type of helm,,some of the helms that had visors were also worn without a visor.

How was the visor attached?Was it attached the same ways across history?
No.Some pivoted on rivits atached on the sides of the helm,some pivoted on rivits and had hinges as well,so it could lift up OR you could pull out a hingepin and swing one side out,or both pins and remove the visor(Pigface Basinet),some had one hinge in the center(Klappvisor)
How much trouble was it to remove the visor?
Depends on the type, some were made removable some were permanent.
Is it possible to have a helm with a bargrill for battles and a strictly period visor for Pas?
Yes,check these out.
http://www.armourarchive.org/patterns/klapp_face_bascinet_sinric/
http://www.armourarchive.org/patterns/close_helm/
How were visor fastened down in period?
From what I understand,many(most?) were not.

Non offensive modern method?
Buckle and strap or spring pin/pins.You can see both on the links above.

Able to be opened while wearing gauntlets?
Spring pins.
I think it was Murdock (or was it Morgan?) that once said ,he bought the Closehelm in the link above,that he could easily push in the pins and raise the visor while wearing his gaunts.
Please correct me if I'm remembering wrong.

Is there anything more I need to know?
Of course
Hope this helps.


[This message has been edited by Pathfinder (edited 04-08-2002).]

[Halberds]

Pathfinder had a very good reply. I copied the old drawings in books and paintings of the time. The latches were many.
The best examples can be seen in The Armourer and his Craft from the XI to the XV century by Charles ffoulkes.
R.