sca rapier/heavy combo helm tips

hrolf · Post by **hrolf** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:56 pm

Hi all,

the ongoing discussion on cut and thrust (http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... 914#983914) reminded me to ask about a project i've comissioned.

I've ordered a greathelm from CLANG that's legal for rattan combat. Because its a closefaced helm, except for the eyeslits, it's also got great possibility to be a legal cut and thrust helm, and I'd love to be able to do that. It looks like this, but with smaller breaths and a cross pattern on one side:

here's the part i don't know how to do: how would you make a removable perforated steel covering for the eye slits? The best my head can come up with is countersunk screws & cap nuts, but that seems like it would be ugly. I'd like to be able to walk off the rattan lists, spend a few minutes tinkering with the helm, drop most of my armor in a pile on the ground, put the helm back on and go out with rebated steel.

do i have to care about covering the breaths holes? I worry that i might, meaning that this mesh liner would essentially cover the entire face of the helm.

cut and thrust helms in the east kingdom must conform to standard rapier helm conventions, with the addition that "The back of the head must be covered by rigid material sufficient to protect against percussive cuts."

standard rapier helms :

i. The front and top of the head must be covered by rigid material to below the jaw line and behind the ears. Standard 12 kg fencing masks are known to meet this standard. If built to this standard, fencing helms are also acceptable.

ii. The face must be covered by either 12 kilogram mesh (e.g, a standard fencing mask) or perforated metal. Such metal must not have holes larger than 1/8" (3 mm) in diameter, with a minimum offset of 3/16" (5 mm) and shall also meet the definition of rigid material.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:06 pm

Why does it need to be removable? The KEM of Meridies has a helm with perf plate over the holes, simply because he likes the look of it. Can you see out of a rapier mask? Why wouldnt you be able to do the same on the heavy field?

hrolf · Post by **hrolf** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:35 pm

aesthetics, mostly.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:10 pm

So you dislike seeing perf on the heavy field? I am trying to get what aesthetics you are referring to. The one I mentioned was welded on the inside of the helm, directly covering the hole. It leaves for an interesting effect, especially if it is flat black.

Benedek · Post by **Benedek** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:12 pm

I would imagine that for minimal disturbance you could use a post/pin setup to make it work, but then again I am not versed in the armour requirements for rapier combat.

Maredudd · Post by **Maredudd** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:50 am

I'm currently experimenting with perf-plate to convert an ebay special burgonet for SCA fencing. I have found that it definately needs blackening to reduce glare (even on an overcast day). As far as legality goes - speaking as a period fencing marshal - the breaths on the helm shown would certainly need backing. Remember that the SCA rules are based on "worst case scenario", and that is a broken sports foil, hence the 3mm max hole size.
The rules state that the face down to the chin and to behind the ears must be covered by rigid material, and allow for a 12kg fencing mask or perf plate within that, so any gaps must be covered.