starter helm

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:59 pm

i am looking for an inexpensive (used or otherwise) starter helm
preferably not a great or a barrel
an open face or a simple norman style preferred but whatever i can find would be good.

i am on a shoestring budget but i have a few items i can possibly trade to offset
one is a chainmail shirt(butted rings)
shirt is not here but at my house in illinois or i could get a better pic
i have a friend maintaining the house so it can be shipped quickly should people be interested and i am working on getting a better description as well as materials and such(i have not seen the shirt in several years except for the pic so forgive the vague description
i have managed to scrape together a suit of plastic armor so all i need to finish it and authorize is the helm
pic will be posted as soon as i can figure out how to make it smaller
or available in email upon request
apologies for my image ineptitude

Angusm0628 · Post by **Angusm0628** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:33 pm

Where are you located?

Garreth · Post by **Garreth** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:40 pm

Hjalmr here on the archive does inexpensive starter helms.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21215018@N07/

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:47 pm

thank you for the link, i have a couple of items out for sale, should they go i just may have to contact him about an order
the downside to being a soldier is no real money for armor
but watcha gonna do

Cedric Adolphus · Post by **Cedric Adolphus** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:23 pm

+1 for Hjalmr, best new guy helm maker out there

Arthmael · Post by **Arthmael** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:27 pm

http://ashcraftbaker.com/14g%20ms%20Spangen.htm

Under 100 bucks, solid construction. I've always also been partial to the simplicity of this design as well.

Cedric Adolphus · Post by **Cedric Adolphus** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:51 pm

Do a search for Ashcroft Baker on the archive, read what people have to say. Run FAR FAR AWAY

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:39 am

thanks for the warning, i was looking at the ashcroft sutton hoo but i will heed the warnings of my betters

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:44 am

i just now saw the where are you located post
i am stationed at fort polk and attend fighter practice for the shire of blackmoor keep

Duke Icefalcon · Post by **Duke Icefalcon** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:43 am

We have a nice helms that we are selling very inexpensively. These are in stock and I can ship today.

http://store.fastcommerce.com/icefalcon ... 262-p.html

http://store.fastcommerce.com/icefalcon ... 086-p.html

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:24 am

as far as ashcroft is concerned i see mixed reviews on here some people swear by them, some say they are meh and some say run far and run fast, whats the deal with them?
i have a message out to hjalmr on his flickr acct is there a better way to contact him?

Cian of Storvik · Post by **Cian of Storvik** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:32 am

The problem with Ashcraft Baker is that they are very inconsistent. You might get a piece made by the owner and it looks great. Or you might get a piece made by an apprentice and has half-assed welds and poorly peened rivets. You might get your stuff in a month or two, or it could be two years and you're still awaiting your stuff.
The reason you should run, in my opinion is that they have extremely poor customer service aside from what is stated above. If you contact them with an update about when you will get your armor, they will blow you off and eventually stop replying to emails. If you have a problem with the item purchased and you manage to get a response, at most you'll get an email saying "all sales are final".
-Cian

PatternWeld · Post by **PatternWeld** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:47 am

Mr. Belcher,

I think the best way to answer your question is this.

An Ashcraft helmet will protect your head and is suitable for use in SCA heavy armoured combat.

The problem with them is this.... They have as much in common with a true helmet of the medieval era as cutting holes in a 55 gallon drum adding suspenders and calling it a harness. They look almost as good too.

Just like an A-10 Warthog proves that if you put enough thrust behind a brick, it will fly...
an Ashcraft helmet fits many head sizes and shapes due to the fact that it requires you to raise yoga mat foam sculpture to an artform.

The reason you won't find them recommended is because there are folks out there like Hjalmr who are making solid munitions grade starter helmets that at least make a strong attempt at proper shape and proportion while protecting your melon.

There is a strong movement towards improving authenticity and appearance on the field, even for folks who are just starting out.

Do you want to be the guy who looks like a Mad Max reject while everyone else makes an attempt at raising the bar, even if its only a couple rungs higher?

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:50 am

thank you both
i am hoping for a somewhat decent looking helm, but i also know that if a dog ugly helm is what i can afford i won't let looks keep me off the field.
that being said i have a pm out to hjalimr (spelling) and hopefully i can work something out with him.
all in all i appreciate everyone's eagerness to help out and point me in the right direction so i can get my heavy career back on track

tim

hjalmr · Post by **hjalmr** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 6:29 pm

tim_Belcher wrote:thank you both
i am hoping for a somewhat decent looking helm, but i also know that if a dog ugly helm is what i can afford i won't let looks keep me off the field.
that being said i have a pm out to hjalimr (spelling) and hopefully i can work something out with him.
all in all i appreciate everyone's eagerness to help out and point me in the right direction so i can get my heavy career back on track

tim

Replied to.
(^_^)

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:37 pm

hjalmar is truely a wonderfull armorer and a boon to those of us who are both new and poor

Cedric Adolphus · Post by **Cedric Adolphus** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:04 pm

Amen. I send every new guy I find the Hjalmr route.

hjalmr · Post by **hjalmr** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:33 pm

(^_^)

Hallbjorn · Post by **Hallbjorn** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:41 pm

I had a Hjalmr helm. It was a good solid helm, and when I was done with it, it still held it's value very well. If it fit better, I probably wouldn't have moved on, but it was too small for my monster noggin.

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:46 pm

yea my head is pretty good size but he is going to make mine from scratch so it'll fit

Cedric Adolphus · Post by **Cedric Adolphus** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:01 am

Yup, he'll do well by you

GodfreyofYork · Post by **GodfreyofYork** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:43 am

If I can make a suggestion, as a former active duty scadian -

Get a focused time period you want to portray. Then buy armor you'll want to keep forever- however slow you have to go. I got alot of use out of the loaner spuntop... and now I'm piecing it all together. If you tell shop the classifieds on this website, and focus your search, you may be surprised the deals you can find.

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:44 am

time period is 11'the century rus viking(varangian guard)

Hamish Nisbet · Post by **Hamish Nisbet** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:32 am

Hljamr Just Built a helm for my wife. one of the Valdesgarde style helms. she loves it.

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:20 pm

hljamr was my first choice but someone made me an offer i could not refuse(free helm for a piece of armor i don't use) so i have a basic helm coming and money going into my armor jar for when i can afford a very very nice helm i will message him again

hjalmr · Post by **hjalmr** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:24 pm

tim_Belcher wrote:hljamr was my first choice but someone made me an offer i could not refuse(free helm for a piece of armor i don't use) so i have a basic helm coming and money going into my armor jar for when i can afford a very very nice helm i will message him again

So does this mean you don't need to buy a helmet from me??

Please let me know so I know weather I need to save you a spot on my quota.

O.o

tim_Belcher · Post by **tim_Belcher** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:31 pm

hrm
pm must have not made it to you
i got a helm coming on a trade, so unless for some reason it does not fit i have what i need to get authorized(no reason it should not fit) so i should be good, thank you again for working with me, i have passed your info to the gentleman in florida i am working on getting equipped and i believe he will be contacting you soonish
you are definately on the top of my list for when i get a chance to upgrade

hjalmr · Post by **hjalmr** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:18 pm

tim_Belcher wrote:hrm
pm must have not made it to you
i got a helm coming on a trade, so unless for some reason it does not fit i have what i need to get authorized(no reason it should not fit) so i should be good, thank you again for working with me, i have passed your info to the gentleman in florida i am working on getting equipped and i believe he will be contacting you soonish
you are definately on the top of my list for when i get a chance to upgrade

Ok, cool.

Hope you have a long and prosperous SCA career....

(^_^)

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