The Armour Archive

I'm looking at an AshcraftBaker helmet, any input? I'm looking at the Sallet Grill/Perf. Any Feedback?

http://www.ashcraftbaker.com/helms.htm

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Herr Melchior der Graowulf
House Blue Heron
Baronial Rapier Champion, NottingHill-Coil
Scholar, Artist, Stick-Jock, Poet.
melchior@houseblueheron.com
http://www.houseblueheron.com
-mit starke und maBigkeit ich spaziergang das Meister radhaus
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I was looking at the helmet too. While I think some of his designs have merit, the sallet just doesn't look like a sallet to me. It looks more like a lobstertail burgeonet, IMHO.

Appears functional and well-made---not to mention a good price---but not the aesthetics I am interested in.

I considered that helmet too, but it just does not look right. The sugarloaf on the other hand does seem pretty nice.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">"Heads up, by God! Those are bullets - not turds!" Colonel Lepic</font>

I bought a helm made by him the conical spangle helm good quality I am new as well and very unfamiliar with the authenticity of armour I do think my helm is well made good prices
aed

Many moons ago, when I was undecided on what direction I wanted to take with my armour, I bought one of those sallets. I used it a bit, then loaned it out to a friend (who put it on the floor under his computer desk for over two years). In July I decided to tie up some loose ends, and went to his house to pick up the hat. I was so impressed by what a neat helm it is, I have been fighting in it on and off since (I'll have my new spangenhelm paid off soon). Not period for much of anything, but it is OK looking, well built, and comfy. I'll happily continue fighting in it until my proper helm arrives.

I've heard their non-helmet items are kinda cheezy though.

PS- you posted in another thread that your head is on the smaller side; be warned that these Ashcraft-Baker helms are big. I have a 24.5" head, and have extra room in mine (but I think it's the larger size). Make sure he'll let you return it before you purchase, and take advantage of his 'shorter helm' option.

I run into Kelly Ashcraft at alot of events out here in Caid. He's a nice enough guy. I've talked to him a few times.

His helms are good protection but the descriptions are not what they are.
Currently I use one of his "spangenhelms" (WTF?! It's a spun top.. never could figure out why he called it a spangen.. oh well.)
It protects well. Rings like an sob though, but hey for $45 it gets me onto the field until I can afford a new helm to go with the rest of my armour.

All of his helms are spun tops though. If you do buy the Sallet don't tell people that's what it is.

Oh, one thing he also told me. Stay away from the removable visors. He hates them himself, they rattle too much and most people come to him after a while just to get the visor welded on. The only reason he makes them is because people ask for them.

But yeah. I was playing with one of his gauntlets. Thing almost fell apart in my hands. Haven't seen any of his other stuff though.

I was acctualy considering buying that helm and turning it into a lobsterpot helm......

Actually I am playing a Landsknecht in my society and the only thing wrong with the sallet is that they had a high comb. Otherwise it is period for the late 16th century.

ummm are you sure late 16th century?'

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Alexi:
I was acctualy considering buying that helm and turning it into a lobsterpot helm......</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have a friend here who does rapier, and wants to get back to SCA heavy, We were looking at my helmet, and I think you could make a quite passable lobster pot (can't recall the proper name offhand... Zigschagge?) by simply punching or drilling holes over the ears, and adding a decorative tri-bar piece over the bargrill.

If anyone is interested, I asked, and he does sell them with no grill, in case you wanted to add one ourself.

Broðir

Well you could call it a Chichak, a Zishagee, dutch pot-helm, polish Calvery helm, strumhaub, eastern style burgonet, lobster tailed pothelm, umm and many othernames depending on the style place of origine and who is naming it.....

Flonzy,

You might want to go back and double check your references. I've never seen a sallet with anything that could rightfully be called a "comb", though they typically do have a slight ridge.

The 16th c. helm that DOES have a pronounced comb is a type of morion. Perhaps that is what you are thinking of?

[This message has been edited by Tim Finkas (edited 01-21-2002).]

I wanted to thank everyone for all of your help with my many helm delemas ~[:) I've found a good home for my basinet and I've decided to go with the A/B lobster pot. It looks like an easy place to cut my helmet modifing teeth. I plan to use the interchangable grills so that I can make a perforated face plate for rapier combat. A dual duty helm for a decient price, I think I may have found what I needed! thanks guys!
-Mel

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Herr Melchior der Graowulf
House Blue Heron
Baronial Rapier Champion, NottingHill-Coil
Scholar, Artist, Stick-Jock, Poet.
melchior@houseblueheron.com
http://www.houseblueheron.com
-mit starke und maBigkeit ich spaziergang das Meister radhaus
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Check this out. This image is from one of the books I have on Landsknechts. The sallets have lobstertails and combs. http://www.wyndmyre.com/gryphon/marshall/armor4.jpg

Umm those are burgonets, that would be the armourie at Gratz, no? They have a diffenet overall shape then a salet,have a pivoting brim/visor(look close you can see the pivoting rivit), and a comb.



[This message has been edited by Alexi (edited 01-22-2002).]

Well guess I was wrong, but they don't relly look like burgonets, or a sallet. They look like a cross between the two.

Bad press on the gauntlets? I'm dissapointed to hear that. I was just about to send in an order for a pair. I'm very limited in the fundage area, and haven't found anyone else who can deliver in the time frame I need.

Jengjen

My advice, Wise Ogre.... I drool over the sallet every other day or so. Some of the ashcraft/baker stuff looks a little.... *searches for the words* iffy.... and yes, if you get a sallet from a/b, just say you have "helm".... it will save you the argument.

The great thing about a/b is the ability for a newbie to get suited cheap, so that by the time they know what they want, they have saved enough to get it.

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Love us with money, or we'll hate you with hammers! - Milk and Cheese

It hurts to look at that stuff...the articulation needs work on the legs...I think I would rather buy a helm from Otto... just IMO

PS
Or try true hearth he has great prices also

[This message has been edited by Drake Orion (edited 01-29-2002).]