The Armour Archive

So, I picked up one of these online for $100NZ ($75USD, roughly) plus postage, mostly because I was curious at how good/bad such a priced helm could be.

Got it out of the packaging to find a solid helm with good welds, though only on the inside which got me a little worried. However, and friend and I spent a while whacking it with an SCA glaive with what we would consider very excessive force. It survived wonderfully, and we only managed a tiny dent in the top. (I thought we'd break it at the welds, to be honest)

For the price, you get a safe, but terribly ugly helm.

(Photos/example here: http://sussen.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product99.html)

Greetings,

Yeah, they're ugly but they're tanks.

I sometimes get them for tourney prizes. You just can't beat the price.


Hjlmr inn Danski

I have a question: Is this SCA-legal out of the box once padded and chin strapped? As in, the welds are legal?

Kotek wrote:I have a question: Is this SCA-legal out of the box once padded and chin strapped? As in, the welds are legal?

As far as ive seen they come sca legal once padded. A friend of mine has one, and yes while ugly.... it gets the job done.

So he couldn't have done a Prankh or something like that instead? Jeez, that thing looks like ass.

I'd be embarrassed to wear it, and embarrassed for anyone I see fighting in one.


Effingham

i saw that and it was like looking at a new beta max.


"Holy shit someone still makes that?"

Same price, Ironmonger makes a mutions grade bascinet.
It's only painted vice the powercoating, and the IM has a strange rounded brow cut which makes padding ...interesting.

I've handled the IM hat and it too is a tank.

Either seem to be decent loaner hats.


... then there's always the Ashcraft Baker spundome starters...
(fug but cheep)

The Iron Monger munititions bascinet is actually $135 isn't it? That's nearly twice what he paid ($75 US). But I agree with the scentiment that it's about the same but much more fugly.
On a side note, if you can't save up about $60 extra bucks by skipping some lunches for 60 days (or cutting out the colas and pocketing that $1 each time) or eating PB&J's, or trading in/ebaying your XBOX 360, I really think you need to reassess your priorities and maybe combat isn't what you need to be concentrating on anyhow.
(I made a nearly identical speech to my girlfriend last week about her going to the hair dresser...My lip is still swollen from where she bopped me a good one.)
-Cian

I knew someone who bought one of these helmets, padded it, strapped it and had it fail inspection as a marshal's gauge went right through the bar cage.

Cian wrote:The Iron Monger munititions bascinet is actually $135 isn't it? That's nearly twice what he paid ($75 US)

Not to mention shipping cost of a helm to New Zealand, which might be that much again... I think it will make a nice loaner helm

I own one of these helms, (not this exact model, but the one with a hinged faceplate) purchased it as my first peace of armor about 9 months ago when i started fighting because all the loner gear in my area has tiny eye-slots and i like to see what i'm doing.

THIS IS A BAD HELM

the metal it's made of is too soft. I'm constantly bending the bar grill back into place as the horizontal bars constantly bend when they get hit, leaving illegal/unsafe gaps.

I took this helm to pennsic this year only to have the top three welds on the facegrill break where they connect with the central (vertical) bar.

I missed my first pennsic battle because i spent 3 hours looking for a merchant with a welding machine to fix it.

Luckily for me, the one metalworker who had a welder was being visited by his friend who is an armorer. together they patched up my helm.

Unluckily for me, they confirmed that the helm is a piece of crap. both said the grill would break again, and that i should just buy a new one.

Also, bacause the metal is so soft, the powder coating tends to chip off over time, exposing metal which quickly rusts. combine that with a re-welded facegrill and I am currently the owner of the ugliest helm in the SCA at the moment . . . did i mention it'll probably break again?

save your money, there are better starter helms out there for the same price.[/img]

Greetings,

Hundred dollar helmet for a hundred dollar head.


Hjlmr inn Danski

Hjlmr inn Danski wrote:Greetings,

Hundred dollar helmet for a hundred dollar head.


Hjlmr inn Danski

I bought an Alan Baldree helmet for 100 bucks. I think that is a bad analogy. It aint the price, it is the product. I have seen these for sale at events for 250. That make em safer?

One of the guys in our group bought one. Looks like crap. Gave him one of these instead. http://www.ottosarmoury.com/celticfront.jpg

Greetings,

Agnarr wrote:

Hjlmr inn Danski wrote:Greetings,

Hundred dollar helmet for a hundred dollar head.


Hjlmr inn Danski

I bought an Alan Baldree helmet for 100 bucks. I think that is a bad analogy. It aint the price, it is the product. I have seen these for sale at events for 250. That make em safer?

Apologies. What I should have said was, "A helmet that's worth one hundred dollars for a head that's worth one hundred dollars".

Score on the cheap AB.

I mean, score on the inexpensive AB.


Hjlmr inn Danski

What I don't get, is if these are horrible ... and people buy them despite them also LOOKing bad.

Why don't <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Viking-Helm-Helmet-SCA-Combat-Armor-LARGE-SS_W0QQitemZ220189456293QQihZ012QQcategoryZ11733QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">THESE</a> seem to not sell often? Maybe they do, but I've been watching them, and they seem to end with no bids alot, and that always makes me iffy specially since items that tend to look decent tend to rise quick in price(And I'm not trying to poke at this seller or his stuff, I'm just curious)