The Armour Archive

Does anyone else have this book? I just got it today, and noticed something I've never seen before on p. D of the center bcolor illustrations.

Look at the Duc of Bar's bascinet. He's wearing some kind of "reverse klapvisor" that I've never seen. I can't tell how it's supposed to be attached to his chin, but it is clearly designed to hang from a hook at the top of the visor hole - i.e. where you would normally find a hinge. (Sorry - no scanner, so I can't upload it.)

Even stranger, this "visor" (if that's indeed what it's supposed to be) seems proportioned in such a way that it wouldn't really cover his face when fastened closed. It seems designed to cover his chin, nasal area, and come between the eyes somehow (so as not to require eye slots).

What IS this thing? "Ye Olde Medieval Nose Guard...?" Does anyone have any pics sampling the real thing, a reproduction, or perhaps an effigy that depicts this?

I know Osprey's color illustrations aren't always terribly accurate, but this is such a departure from anything I have ever seen before, so I thought I'd ask the Archive for comment (if you can find the pic).

Another question that comes to mind - why does almost everyone in this book have a red scabbard? Was that truly a fashionable color, or is this just an Osprey illustration oddity?

hmm.... the one that looks like a XL norman nasal? coming down all the way to a man's chin? I have seen it elsewhere, and it seems attached to the maille coif.

That's what I'm referring to, yes. It's hanging unfastened - that is to say, unhooked from the top of the helm, but hanging from the chin. Must be stitched to the aventail somehow.

Where have you seen this before?!

Like this?

Very much like, yes - but I don't interpret it, strictly speaking, as a "Norman nasal" (which I HAVE seen before, of course). It's a nasal attached to a bascinet, as opposed to a cap. (I wish I could scan this illustration...)

I'd just never seen this kind of thing on a "true" bascinet before. The thing has vervelles, etc., and then this nasal thing hanging off it. Would one simply call it a "nasal?"

As illustrated (and granted Osprey's frequent "creativity"), I would think it would tend to fall off. It's only attached at the top by a hook, as opposed to a latch such as the one in the photo you posted. (Nice pic, BTW - where did that come from?)

It wa sthe only picture I could find. AFAIK it is a mostly German Bascinet Nasal. I will try to find more pictures for you.

Uh...it's called a bretache.

Some versions of this were simply a flap of maille over the nose, but this version is the metal plate variety.

Thanks! And I just noticed the thread on "German Bascinet Nasals," which might have saved me a bit of bother...