How heavy should a helm be???

Wiking · Post by **Wiking** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 1:56 am

on average how heavy should your helm be and how large should it be in comparison to your head???

horsefriend · Post by **horsefriend** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 2:06 am

If your talking for SCA combat, just big enough for your head and 1/2" of padding. Unless your in an area of HEAVY hitters,I've found 8-10 lbs. a good weight. My current barbuta is 7lbs, 10 oz. and is very comfortable.

alial/scorr

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 5:26 am

That is a good weight range, it will absorb enough impact to protect your neck, but not so much that you can't feel it.

Jehan de Pelham · Post by **Jehan de Pelham** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:11 am

10 lbs is what I wear, including camail. It works well. I do not recommend a helmet lighter than 8-9 lbs, due to interkingdom calibration issues, and war enthusiasm.

Jehan

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:35 am

My helm weighed in at 14 pounds. Believe it or not, I only knew I got hit by the SOUND. There is a maximum weight to.

-Aaron

Kenwrec Wulfe · Post by **Kenwrec Wulfe** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:05 am

I was wearing a heavy kettle with a maille drape (to simulate a kettle over a maille coif) that weighed almost 18 pounds. Loved the helm, hated the weight. it was too heavy. Needless to say my neck in a bit stronger now. The helm I am making now, I am shooting for a finished weight of 10 pounds with aventail (late 14th century German influenced "mild" onion-top basinet w/aventail)

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"It is not the oath that gives me faith in the man, but the man that gives me faith in the oath."
With Honor,
Kenwrec Wulfe
The Shire of Ravenslake, Middle Kingdom

Red Dragon · Post by **Red Dragon** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:18 am

I never actually weighed most of my helms. The barbutte I am presently wearing weighs around 8 lbs, as does the skull only of the bascinet I am working on. With the aventail, It will be more like 12-15, but much of that weight is not on my head.

For a while I wore a 16g barbutte. It lasted about 2 years, but was heavily dented at the end. I never noticed any ill effects of the light weight helm, though it did ring like a bell. I have it somewhere around, and I think that I will try to weigh it.

Most helms are made of at least 14g (often 12g) and a 14g helm should be at least 8-9lbs when finished out.

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Conor
Red Dragon Armoury
I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:48 am

Historically they weighed between 3-8 lbs for field helmets in the Late Middle Ages, with 4-5 being an average. They tended to be closer fitted than most modern 'medieval' helmets as well.

For the SCA, the advice you have been givenis sound.

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Bob R.

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:23 pm

Bob; what about weights for earlier helms, say EMA and HMA ones?

Thomas

horsefriend · Post by **horsefriend** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 1:37 pm

Chef,

I think you are overgeneralizing a bit.

According to Trapp, the "Gothic" (1430-1500 by his own definition)helmets at Churburg run from 2.16 kg to 5.15 kg. The lightest is a kettle hat, and when you add the bevor it totals 3.17 kg. The average weight for a helmet with full protection (i.e; a sallet AND bevor, or an armet or barbuta) is about 4.0 kg (8lbs 6oz) according to Trapp's figures of helmets from Churburg for the period 1430-1500.
The barbutas mine is patterned on weigh 3.57 kg (7lbs, 13oz)and and 3.08 kg (6lbs 7oz), and mine, at 7lbs 10oz is well within the period range (I believe it's heavier than some due to the skirt area being thicker). The skull is within a few percent (+/-) of size of the of the models.
There is exactly 1/2 " of foam in the crown and none below jawline as there is approximately a 1/4" of clearance in that area and it fits tight enough that I can stick my tongue past the helmet's edge. It fits well enough that it passes the SCA push and pull tests without strapping (even I can't get it off if I clench my jaw). I've been nailed by some extremely heavy hitters (and 12' fiberglass pikes) in this helmet without undo discomfort.
All I'm trying to point out is that if an armourer does the research, and uses good materials (1050), an SCA safe helmet can be made that is the size, weight, AND appearance of a period example.

alail/scott

edited for spelling and freudian slip.

[This message has been edited by horsefriend (edited 11-20-2003).]

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 11:21 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by chef de chambre:
For the SCA, the advice you have been givenis sound.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Considering we are only hitting each other with oversized pieces of grass.

Pietro da San Tebaldo · Thu Nov 20, 2003 8:32 am

Considering we are only hitting each other with oversized pieces of grass.

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