The Armour Archive

Hi all, I have made a coat of plates, and a full early 14th century arm harness and am pleased with the results. will post pics of progress later on when thay have had the buckles attatched. I want a bascinet hound skull style for my HEMA fiore, but was wondering If I could make it myself or weather I need to get some one to build it for me. I dont have access to a welder but I can get any forming stakes I need. I want to put a fencing face shield over the opening of the bascinet so that if a sword or spear tip goes through my visor slit ill still be protected.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

Raising a helmet from a one-piece flat blank is a dang sight easier done hot. Torch or forge. You will quickly discover why such bascinets sell for 1500 Euros and up.

In two halves and welded together down the centerline is simpler, less costly in time and less demanding of skill, through simply being not as deep a raising.

I second what Konstantin said. I've only done a little raising and doing it cold is such a waste of energy and time. It *could* be done if you REALLY must but i'd advise against it. You'll need to anneal anyway to prevent cracks and hardening.

several questions: where in England are you located? Do you have a "donor" fencing mask that you can sacrifice for this project? Against what simulators will this be used (wood, rebated steel, shinai,nylon)?

Birmingham, I dont have a donor mask, was going to look for a mesh and cut to shape. It will be used against the hard rubber and steel. I will look for a local blacksmith and see if they have a forge I could perhaps use. I am comfortable to buy one, but if I could make one I would prefer it.

MPF wrote:Birmingham, I dont have a donor mask, was going to look for a mesh and cut to shape. It will be used against the hard rubber and steel. I will look for a local blacksmith and see if they have a forge I could perhaps use. I am comfortable to buy one, but if I could make one I would prefer it.

For decent helms for us HEMAists:
http://www.gdfb.co.uk/acatalog/GETDRESS ... ieval.html
(2mm "Klappvisier Bascinet" for £162)
http://spqr.se/web_eng/index.shtml
(1.89mm "Klappvisier Bascinet" for 180 euros)
http://www.bestarmour.com/bascinet_1.html
(pages of bascinets...pricier though)

Try perforated steel instead of mesh:

Mild Steel – 18 GA. .094â€

I fight at The Grange, havent been doing it long because of my age. Who you with?

Cheers for the links, I have bought stuff from GDFB before, helmets and maille so may do as you have suggested and get one from them and use some perforated steel.

MPF wrote:I fight at The Grange, havent been doing it long because of my age. Who you with?

Cheers for the links, I have bought stuff from GDFB before, helmets and maille so may do as you have suggested and get one from them and use some perforated steel.

The Grange rocks...good people.

I run The Iron Door Collective (formerly a branch of Schola Gladiatoria) in Devon. Perhaps we will run into you at Fight Camp?

Ye ye, I will hopefully attend everything available.

MPF wrote:Ye ye, I will hopefully attend everything available.

well, it looks like there will be several of us "clankies" at FC then

Cold raising gets seen mainly as final adjustment on a deep piece, or the preferred method on shallow-curvature pieces like lames or, at the deepest, knee cops. I don't know if anyone regularly cold-raises elbow cops by any approach.