need help with a 4 point chin strap

[Stefan von Kiel]

I would like to add a 4 point chin strap to a German style sallet. There isn't a bevor. Does anyone have a pattern to make one out of leather?

Thank you in advance.

[Konstantin the Red]

This doesn't really need a pattern once you know what a four-point chinstrap is supposed to do. It keeps a helmet from being lifted off your head by a strap passing under your chin and it keeps a helmet's faceplate from being rammed into your phiz by a strap passing from earlobe to earlobe over the front of your jaw between chin and lower lip. These straps cross paths at either side of your chin. In variations of this strap layout, this crossover is a very good place to locate a buckle, particularly if you have only one available.

This piece may be shaped at least two ways: one is the two-straps way described above. The under-chin strap should anchor at about the height of and a little ahead of the tops of your ears, the underlip strap ahead of the earlobes, with each strap having its own buckle, located right near the crossover location, with the buckles' tongues toward your chin so the chinstrap is easiest to close. The parts of the straps going above and below the point of the chin define a chin-cup and may be connected with anything suitable to make a chin-cup shape: a short piece of the same strap fastened vertically between the two in the center of the chin will do, as will a piece of cloth or lightly quilted stuff.

The other way is with a chin cup, made as you like, with a buckle on at least one side and the side parts being shaped like a capital Y, the fork reaching up to the anchor points.

The actual length of the straps is rather ad libidem, as you may wish to anchor the straps by fastening them to D-rings, for convenience in repairing the straps should they blow -- easier than grinding a rivet out of the sallet shell. So expect to make the straps long.

And before I forget -- welcome and well come to Armor Archive, Stefan!