The Armour Archive

how wide are the normal eyeslots of a pembridge sca helm?

what about the historic examples. anyone know how wide and long they were? also, how far are the rivits set apart?

Trying to get some info for my next helmet made by Clang Armoury

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Wolf:
<B>how wide are the normal eyeslots of a pembridge sca helm?
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The pembridge helm that I fought in for ~10 years started with a 7/8" x 9" eyeslot (no center nasal). The cap and upper section was constructed of 14 ga mild steel, and the lower section was constructed of 16 ga mild steel. Over the course of the years of fighting, the eyeslot gradually opened up to 1", so I added a reinforcing plate across the lower opening to decrease it back to 3/4". In my experience, the "typical" SCA pembridge help has eyeslots of ~1" x 4" with a center 1" nasal.

I would recommend that you check your kindoms armour regulations - as I recall, some kingdoms regulate the maximum opening size on a helm.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
what about the historic examples. anyone know how wide and long they were? also, how far are the rivits set apart?</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Using my memory and calibrated eyeball, I would estimate that the typical histrorical pembridge helm would have an eyeslot height between 1/4" and 3/8", and a width of 3.5 to 4".

The rivits were typically spaced between 1 to 1.5" apart.

-Keith/Austin.

For SCA, the eyeslots are generally as wide as is allowable for SCA fighting. Meaning the eyeslots tend to be 7/8" wide. This is actually plenty enough for visibility, no matter what you are told. I fought for several years with eyeslots narrower than this.

For the actual Pembridge helm, I can't say for sure, but photos in books like Edge & Paddock look like less than 1/4". I would guess at about 3/16" being right for the real slot.

I have been tempted to try a helm with historical eyeslots, but I quit the SCA before I got around to building one.

-Patrick

I think mine are 3/4" on my pigface that I fight in. No matter what you will have limited vision over someone in a bar grill but it all comes down to what is more important to you. Personally I wish everyone would fight in a period looking helm with the limited vision that goes with it. That would level the field a bit.

I would go with 3/4" or less just to keep it looking more period.