The Armour Archive

In my efforts to improve the quality of my own kit, the time is coming soon for me to have finished up my basinet. Once done, I will need to pad it. Which would be more accurate for a german style basinet of the late 14th century? Were stuffed channels used or layered and quilted padding used?

Thank you in advance.

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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
Squire to Sir Galen of Bristol
The Shire of Ravenslake, Middle Kingdom

I don't know the periodicty of either but from a comfort stand point. I have mine with stuffed channels, I find them much more comfortable than the quilted variety.

While on this subject does anyone know where to find horse body hair for stuffing? Does anyone have a good source for this elusive stuff?

Also, I'd like to know about people's successes using tow instead of horse hair.

I've used tow, which I got from a weaving supply place. I stuffed channels with it, and I love it.
There's a source for horse hair listed in TOMAR, but I don't have it handy here. A stable might be willing to trade you a little time brushing their horses for the hair you get off them.
I haven't seen an extant 14th century german helm lining, so I don't know how exactly it was done.

I've only seen pictures of two extant helmet paddings (one bascinet, one sallet IIRC) and both had vertical channels. I'd be grateful to find a period source specifying horsehair, as I have yet to see one. The two liners I mentioned were (again, if memory serves) both stuffed with raw cotton.

You might contact Patrick Thaden at http://www.thadenarmory.com/ , I think he sent me the liner pictures and info.

I have pictures of two helmet linings, one is a 15th century Sallet and the other a 14th century bascinet from Churburg. The sallet is loosely quilted with diaginal stitching, but I can't see how the bascinet is treated, but there don't seem to be any stuffed channels.

I have also seen a lot of greathelm padding, 15th or 16th century, at the Armoury in Vienna, and they all seem to have stuffed channels.

I don't know if you will be able to get a definite answer on whether it was done mostly one way or the other in period.
If Bob and have both interpreted our photos correctly, then you could well justify doing it either way.

Erik

I don't think there are enough surviving examples to draw many conclusions. I've seen them both ways. If I was concerned about the long term survival of the helmet, I'd rip out the liner first, to prevent it from collecting moisture, or hiding rust problems.

Here is one pic I have...

http://www.grimmarmoury.com/gallery/late14th/ch15

Hope this helps,

Jason
Veltin Grimm

Hey there James C - lots of riding stables and/or boarding stables in the area; just look in the yellow pages. Come spring, I bet they'll have horsehair to spare. You might also try the Cooperative Extension office. They might be able to hook you up with a 4H student who is raising a horse.

Just some thoughts!

Gwyneth

Is there a mail order outlet for tow? I have got a bascinet I want to pad better.

Jehan

If you are looking for horse hair (though I have not found any period examples either) then I would hit any nearby barns once the weather starts getting warmer. You will have so much hair that you will not know what to do with it. Horses will be shedding their winter coats. I would avoid the more "prissy" barns, and most of the owners will be brushing the frequently, and blanketing their horses, which prohibits the winter coat from coming in much.

Thank you for the info all.

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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
Squire to Sir Galen of Bristol
The Shire of Ravenslake, Middle Kingdom

I live in North Eastern Montana and have had a long winter. I own four horses and they are pretty shaggy. If anyone wants I can gather up the hair when the weather warms up. I should get quite a bit and it usually just goes on the ground when I brush. It may be a couple months before it warms up so if anyone is interested let me know as I would rather see this stuff get used than end up on the floor of my barn. I will post when I get some.