Medieval helmets (WIP pics) updated 30th August 2009.

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:33 am

Just thought i'd share these with folks, I've not really made helmets much apart froma few multiplate riveted types and one raised roman one, so I thought i'd put these up.

First up a simple skull cap.

The two halves roughed out.
[img]http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs109.snc1/4638_89156928166_517958166_1888433_5637281_n.jpg[/img]
Smotthed and aligned for welding.
[img]http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs089.snc1/4638_89156933166_517958166_1888434_4405739_n.jpg[/img]
Post welding.
[img]http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs089.snc1/4638_89156968166_517958166_1888437_339767_n.jpg[/img]
Sanded out and a test fit for some rondels, these will be put on the final piece.
[img]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs089.snc1/4638_89156943166_517958166_1888435_2506815_n.jpg[/img]
The helm polished to a satin shine.
[img]http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs109.snc1/4638_89156923166_517958166_1888432_4806895_n.jpg[/img]
Another smaller type skullcap.
[img]http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs089.snc1/4638_87491268166_517958166_1861783_8258529_n.jpg[/img]

Matt

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:51 am

This is my first attempt at a sallet, I went for a simple open face type.

The initial cut plates.
[img]http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs087.snc1/4608_91229543166_517958166_1915781_3554371_n.jpg[/img]
One half planished the other roughed and the tail half formed.
[img]http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs087.snc1/4608_91229558166_517958166_1915783_1527896_n.jpg[/img]
Taped togeth to check alignment.
[img]http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs087.snc1/4608_91229553166_517958166_1915782_219451_n.jpg[/img]
From the back.
[img]http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs107.snc1/4608_91229568166_517958166_1915785_4319174_n.jpg[/img]
Welded and the clean up started.
[img]http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs105.snc1/5039_91561218166_517958166_1921838_1122240_n.jpg[/img]
A couple post sanding.
[img]http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs085.snc1/5039_91561228166_517958166_1921840_1928000_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs085.snc1/5039_91561248166_517958166_1921841_7015981_n.jpg[/img]
The helmet finished prior to lining and attaching the chin strap.
[img]http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs085.snc1/5039_92265123166_517958166_1932628_7026842_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs105.snc1/5039_92265133166_517958166_1932630_306744_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs105.snc1/5039_92266333166_517958166_1932658_2582658_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs105.snc1/5039_92266338166_517958166_1932659_2407357_n.jpg[/img]

Hope you all like it.

Matt

Thomas H · Post by **Thomas H** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:15 am

They're OK i suppose. ;-)

William Frisbee · Post by **William Frisbee** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:23 am

Nice lines. Very clean and very symmetrical.

Not my period, but still damn fine.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 12:34 pm

Very nice work Matt.

Roland Ansbacher · Post by **Roland Ansbacher** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:08 pm

The sallet looks great! Nice simple lines, and the roll looks great!
Keep up the good work!
Roland

Wilhelm zu Eltz-Kempenich · Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:05 pm

I second compliments on the roll. Damn fine, boy.

Darringer · Post by **Darringer** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:33 pm

Damn good job on those helms, AND that roll! Along the weld too! :shock:

white mountain armoury · Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:02 pm

nicely done

Thomas H · Post by **Thomas H** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:37 pm

I had the chance to fondle the sallet the other week and the roll is just as good in person. Very tidy work.

Ideval · Post by **Ideval** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:54 pm

Oh, bravo! Bravo!
I love the subtle curves on these!

I'd love to try a sallet like that.

IdÃ«val

Nieczar · Post by **Nieczar** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:21 pm

if it's Your's first work in this subject ...how good will be the last one

I like it

Duco de Klonia · Post by **Duco de Klonia** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:55 pm

Cool Matt....

in what way did you do those halves.... did you dish them with a hammer?/press or what?

Or did you raise them? it has such a clear appearance? Tell me, please...

Signo · Post by **Signo** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:46 am

You're not human.. your workmanship is too damn perfect!

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:16 am

Matt B,

The sallet has a very nice shape.

Mac

Ghostpig · Post by **Ghostpig** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:32 am

Very nice and clean!

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:43 pm

Duco de Klonia wrote:Cool Matt....

in what way did you do those halves.... did you dish them with a hammer?/press or what?

Or did you raise them? it has such a clear appearance? Tell me, please...

Both helmets are dished from 14g mild, I use a wooden dishing form and a small dome face tool in my fly press (pictured below). This acts exactly the same as a hammer and stump just work your way round till the halves are roughly the right depth, then onto the stump to tweak by some hand hammering, the sallet was largely finished by hammering while the skullcap was mostly smoothed on the wheel but still needed some fine tuning by hammering.

Thanks for the nice remarks guys.

Matt

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:11 am

A customer wanted to purchase the above sallet but on the condition of it having a reenforce plate on the brow so I recently completed this helmet along with a leather liner so thought I'd share the pictures of the finished item.

Detail of the handforged buckle.

While Kitty is off squiring for Jeff I have also have started work on another sallet styled after those in the Beauchamp pageant. It's been spot welded for the final "tweaking" to align the halves and improve the symmetry before I do the final weld.

Cheers,

Matt

Ingelri · Post by **Ingelri** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:28 am

Beautiful work. Some people like to have a helmet full of bling. I tend to like the smooth clean lines like these.

One of the most interesting things about this site is finding how different people use different tools to achieve the same end result. The flypress idea for dishing sounds like it's a whole lot less work than the way I do it with steel dishes and rawhide hammers.

Thanks for sharing!

Ingelri

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:53 am

I'd like some details on the fly-press as well. It seems quieter then ahmmer which for me is a decided benefit!

Sean

Tancred de Lanvellec · Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:57 am

Nice work!!!!!!

Kenwrec Wulfe · Post by **Kenwrec Wulfe** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:45 am

That is some very nice work. I love the simple clean lines.

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:39 pm

Very well done helms.

You certainly have a nice shop.

Thanks for the pics.

Hal

arty dave · Post by **arty dave** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:11 pm

*insert long appreciative whistle here*

Damn fine.

What else can I say?
Clean lines. Elegant. Perfect. Lots of Pics.

How did you get such perfect rolls?
The dome face tool is metal, right?

Cheers,
Dave.

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:57 pm

The top doming tool is steel, it was originaly for pressing candle holder bowls I think, the bottom tool is turned wood, I have a couple of these.

While quiter than hammering it can't completely replace it, the main advantage is removing the strain from the joints in initial shaping, but it always comes back to hand hammering in the end.

Matt

Mike Garrett (Orc) · Post by **Mike Garrett (Orc)** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:18 pm

Okay, now I'm going to have to kill you and nick your stuff... :wink:

Alec · Post by **Alec** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:12 pm

Matt,

Wonderful lines.

Alec

J.G.Elmslie · Post by **J.G.Elmslie** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:12 pm

Mike Garrett (Orc) wrote:Okay, now I'm going to have to kill you and nick your stuff...

only if I dont get there first.

is "you git" a compliment or an insult, in the context of such lovely work?

Mike Garrett (Orc) · Post by **Mike Garrett (Orc)** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:27 pm

Suzerain wrote:
Mike Garrett (Orc) wrote:Okay, now I'm going to have to kill you and nick your stuff...

only if I dont get there first.

is "you git" a compliment or an insult, in the context of such lovely work?

It's contextual and verbally reliant on tone as well.
Generally it's a mild insult but can be used in familiar banter in a friendly manner.

Insulting example, spoken irately - "You complete Fekking Git!"
Familiar banter, enviously " You lucky, lucky git!"

J.G.Elmslie · Post by **J.G.Elmslie** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:03 pm

Mike Garrett (Orc) wrote:is "you git" a compliment or an insult, in the context of such lovely work?

It's contextual and verbally reliant on tone as well.
Generally it's a mild insult but can be used in familiar banter in a friendly manner.

Insulting example, spoken irately - "You complete Fekking Git!"
Familiar banter, enviously " You lucky, lucky git!"[/quote]

ok, I'll have to say it in the terms of admiration in person. I can do that before murdering him in a fit of jealousy

(only joking I hasten to add. there's no way I would murder someone as talented... what a waste of valuable skills

)

Armand d'Alsace · Post by **Armand d'Alsace** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:35 pm

Beautiful!

KinnieKat · Post by **KinnieKat** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 am

Having watched Matt making these helmets I'd just like to point out that the flypress only replaces a small amount of the hammering, just the initially shaping takes place. It is the same when he uses the English wheel. Although it does take out a little of the planishing work, the majority still has to be done by hand.

Kitty xxx

Medieval helmets (WIP pics) updated 30th August 2009.

Medieval helmets (WIP pics) updated 30th August 2009.

Firts sallet.