Keltica RAT offer

[Peroni]

Peroni, You will find a mixture of the new styles and older styles of helmets with Daniyal Steel Crafts. I have been assured that the Gallic G and H are the new pattern, but can see from their other photo's that the other helmets are the older versions.

I know, you should be lauded for you kind offer here to the members of RAT and I'm sorry, I do not wish to sound too negative here, but they are NOT Deepeeka older styles at all. They never made helmets like this! I can see a Gallic helmet with a huge groove in the cheek guard! and an Italic C with rivets and decorative bosses on the neck guard, and riveted-on ear guards! This is not the work of Deepeeka!

I worked closely with a UK based importer of this 'Gallic' helmet back in Feb/Mar of 2005, and put together an extensive document detailling what needed to be corrected/amended. (Nothing ever did though!)

Here's a photo from the document pointing out just some of the innacuracies and faults..
http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/ ... =GDFB1.jpg

Our group prides itself on accuracy as far as is possible, and I could not recommend these helmets to any new recruits.

Neuraleanus, Yes the hamata is sold ring and riveted ring in alternating rows. As we understand it, this is not the same hamata as Deepeeka sell for half the price. This one is as far as my 15 years in Iron Age & Roman re-enactment is probably the most accurate I've ever seen.

Yes I have one very similar to these. It's the one I got from Ashok Rai (in Ghaziabad). It's a very well made hamata, well worth the money!

Only the leather is questionable (they used a poor quality or even 'faux' leather) Mine at least has a full leather backing to the shoulder doubling, whereas, looking closely at this one, it does not appear to have a full backing. I can see through the doubling to the tunic underneath (rear view of mail)

Find it Armoury are possibly using the same supplier? Deepeeka are now producing punched and riveted shirts.

3. Wire gauge used?
18ga on mine and two of my Fratres hamatae.

4. A close-up photo showing the ring construction?
All can be seen in the marketplace and GD*B threads :wink: I posted a lot of pics there.

Rusty wrote..

hmm... nice copy of the SOTW Belt... Which is not made by Deepeeka... Including the mistakes from the last shipment (in fairness, the buckle is different.)

Looks like they copied one of Len Morgan's belts!

The latest in well made, well researched belteus and fittings

So well researched, that they have not placed the buckle hinge tag under the first plate.[/quote]