Helmet modifications

[Anonymous]

I am new the the reenactment thing and have a helmet, but it the inside is bare. I could use some help and tips on putting in hooks or rings for the chin strap, because the helmet has none and also for putting in a lining. thanks <p></p><i></i>

[Crispvs]

If your helmet looks reasonably accurate on the outside it should have decorative washers attached with rivets near the chin on each cheek guard. Remove the rivet, and then fold a small strip of brass around a small brass or iron ring, making sure that the brass strip is long enough for it to have at least a quarter inch of flattened length when the ends are brought together. Rivet this to the inside of the cheekguard, rivetting through the hole left by the rivet you removed, making sure that the small ring has a reasonable degree of freedom to move. You will also need a similar ring on the underside of the neckguard (known as the suspension ring) to attach the leather lace for the 'chin strap' which passes through the rings on the inside of the cheek guards before being tied. The rivet for the suspension ring should go through in the apex of the point created when the second embossed 'step' on the neckguard is divided into two semicircles.<br>
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Hope this helps<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

I would suggest you have a look at this link for lining the helmet.<br>
<br>
www.armae.com/Actualitese...helmet.htm<br>
<br>
Vale<br>
<br>
Maximio <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

thanks for the tip, i will try it. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Further to the reply from Crispus; I recently strung/thonged my helmet (Gallic G) for march using the carry handle on the upper surface. needing to quickly don the helmaet I jsut passed the loose ends through the loops in the cheek plates. What a difference in comfort.<br>
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The thong was kept clear of the sides of my neck where it normally rubs needing the focale to be plced between. Now I know this raises questions of historical accuracy, not least of which is that the thong is now in an exposed area and could be severed in combat, unsecuring the helmet. But I commend you all to give it a go.<br>
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Can opened........ worms evrywhere!<br>
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Mummius <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

I think you have already answered this yourself. Having the thongs come tightly around the neck gives an additional element of security to the fit. Use your focale, that's what it's for. I keep reminding the men in my conturbinium if a helmet becomes unsecure then it could either impair one's vision or even come off. If that happens not only would it have put the life of the individual at risk but as a consequence in a sheild wall the life of that soldiers comrades. It also makes for a much easier target for the Centurio's vine stick as a reprimand<br>
<br>
Maximio<br>
COH I BAT<br>
RMRS<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[FlaviusCrispus]

I am intrigued by this French website for reenactors, but...<br>
<br>
When I click on the "antique" or "antiquites" link, I get nothing but a blank page. For some odd reason, the other pages (middle ages, moderne, whatever) work just fine. I'm using a Mac, OS 9.2. Maybe some kind of compatability problem?<br>
<br>
T. Flavius Crispus<br>
Leg VI Victrix Pia Fidelis<br>
California, USA <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=flaviuscrispus@romanarmytalk>FlaviusCrispus</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/legiovi/vwp?.dir=/Flavius+photo&.src=gr&.dnm=flavhead2.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 7/3/04 2:41 am<br></i>

[Anonymous]

Ave,<br>
remember what happened to the dude with the incorrectly set helmet in Starship Troopers? That was just training<br>
<br>
Quintus <p></p><i></i>

[Crispvs]

Carrying the helmet on the march by tying the ends together and passing the resultant loop around one's neck is all very well, but it means that the helmet rests against the centre of the chest, which is not where it is shown on Trajan's column or the Mainz column bases (the only contemporary depictions I am aware of of helmets being carried slung). In both instances, helmets rest against the shoulder of the sword arm. As using the chin-tie to secure the helmet here would be difficult with mail and could easily end up damaging segmentata, I would suggest that the carrying handle found on helmets dating to the mid-first century on would have been used to attach the helmet to some sort of carrying point on the armour such as a hook, which has not yet been identified in the archaeological record.<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i></i>