A little side note on affordability and use among lower/higher classes: I read an essay about Prussian castle findings and some period documentation told for example how many and what kind of armour a castle had in storage, and it specifically separated eisenhut schwartz (kettle helmet black iron) and eisenhut stahl (kettle helmet steel). It also said that knights might often wear kettle helmets apparently because they were so comfortable, but they demanded higher quality steel.
Yes, this was actually found out because they were a couple of drawings from medieval art showing knights with kettle helmets and also a full suit of armor, these were really useful and were extremely comfortable, the Stalhelm german helmet series from world war 2 was partly based off of it.
@@scootch4224 what @Loklar said, plus it was during WWI, not WWII. The American PAS-GT (Fritz) kevlar helmet in turn was based off the German Stahlhelm, who's derivatives are in use today. So arguably the sallet basically is longest used combat helmet in the world today. The British WWI helmet was based off kettle hat by the way. *edit: typo
As a reenactor I absolutely love kettle hats. You get unrestricted vision and breathing, it's super easy to take off and put back on as needed, and I feel much safer having the brim protect my face (since in reenactment most of the blows come from above), neck and partially shoulders than, for example, an open-face bascinet.
A kettle helm, a coat of plates or more probably a brigantine - some form of leg protection and hand protection. That's all you'd probably need. A big ole' armored cod piece would be a nice thought for confidence more than anything else but I think we're getting into fantasy at that point.
My thoughts exactly as I was watching this. As a modern fencer though, the brim would give me problems facing an edged weapon like the sabre, so in it's time it would be a problem spotting and parrying a downward sword strike. Also makes it easy to bang your head in low ceilings/ branches like I sometimes do when wearing a ball cap. Then again it wouldn't hurt like it does for me with just a cap. ;-)
I know I'm super late, but anyway: That's interesting, because the British WW1 (and also WW2) Brodie helmet, which is basically a modern kettle hat, had the same logic behind it. Back in WW1 trench warfare, the Brodie helmet was thought to be practical against shrapnel coming from above. Kinda ironic how certain kinds of armor become relevant again through the ages. Another example is the Soviet WW2 steel breastplate and today's ceramic body armor. Think of 18th and 19th century warfare, when no soldier would wear body armor or helmets because they were considered obsolete due to firearms. Nowadays, they're relevant again. Edit: Also, I read that the iconic German Stahlhelm was inspiried by medieval sallets. If that's the case, this means that today's PASGT derived helmets are also descendants of sallets, since the PASGT helmet itself was inspired by German Stahlhelms.
Some Modern hardhats for construction work still use that design. What I like is it can keep the sun and rain off you while you’re marching or entrenching or performing camp chores. But still need to be in gear. It’s a working man’s helmet.
I love the kettle helm both for design and it's universal appearance. The Yuan, and Ming dynasties both used them, and the Tran of Dai Viet also had their own "acorn" style kettle helm.
I think it's also nice that it covers the neck and defect stones and stuff from above off your body by a siege for exaple. And it allows good air circulation for the head to prevent overheating.
@Führer des Benutzers Only if you like being chewed out first by your captain and then the quartermaster. Troopers where expressly forbidden to use the M1 in such a manner because the heating and cooling involved could alter the material properties of the steel and destroy it's protective properties.
When I saw you put on the kettle helmet and rotate it, it gave me an idea. I think another benefit of the kettle hats design is similar to the back rim on Roman helmets. When someone strikes at your face, the instinctual reaction is to turn your face down and away from the strike. In the case of a kettle hat, this means that the side rim will now be covering most or all of where your face was, thus protecting your face, head, and neck when a different open helm would not.
Amazing channel. Matt Easton sent me here, and I don't regret coming. About the kettle helmet, it seems to be very usefull against falling debris (the main use of the similar WW1 helmets). Do you think the popularity of the kettle helmet may suggest that anti-personel falling projectiles (like, you know, stones) could have been more present in the medieval battlefield than we tend to think?
+Thiago Monteiro Thank you, and welcome to the channel! The brim is really effective a lot of things I think. It's not only great at keeping weapons out of your face, but like you say it can be very effective at keeping you safe from falling debris. I tend to think that it's so good at keeping blades from hitting you that it's effectiveness against falling debris may be more of a wonderful side benefit of its design (that may have been exploited more and more over time), but I think primarily it was intended for defense against melee weapons and arrows (although, the latter is definitely 'falling debris' to an extent). In a 'siege' situation though, I'm willing to be the air was filled with all kinds of horrible flying dangerous objects and a lot of people were happy to have that brim on their helmets.
10 out of 10! Very well done. I love that you follow the historical thread of the helm from when we first see depictions of it all the way to wear it begins to meld and blur into other forms and other styles of helm. To often we focus to much on what classifies a specific piece of armor and we forget to touch on or acknowledge the grey areas. Like you said with the kettle helm, were it starts to blur into the sallet, especially when used injunction with a bevor. Great presentation.
Thank you so much for putting so much into your research. I wear a Chapel de Fer in combat. It is an amazing helm. I can't begin to tell you how much I've had to hear how it is a "peasants' helm". I found documentation for days proving exactly the opposite before I finally decided to have mine made for my early 14th kit. Your videos are very informative and your knowledge of armor is extensive. Again, thank you.
Great videos! stumbled on to you while searching for Medieval Armor on TH-cam. Been watching as I work on an original 16th century mail standard. Keep up the wonderful content and discussion.
I would assume that the brim was bent down to protect from downward strikes and falling rocks. If the rim was broad and horizontal, then it could transfer some serious impact on your neck. PS: I like the Morion and the Witcher 2 style spiral kettle hat most (its apparently based on real finds)
hands down this has to be my favorite helmet in all of history, not to mention that some early winged hussar helmets had brims reminiscent of kettle hats
Thanks for the video. It was very entertaining and informative. One point I think you missed out on when talking about the advantages of the kettle helm is that it also doesn't limit your hearing to any substantial degree. In situations where you can't see your enemy, such as assaulting the insides of a castle, being able to hear well would be vital to success.
The zombie head was a perfect display head for that helmet. You can see why they were popular, especially given they were cheap and quickly manufactured. I can imagine there would be two generations of hand me downs among the common soldiers. One thing I have gotten a better understanding of, from you, is how expensive it was to equip yourself for warfare. A mounted man at arms must have put a lot of effort into obtaining and up grading his equipment. That could put some serious pressure on a noble young fellow, with no gold in the family coffers.
Thanks for giving us a look at your fine collection. Good video and very informative. Besides the advantages you describe, it seems like a little care given to an easily removable liner would also make this helmet a useful cooking pot around the campfire. I remember reading something long ago about GI WWII helmets being used in this manner and thus being superior to the German models because their liners could not be easily removed. They were also better as a digging implement although enferior to the German in terms of coverage, draftiness, and rain deflection. Fascinating stuff for history buffs. Thanks again for your time and effort.
I think he is referring to the Peter Paul Reubens portrait of Maximilian I. It is on wikipedia: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Peter_Paul_Rubens_120b.jpg
For all the sallets and greathelms, the kettle helm will always be my favorite. You sacrifice the coolness of being faceless with the coolness of having a wide brim 😎
+Battam Ah yes... I did forget to mention that. You're absolutely right, you can certainly hear a lot better in a kettle helm than you can in any helm that covers the ears. Especially as compared to a bascinet with great helm worn over it!
You forgot a pair of important features. An excellent sunblock, for those sunny days, or even the rainy ones, it's nice with some screening for the eyes and the head. And in a pinch, you can put it on a fire, fill it with water and use it as a kettle. Or more of a pot but you get my drift. Also it looks stylish. Yours have a robin hood-esque vibe to it. I like it.
Does it affect the hearing in any way? Thanks for all your videos, I've just marathoned your armour series! And yes, I am another of Matt's subscribers :D
+Ægir Bladeworks I'm very happy that you're enjoying them! I'm sure there are some minimal effects from the brim, but compared to a helmet that covers the ears, there's no comparison. You can hear, see and breathe considerably better in a kettle helmet than in a bascinet, especially a bascinet with great helm over it. I was remiss to forget to mention the hearing aspect in the video.
I very much am enjoying them, although I've watched all now so you need to make some more :D Thanks for the extra information, I appreciate you taking the time to answer!
My favorite is the 15th century variant with eye slits. However, I think it makes the eyes very vulnerable to stabs because like you mentioned, attacks tended to be directed towards the top of the brim.
I really enjoy the commentary of how the kettle helmet is an influence to WW1 helmet. Armor evolutionary trees are unquantifiable entertainment from a historical and, to a lesser extent, biological perspective. :D
Knyght Errant the helmet honestly reminds me of a Boeotian helmet from the Ancient and Classical eras. It was used as the main helmet of choice by Alexander the Great's cavalry. I think the Hetairoi, or the Companions. I mean I can see how effective it is without compromising much of sight and hearing. But the protection for the face leaves much to be desired...
Who's the handsome model you got there doing the vid with you? Also I've always loved the design of the kettle helmets. Different variations but the one you're showing is off one of the funnier looking ones, yet there's something great about it too.. and it's huge.
This is a really great series! Is there a video about vision while wearing a helmet planned? I'm still not sure how well the vision was with only the eye-slits. A camerashot through the bascinet-visors to demonstrate this would be great, if it's possible ...
Also looks like it takes very little movement of the head to protect the face with the front of that brim should it be needed. Think I'd rather have this than a visored helm for everything but jousting (be it tournament or battlefield).
You know this is probably the most underated helmet of the times. Which is sad because i really like this helmet. It gives you good vision and protection and if worn with say some mail or a bevor to protect the neck and face you're even better off protection wise. Lots of people love the basenet or the armet, and i do to, but i would much rather be able to see and breath when fighting in halberd formation or in very close quarter combat wit a sword. Then again it is possible they just lifted, or removed their visors when in that for of combat, but still I would prefer the kettle helm or perhaps a y faced barbute.
Fantastic video once again. There are so many more helmet styles, can we expect more videos about them? I don't expect you to own any more helmets but I really would love a video about the sallet or armet.
+3027085 I don't have access to a sallet or armet at this time, but I may be able to get my hands on a great bascinet and an early armet in the very near future.
Judging by what I could see when you tipped your head forward, your face is somewhat more protected, and the length of the rear brim still covers your neck so on the battlefield when the arrows are flying you can get a little more protection for your face?
+Ben Kirkby Yes, I imagine during an arrow volley, tilting your head forward to protect your face with a brim like that would be a very good idea :) The rear brim would still provide very good coverage for anything coming from above or forward of your position.
Hi there, yes, He is right (M Easton that is!) you do cover a very interesting period, am interested in late 13c and early 15c myself , am subscribed now, cannot wait for your more of your stuff. A question? because it has a thick leather chinstrap, would it not be a problem of choking or cause neck pain? if the helmet was knocked back or pushed back in combat? I was thinking of a spear thrust under the broad brim! which would force the helmet back very quickly?
+Bryn Noble Thanks and welcome to the channel! Sure it can be a potential problem, but I think the advantages of keeping the helmet on far outweigh the risk of the chinstrap becoming dangerous in the case of the kettle hat. You can probably find a flaw to exploit in most any piece of armor, but you have to consider whether or not that flaw negates the protective value otherwise offered by the piece of equipment.
It seems to mee that the brim has one big disadvantage: it would lead stabs with swords and spears right to the head. It would also protect you from arrows if you turn your face slightly downwards though.
Could someone help me out? i would like to know why the flat topped kettle helmet at 2:31 was built that way. Round ones seems more efficient since it would possibly deflect some blows.why they had them in the same period?
+BRAgamer They also had flat topped great helms for quite a long stretch of time. They may have been easier and less expensive to produce, as they require less skill to make, but they are definitely not as effective as something with a glancing surface.
Amazing content! Matt Easton send me here and he was totally right, your channel is great! I have two question, I have already seen your entire playlist (in one day, you are that awesome), are you going to continue with a video on the armet helmet? And another one, is there any evidence of people wearing plate armor directly on padded armor without mail? Keep up the great work, cheers from your new Czech fan and sorry for my english. :-)
+Tomáš Gestinger Thank you! I don't own an armet, nor do I have the ability to get my hands on a nice one near me, but I really want to do a video on the armet because next to the bascinet it's my favorite type of helmet. Eventually I hope to do one though. From my studies it seems that the more plate you have on, the less thick the padding becomes over time. You do see some padded armor being worn with plate during transitional periods, like on things like gamboised cuisses, but it seems like it's pretty rare.
I'm following all your videos about the helmets. I think they're perfect! Thanks to share your knowledge with us. Anyway, weren't the Crusades led by Louis IX heading to Egypt and Tunisia, and not directly the Holy Land?
+Piergiuseppe Di Michele As I understand it, after negotiating his release from captivity in Egypt he spent several years in the Holy Land with Joinville (the writer of Vie de St Louis), perhaps the account I read was taken from that time. The account I was referring to is described secondhand in European Armor by Claude Blair.
A kettle hat with an large brim might interfere with a longbow string. A shorter brimmed hat may not pose as much of a problem. An open-faced bascinet would be even more conducive to a close draw.
Can you comment on the liner and how much space there is between the top of your head and the top of the helm? It appears as if there is some unused space there and I can think of several reasons why that would be a good thing. First it makes the helmet more versatile if is large enough to fit bigger headed people and the liner can be made to fit the user. And second it would be more comfortable if the helm didn't rest against the head. And third it would seems like it would be better to have some space for when the helm is struck.
+Krashlandon This particular liner is a single piece of fabric. You're right in that it doesn't go all the way to the top of the helmet, so it does suspend it on your head, which is preferable in my opinion. One thing I would consider doing (which I have done to my bascinet) is to cut lobes into the liner and add a small cord to make it slightly more adjustable.
I had 2 questions about it. 1. As it was used primarily by the non men at arms portion of the fighting men wouldn't the use of a shield make it fantastic? The shield covers your face and the helmet does not restrict you in any way? 2. How much does it weigh, especially compared to a modern military helmet?
+macharim The kettle hat is probably one of the most useful and versatile helmets in history. My kettle helmet weighs a little over 6 lbs, by comparison when I was a military helicopter pilot, my helmet (an HGU-84) weighed about 3 lbs 5 oz, I still have my helo helmet so I just weighed it :) With the addition of night vision goggles you can add about 1 lb.
So surprisingly light then. Obviously this means that lower rank soldiers had good head protection but how would you rate the rest of their armor? Say around the time of Agincourt? Whatever they could find or refined, effective gear? Also I was wondering if you have as much knowledge of lighter armour? That plate was almost invulnerable has been pretty clearly shown but my question is how effective was the cheaper gear worn by rank and file?
Hi Ian. I was just wondering about the depiction at 2:30 in this video. I can see there that the kettle helmets are coloured in red and blue. Is it real that they painted their helmets or is it just to make the depiction prettier? If so, what was the purpose of it? Was it connected with heraldry? Thank you By the way, great videos!
Hi Jan. In the specific cases of MS illustrations it's nearly impossible to know. Helmets are described as covered in fabric or leather in surviving inventories, sometimes they are described as painted (but not nearly as frequently as covered by fabric or leather), so the illustrations could be trying to show those covers, or they could simply be a convenient way for the artist to provide contrast between figures or highlight individuals.
A coif would be a very likely supplemental armor to wear with a kettle hat. With a mail collar, or no supplemental armor are also common ways these are depicted.
The more I think of this helm, the more I like the idea. It keeps the sun out of your eyes, protects your neck and shoulders, all while leaving your vision, hearing, breathing, and speech unimpaired. With a mail coif and padding, it would actually provide an ideal ratio of protection without encumbering anything important. Compare that to the sallet (less bevor), which provides comparatively worse protection while looking more fashionable.
Very nice video. Is the liner actually supposed to replace other ways of padding or mainly to improve the fit of the helmet to the head? Accordingly, what would be the optimal way to wear the helmet - just a helmet with liner, a helmet (without liner) on top of a padded coif or a helmet with liner on top of a padded coif?
+TheMorgoth86 There is no ideal way to wear it, it would probably depend on what else you were wearing with it.. I'm sure different methods were tried in period as well, but the way mine is configured it is designed to be worn as the primary padding for the helmet. If worn with a mail coif, it would probably incorporate a padded coif in addition to everything else.
+Lar Mayotte Hi! Thank you for coming and welcome to the channel. This particular kettle hat is advertised at 2.9 kilos but I haven't weighed it myself. I intend to do a video dedicated to weighing each piece of kit individually.
Is the wide brim has something to do with guiding deflected blows furher from shoulders? Is it helps duting a rain? Is it meant to be sort of a piese of a buffer material to weaken the blows bu flexing or crumpling?
I notice the earlier ones appear to be painted to actually highlight the multi-part construction, whereas the later ones seem to be more commonly just polished metal. Are there any depictions of painted kettle helmets from the latter half of the 14th-early 15th century?
+Knyght Errant the kettle helmet to me seems like it would be a worse version of the ancient Greek botacian helmet(i think that's how it's called) if they changed the design just a little bit . the botacian helmet is like the kettle helmet, but in the face area the helmet curves up so you get good vision and good protection. I don't know how to exactly explain it, but you can find a video talking about Greek helmets if you want to see what it looks like.
+Just a talking taco If you only think of attacks coming straight at you or downward. The kettle is excellent design to protect the skull from falling rumble and debris, like what you would encounter during a siege. Hence the design was used again in WWI british army helmet and construction crew still use plastic kettle hats today.
Philip Dyer if they made the botacian helmet with medieval smiting it would be in many ways better. Yes it would be just a little small bit easier to stab The face, but you would have unhindered vision. It's all a matter of preference. I like the great helm more because the big cone sticking out of the pig faced(hound skull) helmet hinders the vision very much. the Maximilian helmet is one of the best ones but it was in the reneasons period so it doesn't count. The best one in medieval times was the Italian helmet that I don't know the name of. :p
Christopher Jackson I seen this many times. They say that the vision is great ,but in fact what they mean is that it's good enough .You probably can't see up without tilting your head up, witch ecsposes your head to arows and swords ,and your forward vision does seem to be a bit obsessed when wearing the kettle helmet. Yes there were different warrants, but in games and movies, they mostly used this design or a similar one. I'm not saying that movies are always accurate ,far from it ,but even if there was a variation like the boeotian helmet ,there probably wouldn't be many of them .Also on other reviews and videos, it's the same or similar design as this one in the video. Find a picture in total war Rome 2 of the Greeks wearing this helmet.(you probably already know what it looks like since you know the name of it but whatever) It is to much curved in the game and to small in my opinion, but you get the idea that if they made the main kettle helmet with the way and style that they used in the medieval times , it would be better in my opinion then this one,but this way it does seem a bit inferior.
IIRC one of the big reasons for the similarity in the design from the kettle helm to the English WW1 helm is that both are designed to deflect airborn weapons from hitting the user Arrows, rocks, javelins and spears in the case of the kettle helm and shrapnel in the case of the WW1 one. Is that correct
+Aspie Sean Also, when formations get close/tight enough, it limits attack angles for hand weapons to mostly the same ones due to other people being in the way of strikes that don't use a downward motion.
I was looking through the online museum of university of Oslo the other day and I came across an odd kettle helmet (C105) I've not seen before. It looks like a cross between the short brim/high dome of the Italian Cabasset ( 6:26 ) and the earlier (C84) spangen kettle helmet's design ( 1:25 ). www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502758&type=small Do you have any thoughts on the period of this helmet? High middle ages? Early modern period? Reforged perhaps?
+Wille k Interesting helmet. The style of the dome is definitely reminiscent of the typical spangen design. I wonder if perhaps the original brim was replaced and the helmet modified at some point in its working life.
+Knyght Errant I'm thinking you're right. It's found on the same farm as a lobster helmet (C3-4, see below). Why would the 17th century lobster helmet be found on the same site as a helmet with the construction style 3-400 years earlier rather than a more contemporary style kettle helmet of fewer pieces of steel such as C1261? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- **Further detail and speculation** C105 Small www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502758&type=small www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502757&type=small C105 Big www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502757&type=jpeg www.unimus.no/foto/imageviewer.html#/?id=12502758&type=jpeg C105 Inside www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12516606&type=jpeg The C105 next to C3-4, a lobster style helmet from the same site www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8099913&type=jpeg 13 - 14th century kettle helmet C84, not the same site www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8099943&type=jpeg C1261 www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8225099&type=small www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12516607&type=small www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8225099&type=small Italian Cabasset 1600s s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/6a/e6/be/6ae6beb4ee97230ab72d05eb3697d620.jpg ----------------------------------------- C105 bare striking similarities with the earlier spangen kettle helmet C84, but have similar dimensions to the Cabasset's high dome/short brim and found next to C3-4, lobster helmet from the 1600s. Only other piece of detail is that C105 and C3-4 are found on a farm in eastern Norway, far away from trade ports, which means it could be that the owners had little contact with international Hansae trade. As you said, an old medieval helmet reforged into a 17th century style. Supporting it is the fact that Norway had no standing army roughly speaking between 14th and the 17th century.
Based on the Iron Caps referred to in the Assize of Arms of 1181 & the time period of circa 1150-1500AD (i.e Middle English period 12th to 16th Century). I'm thinking 1150-1340AD (so it's pre-Black Death). I'm thinking the best options are: Nasal Helm Enclosed Helmet Spangenhelm Pioneer Helmet Norman Casque Cervelliere Kettle Helm - possibly too new Which would be the best option for a Freeman, Villager or Lord.
From the 'Vie de St Louis' "Le soir de la bataille de Mansourah, saint Louis quitta son heaume et prit le chapeau de fer de Joinville pour avoir le vent. Ce devait etre en effet, suivant l'observation de M. Quicherat, un vrai supplice que de porter un heaume sous le soleil d'Afrique." books.google.com/books?id=E_hJ8EENCdAC&pg=PA465&dq=%22avoir+le+vent%22+st+louis&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDj6Ll2PvMAhWM7iYKHUwbC_AQ6AEIIDAA#v=onepage&q=%22avoir%20le%20vent%22%20st%20louis&f=false
It strikes me that it would be very effective against arrows (provided you see them coming) as if you bend your head forward it will provide wide protection to your head, neck and shoulders.
A little side note on affordability and use among lower/higher classes: I read an essay about Prussian castle findings and some period documentation told for example how many and what kind of armour a castle had in storage, and it specifically separated eisenhut schwartz (kettle helmet black iron) and eisenhut stahl (kettle helmet steel). It also said that knights might often wear kettle helmets apparently because they were so comfortable, but they demanded higher quality steel.
Yes, this was actually found out because they were a couple of drawings from medieval art showing knights with kettle helmets and also a full suit of armor, these were really useful and were extremely comfortable, the Stalhelm german helmet series from world war 2 was partly based off of it.
Any chance you could link that essay?
@Loklar yes
@@scootch4224 what @Loklar said, plus it was during WWI, not WWII. The American PAS-GT (Fritz) kevlar helmet in turn was based off the German Stahlhelm, who's derivatives are in use today. So arguably the sallet basically is longest used combat helmet in the world today.
The British WWI helmet was based off kettle hat by the way.
*edit: typo
As a reenactor I absolutely love kettle hats. You get unrestricted vision and breathing, it's super easy to take off and put back on as needed, and I feel much safer having the brim protect my face (since in reenactment most of the blows come from above), neck and partially shoulders than, for example, an open-face bascinet.
I have always liked kettle helmets, if only for the fact that if I were a medieval soldier It would probably be all I could afford.
Hey, it's better than nothing
@rockn roll arrow fire came mainly at short range straight at you, so no, an uncovered face isn't great for defense against arrows
@@nahuelmat It is, if you have a shield
@@kalil2669 If
A kettle helm, a coat of plates or more probably a brigantine - some form of leg protection and hand protection. That's all you'd probably need. A big ole' armored cod piece would be a nice thought for confidence more than anything else but I think we're getting into fantasy at that point.
The kettle helmet is one of my favorite designs, mostly because it is simple and not overly expensive to produce.
I heard the kettle hat was also a favorite pick for siege warfare as it protects so well from projectiles coming down.
My thoughts exactly as I was watching this. As a modern fencer though, the brim would give me problems facing an edged weapon like the sabre, so in it's time it would be a problem spotting and parrying a downward sword strike. Also makes it easy to bang your head in low ceilings/ branches like I sometimes do when wearing a ball cap. Then again it wouldn't hurt like it does for me with just a cap. ;-)
I know I'm super late, but anyway: That's interesting, because the British WW1 (and also WW2) Brodie helmet, which is basically a modern kettle hat, had the same logic behind it. Back in WW1 trench warfare, the Brodie helmet was thought to be practical against shrapnel coming from above. Kinda ironic how certain kinds of armor become relevant again through the ages. Another example is the Soviet WW2 steel breastplate and today's ceramic body armor. Think of 18th and 19th century warfare, when no soldier would wear body armor or helmets because they were considered obsolete due to firearms. Nowadays, they're relevant again.
Edit: Also, I read that the iconic German Stahlhelm was inspiried by medieval sallets. If that's the case, this means that today's PASGT derived helmets are also descendants of sallets, since the PASGT helmet itself was inspired by German Stahlhelms.
I can imagine the brim also adding a positive affect during combat in that it keeps the sun's glare out of your vision.
Some Modern hardhats for construction work still use that design. What I like is it can keep the sun and rain off you while you’re marching or entrenching or performing camp chores. But still need to be in gear.
It’s a working man’s helmet.
I love the kettle helm both for design and it's universal appearance. The Yuan, and Ming dynasties both used them, and the Tran of Dai Viet also had their own "acorn" style kettle helm.
That low brimmed visored kettle hat is probably my second favorite helmet, behind the almighty sallet, of course.
Same
I think it's also nice that it covers the neck and defect stones and stuff from above off your body by a siege for exaple.
And it allows good air circulation for the head to prevent overheating.
You can also make tea with it! :D
Turn it over, fill it with water, and put it in the fire!
Tastes like knighty spirit.
What if you had a detachable handle, it could be a helmet and a buckler.
Meanwhile 200IQ Chinese/Japanese footmen wore helmets on their heads that could be (and was) just as a stir fry wok.
@Führer des Benutzers Only if you like being chewed out first by your captain and then the quartermaster. Troopers where expressly forbidden to use the M1 in such a manner because the heating and cooling involved could alter the material properties of the steel and destroy it's protective properties.
Given the state of its wearer, I'm not sure the kettle hat was all that effective...
He caught an arrow in his left cheek. You can see the hole.
Nick Dzink He also took an arrow to the knee
That zombie head is fantastic. I can think of no better way to display a helmet.
+Jared McClelland Thanks!
+Vesrox looks like a helmet displayed in a museum in stockholm still with the owners head in situ......oops...
He doesn't look like he was too well protected though since he ended up like that...
You can tell that he is mindless, not because he is a zombie, but because he didn’t bother to buckle the strap.
Poor, poor fool.
A zombie with a helmet is a fearsome opponent
When I saw you put on the kettle helmet and rotate it, it gave me an idea. I think another benefit of the kettle hats design is similar to the back rim on Roman helmets. When someone strikes at your face, the instinctual reaction is to turn your face down and away from the strike. In the case of a kettle hat, this means that the side rim will now be covering most or all of where your face was, thus protecting your face, head, and neck when a different open helm would not.
Amazing channel. Matt Easton sent me here, and I don't regret coming. About the kettle helmet, it seems to be very usefull against falling debris (the main use of the similar WW1 helmets). Do you think the popularity of the kettle helmet may suggest that anti-personel falling projectiles (like, you know, stones) could have been more present in the medieval battlefield than we tend to think?
+Thiago Monteiro Thank you, and welcome to the channel! The brim is really effective a lot of things I think. It's not only great at keeping weapons out of your face, but like you say it can be very effective at keeping you safe from falling debris. I tend to think that it's so good at keeping blades from hitting you that it's effectiveness against falling debris may be more of a wonderful side benefit of its design (that may have been exploited more and more over time), but I think primarily it was intended for defense against melee weapons and arrows (although, the latter is definitely 'falling debris' to an extent). In a 'siege' situation though, I'm willing to be the air was filled with all kinds of horrible flying dangerous objects and a lot of people were happy to have that brim on their helmets.
Great vid, really liked the way you talked about how it developed over time. As a 15c fangirl, I am hoping the sallet is up next!
scholagladatoria sent me and I am already in love with this channel.
+Kyle Toelle Welcome!
10 out of 10! Very well done. I love that you follow the historical thread of the helm from when we first see depictions of it all the way to wear it begins to meld and blur into other forms and other styles of helm. To often we focus to much on what classifies a specific piece of armor and we forget to touch on or acknowledge the grey areas. Like you said with the kettle helm, were it starts to blur into the sallet, especially when used injunction with a bevor. Great presentation.
Thank you so much for putting so much into your research. I wear a Chapel de Fer in combat. It is an amazing helm. I can't begin to tell you how much I've had to hear how it is a "peasants' helm". I found documentation for days proving exactly the opposite before I finally decided to have mine made for my early 14th kit. Your videos are very informative and your knowledge of armor is extensive. Again, thank you.
it's easily one of the best helmet designs ever. not the most pretty, but in functonality and usage on the battlefield, its pretty much top tier
Matt Easton/Scholagladiatoria recommended your channel. I'm happy to say you didn't disappoint:)
+Dorrain Welcome to the channel!
Great videos! stumbled on to you while searching for Medieval Armor on TH-cam. Been watching as I work on an original 16th century mail standard. Keep up the wonderful content and discussion.
Thank you!
I would assume that the brim was bent down to protect from downward strikes and falling rocks. If the rim was broad and horizontal, then it could transfer some serious impact on your neck.
PS: I like the Morion and the Witcher 2 style spiral kettle hat most (its apparently based on real finds)
Matt Easton sent me here... Love your content so far.
Matt from scholagladiatoria sent me. He's right, your videos are excellent!
+Blake Christo Thank you! I'm glad you like them!
hands down this has to be my favorite helmet in all of history, not to mention that some early winged hussar helmets had brims reminiscent of kettle hats
Ian, I have been watching you videos recently and I really appreciate your content. I find you videos great quality and educational. keep it up Ian.
Thank you very much, that's very kind of you to say!
This was my favorite kind of helmet when I was just getting into the study. Glad to see it getting attention!
Thanks for the video. It was very entertaining and informative.
One point I think you missed out on when talking about the advantages of the kettle helm is that it also doesn't limit your hearing to any substantial degree.
In situations where you can't see your enemy, such as assaulting the insides of a castle, being able to hear well would be vital to success.
Love the channel love the videos thank you for all the hard work and effort I've learned more from your channel than any other
Just did a google image search for 'kettle helm.' Wow! You weren't kidding when you mentioned the varying designs.
I really appreciate all the work you do for these videos. Great history lesson and great presentation. Glad I subbed and thanks!
+Druetty Thank you, welcome to the channel!
The zombie head was a perfect display head for that helmet. You can see why they were popular, especially given they were cheap and quickly manufactured.
I can imagine there would be two generations of hand me downs among the common soldiers.
One thing I have gotten a better understanding of, from you, is how expensive it was to equip yourself for warfare. A mounted man at arms must have put a lot of effort into obtaining and up grading his equipment. That could put some serious pressure on a noble young fellow, with no gold in the family coffers.
thank you mu friend for the prompt reply!...... I look forward to the weigh ins!
Scholagladitoria sent me! Gotta say you got really interesting videos. Another sub right there!
+Håkon Bergseth Wonderful! Thank you for coming!
Thanks for giving us a look at your fine collection. Good video and very informative. Besides the advantages you describe, it seems like a little care given to an easily removable liner would also make this helmet a useful cooking pot around the campfire. I remember reading something long ago about GI WWII helmets being used in this manner and thus being superior to the German models because their liners could not be easily removed. They were also better as a digging implement although enferior to the German in terms of coverage, draftiness, and rain deflection. Fascinating stuff for history buffs. Thanks again for your time and effort.
This broad kettle helmet reminds me of the Portuguese Conquistadores while their Spanish rivals wore the Curved Morion Helmet.
I mean it kinda is the precursor to it.
I've got a pic of Maximillian I in a gold and black armour with a kettle helmet. If it's good enough for him...
Maybe a little silly of me commenting on a 9 month old comment but do you have a link to the picture?
I think he is referring to the Peter Paul Reubens portrait of Maximilian I. It is on wikipedia: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Peter_Paul_Rubens_120b.jpg
Oisin Lee Ah, thanks man, greatly appriciated.
Good god that’s some truly splendid armour...
I would've liked to see you fasten the chin straps, but loving the content as always.
For all the sallets and greathelms, the kettle helm will always be my favorite. You sacrifice the coolness of being faceless with the coolness of having a wide brim 😎
Can I assume that hearing is completely unhindered? I'm not sure if you mentioned this and didn't realize.
+Battam Ah yes... I did forget to mention that. You're absolutely right, you can certainly hear a lot better in a kettle helm than you can in any helm that covers the ears. Especially as compared to a bascinet with great helm worn over it!
Great video! Keep up the fantastic work!
You forgot a pair of important features.
An excellent sunblock, for those sunny days, or even the rainy ones, it's nice with some screening for the eyes and the head.
And in a pinch, you can put it on a fire, fill it with water and use it as a kettle. Or more of a pot but you get my drift.
Also it looks stylish. Yours have a robin hood-esque vibe to it. I like it.
+Klomster We did exactly that at a living history show (used a kettle hot as a cook pot). They work great!
Knyght Errant Hehe, the satire is proven correct.
Kettle helm, doesn't get more infantry than that :P
Does it affect the hearing in any way?
Thanks for all your videos, I've just marathoned your armour series! And yes, I am another of Matt's subscribers :D
+Ægir Bladeworks I'm very happy that you're enjoying them! I'm sure there are some minimal effects from the brim, but compared to a helmet that covers the ears, there's no comparison. You can hear, see and breathe considerably better in a kettle helmet than in a bascinet, especially a bascinet with great helm over it. I was remiss to forget to mention the hearing aspect in the video.
I very much am enjoying them, although I've watched all now so you need to make some more :D
Thanks for the extra information, I appreciate you taking the time to answer!
My favorite is the 15th century variant with eye slits. However, I think it makes the eyes very vulnerable to stabs because like you mentioned, attacks tended to be directed towards the top of the brim.
I really enjoy the commentary of how the kettle helmet is an influence to WW1 helmet. Armor evolutionary trees are unquantifiable entertainment from a historical and, to a lesser extent, biological perspective. :D
The helmet with this wide brim and straps provide exelent leverage in a wrestling situation.
Hi! I like helmets! They're comfy and easy to wear!
KNYGHT ERRANT wants to battle!
Ah, I got the reference.
Can I have a cookie now?
That's what a fireman/policeman's hat is based off of isn't it?
Even modern hard hats. The kettle hat design is pretty ubiquitous throughout times, cultures, and applications.
Knyght Errant the helmet honestly reminds me of a Boeotian helmet from the Ancient and Classical eras. It was used as the main helmet of choice by Alexander the Great's cavalry. I think the Hetairoi, or the Companions. I mean I can see how effective it is without compromising much of sight and hearing. But the protection for the face leaves much to be desired...
Its a pretty good design if you are primarily worried about debris falling down on you.
Who's the handsome model you got there doing the vid with you?
Also I've always loved the design of the kettle helmets. Different variations but the one you're showing is off one of the funnier looking ones, yet there's something great about it too.. and it's huge.
Fantastic, informative videos.
This is a really great series! Is there a video about vision while wearing a helmet planned? I'm still not sure how well the vision was with only the eye-slits. A camerashot through the bascinet-visors to demonstrate this would be great, if it's possible ...
+KLRGOFFIRE Thank you! I do plan on doing a video comparing the different visors when I have the opportunity.
Hi there. Matt suggested I check out your channel and I wasn't disappointed. Any chance for a Morion review in the future?
Also looks like it takes very little movement of the head to protect the face with the front of that brim should it be needed.
Think I'd rather have this than a visored helm for everything but jousting (be it tournament or battlefield).
Would you use the version with eye-slits?
You know this is probably the most underated helmet of the times. Which is sad because i really like this helmet. It gives you good vision and protection and if worn with say some mail or a bevor to protect the neck and face you're even better off protection wise. Lots of people love the basenet or the armet, and i do to, but i would much rather be able to see and breath when fighting in halberd formation or in very close quarter combat wit a sword. Then again it is possible they just lifted, or removed their visors when in that for of combat, but still I would prefer the kettle helm or perhaps a y faced barbute.
Fantastic video once again. There are so many more helmet styles, can we expect more videos about them? I don't expect you to own any more helmets but I really would love a video about the sallet or armet.
+3027085 I don't have access to a sallet or armet at this time, but I may be able to get my hands on a great bascinet and an early armet in the very near future.
Nice, keep up the good work!
Excellent and very informative video
7:03 the Salet is actually the basis for most modern helmets.
very interesting and excellent quality! Subscribed :D Mr. Easton never goes wrong! haha
Judging by what I could see when you tipped your head forward, your face is somewhat more protected, and the length of the rear brim still covers your neck so on the battlefield when the arrows are flying you can get a little more protection for your face?
+Ben Kirkby Yes, I imagine during an arrow volley, tilting your head forward to protect your face with a brim like that would be a very good idea :) The rear brim would still provide very good coverage for anything coming from above or forward of your position.
I love how this design of helmet last right through two world wars in the British/Commonwealth armies
Great tutorial. Please do more.
Hi there, yes, He is right (M Easton that is!) you do cover a very interesting period, am interested in late 13c and early 15c myself , am subscribed now, cannot wait for your more of your stuff.
A question? because it has a thick leather chinstrap, would it not be a problem of choking or cause neck pain? if the helmet was knocked back or pushed back in combat? I was thinking of a spear thrust under the broad brim! which would force the helmet back very quickly?
+Bryn Noble Thanks and welcome to the channel! Sure it can be a potential problem, but I think the advantages of keeping the helmet on far outweigh the risk of the chinstrap becoming dangerous in the case of the kettle hat. You can probably find a flaw to exploit in most any piece of armor, but you have to consider whether or not that flaw negates the protective value otherwise offered by the piece of equipment.
It seems to mee that the brim has one big disadvantage: it would lead stabs with swords and spears right to the head. It would also protect you from arrows if you turn your face slightly downwards though.
Could someone help me out? i would like to know why the flat topped kettle helmet at 2:31 was built that way. Round ones seems more efficient since it would possibly deflect some blows.why they had them in the same period?
+BRAgamer They also had flat topped great helms for quite a long stretch of time. They may have been easier and less expensive to produce, as they require less skill to make, but they are definitely not as effective as something with a glancing surface.
Amazing content! Matt Easton send me here and he was totally right, your channel is great!
I have two question, I have already seen your entire playlist (in one day, you are that awesome), are you going to continue with a video on the armet helmet? And another one, is there any evidence of people wearing plate armor directly on padded armor without mail?
Keep up the great work, cheers from your new Czech fan and sorry for my english. :-)
+Tomáš Gestinger Thank you! I don't own an armet, nor do I have the ability to get my hands on a nice one near me, but I really want to do a video on the armet because next to the bascinet it's my favorite type of helmet. Eventually I hope to do one though. From my studies it seems that the more plate you have on, the less thick the padding becomes over time. You do see some padded armor being worn with plate during transitional periods, like on things like gamboised cuisses, but it seems like it's pretty rare.
Thank you for a great response! I'll be looking forward for that armet video, it's one of my favorites as well. :-)
Another sub from Germany. This helmet would probably also help with rain a bit.
Absolutely!
I'm following all your videos about the helmets. I think they're perfect! Thanks to share your knowledge with us. Anyway, weren't the Crusades led by Louis IX heading to Egypt and Tunisia, and not directly the Holy Land?
+Piergiuseppe Di Michele As I understand it, after negotiating his release from captivity in Egypt he spent several years in the Holy Land with Joinville (the writer of Vie de St Louis), perhaps the account I read was taken from that time. The account I was referring to is described secondhand in European Armor by Claude Blair.
I really enjoyed this video, though I would have liked to see how the kettle helm worked with your maille throat protection :)
Imagine sound of the rain falling.
Hey, I recognized the commemoration of the Battle of Cressey there, cool.
If you were an archer, would the brim of the helmet interfere with you drawing your bow to your cheek? (Would it get in the way of the bowstring?)
A kettle hat with an large brim might interfere with a longbow string. A shorter brimmed hat may not pose as much of a problem. An open-faced bascinet would be even more conducive to a close draw.
i love educational videos you sir have obtained another subscriber and hope to see more from you :)
Can you comment on the liner and how much space there is between the top of your head and the top of the helm?
It appears as if there is some unused space there and I can think of several reasons why that would be a good thing.
First it makes the helmet more versatile if is large enough to fit bigger headed people and the liner can be made to fit the user. And second it would be more comfortable if the helm didn't rest against the head. And third it would seems like it would be better to have some space for when the helm is struck.
+Krashlandon This particular liner is a single piece of fabric. You're right in that it doesn't go all the way to the top of the helmet, so it does suspend it on your head, which is preferable in my opinion. One thing I would consider doing (which I have done to my bascinet) is to cut lobes into the liner and add a small cord to make it slightly more adjustable.
One of my favorite.
I had 2 questions about it.
1. As it was used primarily by the non men at arms portion of the fighting men wouldn't the use of a shield make it fantastic? The shield covers your face and the helmet does not restrict you in any way?
2. How much does it weigh, especially compared to a modern military helmet?
+macharim The kettle hat is probably one of the most useful and versatile helmets in history. My kettle helmet weighs a little over 6 lbs, by comparison when I was a military helicopter pilot, my helmet (an HGU-84) weighed about 3 lbs 5 oz, I still have my helo helmet so I just weighed it :) With the addition of night vision goggles you can add about 1 lb.
So surprisingly light then. Obviously this means that lower rank soldiers had good head protection but how would you rate the rest of their armor? Say around the time of Agincourt? Whatever they could find or refined, effective gear?
Also I was wondering if you have as much knowledge of lighter armour? That plate was almost invulnerable has been pretty clearly shown but my question is how effective was the cheaper gear worn by rank and file?
5:17 What is that helmet that the knight in the middle of the picture is wearing?
either the armet or the great helmet
Hi Ian. I was just wondering about the depiction at 2:30 in this video. I can see there that the kettle helmets are coloured in red and blue. Is it real that they painted their helmets or is it just to make the depiction prettier? If so, what was the purpose of it? Was it connected with heraldry?
Thank you
By the way, great videos!
Hi Jan. In the specific cases of MS illustrations it's nearly impossible to know. Helmets are described as covered in fabric or leather in surviving inventories, sometimes they are described as painted (but not nearly as frequently as covered by fabric or leather), so the illustrations could be trying to show those covers, or they could simply be a convenient way for the artist to provide contrast between figures or highlight individuals.
Thank you for your reply. If you do not mind, I would like to ask, why were helmets covered in fabric or leather?
Thanks
You're welcome. It's decorative, and can provide some level of protection for the surface underneath.
Did these helms have coifs worn with them? Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
A coif would be a very likely supplemental armor to wear with a kettle hat. With a mail collar, or no supplemental armor are also common ways these are depicted.
Thank you responding. I am enjoying learning much more than ever about midevil and renaissance arms and armor..
Kettle hats, the solution to "my actor is expensive no helmet"
The more I think of this helm, the more I like the idea. It keeps the sun out of your eyes, protects your neck and shoulders, all while leaving your vision, hearing, breathing, and speech unimpaired. With a mail coif and padding, it would actually provide an ideal ratio of protection without encumbering anything important. Compare that to the sallet (less bevor), which provides comparatively worse protection while looking more fashionable.
I wonder if it was often combined with a bevor(?) I think the two together would be pretty good all round defence plus wide vision and easy breathing
Another sub from Scholagladitoria. :)
+demos113 yep
+demos113 Thanks guys and welcome!
+demos113 Me too
+demos113 Same here!
+demos113 Same here
Very interesting Video, thanks. In 3:30 you show an picture of an Original One. From where it is?
Inventory num. W908, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Definetely the best helmet ever
Very nice video.
Is the liner actually supposed to replace other ways of padding or mainly to improve the fit of the helmet to the head? Accordingly, what would be the optimal way to wear the helmet - just a helmet with liner, a helmet (without liner) on top of a padded coif or a helmet with liner on top of a padded coif?
+TheMorgoth86 There is no ideal way to wear it, it would probably depend on what else you were wearing with it.. I'm sure different methods were tried in period as well, but the way mine is configured it is designed to be worn as the primary padding for the helmet. If worn with a mail coif, it would probably incorporate a padded coif in addition to everything else.
I also was recommended to you by Scholagladitoria! ........ my question is this....how much does one of those Kettle Helmets weigh?
+Lar Mayotte Hi! Thank you for coming and welcome to the channel. This particular kettle hat is advertised at 2.9 kilos but I haven't weighed it myself. I intend to do a video dedicated to weighing each piece of kit individually.
Is the wide brim has something to do with guiding deflected blows furher from shoulders? Is it helps duting a rain? Is it meant to be sort of a piese of a buffer material to weaken the blows bu flexing or crumpling?
I notice the earlier ones appear to be painted to actually highlight the multi-part construction, whereas the later ones seem to be more commonly just polished metal. Are there any depictions of painted kettle helmets from the latter half of the 14th-early 15th century?
Scholagladitoria says hi :D
+wanadeena Thank you!
+Knyght Errant the kettle helmet to me seems like it would be a worse version of the ancient Greek botacian helmet(i think that's how it's called) if they changed the design just a little bit .
the botacian helmet is like the kettle helmet, but in the face area the helmet curves up so you get good vision and good protection.
I don't know how to exactly explain it, but you can find a video talking about Greek helmets if you want to see what it looks like.
+Just a talking taco If you only think of attacks coming straight at you or downward. The kettle is excellent design to protect the skull from falling rumble and debris, like what you would encounter during a siege. Hence the design was used again in WWI british army helmet and construction crew still use plastic kettle hats today.
Philip Dyer if they made the botacian helmet with medieval smiting it would be in many ways better. Yes it would be just a little small bit easier to stab The face, but you would have unhindered vision.
It's all a matter of preference. I like the great helm more because the big cone sticking out of the pig faced(hound skull) helmet hinders the vision very much.
the Maximilian helmet is one of the best ones but it was in the reneasons period so it doesn't count.
The best one in medieval times was the Italian helmet that I don't know the name of. :p
Christopher Jackson I seen this many times. They say that the vision is great ,but in fact what they mean is that it's good enough .You probably can't see up without tilting your head up, witch ecsposes your head to arows and swords ,and your forward vision does seem to be a bit obsessed when wearing the kettle helmet.
Yes there were different warrants, but in games and movies, they mostly used this design or a similar one. I'm not saying that movies are always accurate ,far from it ,but even if there was a variation like the boeotian helmet ,there probably wouldn't be many of them .Also on other reviews and videos, it's the same or similar design as this one in the video.
Find a picture in total war Rome 2 of the Greeks wearing this helmet.(you probably already know what it looks like since you know the name of it but whatever) It is to much curved in the game and to small in my opinion, but you get the idea that if they made the main kettle helmet with the way and style that they used in the medieval times , it would be better in my opinion then this one,but this way it does seem a bit inferior.
You was talking about Halloween coming up in this. Witch is tomorrow. Made me think this is a new vid, but it’s 4 years old. lol
Have you ever considered putting all of these videos together in a book?
+David Tetard I'm not sure anything I've said isn't already available in books :)
IIRC one of the big reasons for the similarity in the design from the kettle helm to the English WW1 helm is that both are designed to deflect airborn weapons from hitting the user Arrows, rocks, javelins and spears in the case of the kettle helm and shrapnel in the case of the WW1 one. Is that correct
+Aspie Sean Also, when formations get close/tight enough, it limits attack angles for hand weapons to mostly the same ones due to other people being in the way of strikes that don't use a downward motion.
These are awesome, is there any chance you'll be covering the sallet in future videos?
I was looking through the online museum of university of Oslo the other day and I came across an odd kettle helmet (C105) I've not seen before. It looks like a cross between the short brim/high dome of the Italian Cabasset ( 6:26 ) and the earlier (C84) spangen kettle helmet's design ( 1:25 ).
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502758&type=small
Do you have any thoughts on the period of this helmet? High middle ages? Early modern period? Reforged perhaps?
+Wille k Interesting helmet. The style of the dome is definitely reminiscent of the typical spangen design. I wonder if perhaps the original brim was replaced and the helmet modified at some point in its working life.
+Knyght Errant I'm thinking you're right. It's found on the same farm as a lobster helmet (C3-4, see below). Why would the 17th century lobster helmet be found on the same site as a helmet with the construction style 3-400 years earlier rather than a more contemporary style kettle helmet of fewer pieces of steel such as C1261?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
**Further detail and speculation**
C105 Small
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502758&type=small
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502757&type=small
C105 Big
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12502757&type=jpeg
www.unimus.no/foto/imageviewer.html#/?id=12502758&type=jpeg
C105 Inside
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12516606&type=jpeg
The C105 next to C3-4, a lobster style helmet from the same site
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8099913&type=jpeg
13 - 14th century kettle helmet C84, not the same site
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8099943&type=jpeg
C1261
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8225099&type=small
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=12516607&type=small
www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=8225099&type=small
Italian Cabasset 1600s
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/6a/e6/be/6ae6beb4ee97230ab72d05eb3697d620.jpg
-----------------------------------------
C105 bare striking similarities with the earlier spangen kettle helmet C84, but have similar dimensions to the Cabasset's high dome/short brim and found next to C3-4, lobster helmet from the 1600s. Only other piece of detail is that C105 and C3-4 are found on a farm in eastern Norway, far away from trade ports, which means it could be that the owners had little contact with international Hansae trade.
As you said, an old medieval helmet reforged into a 17th century style. Supporting it is the fact that Norway had no standing army roughly speaking between 14th and the 17th century.
although I'm sure there's no relation, it reminds me a lot of the helmets worn by Thracian gladiators minus the visor.
Even the popular Boeotian, the early Coolus, and Agen Port variations in the Bronze Age have. Similar design elements.
Lorifactor ! W00h00 ! :D
Based on the Iron Caps referred to in the Assize of Arms of 1181 & the time period of circa 1150-1500AD (i.e Middle English period 12th to 16th Century). I'm thinking 1150-1340AD (so it's pre-Black Death).
I'm thinking the best options are:
Nasal Helm
Enclosed Helmet
Spangenhelm
Pioneer Helmet
Norman Casque
Cervelliere
Kettle Helm - possibly too new
Which would be the best option for a Freeman, Villager or Lord.
Very nice and interesting video and a good aneddote of King Luis, where did you read it?
From the 'Vie de St Louis'
"Le soir de la bataille de Mansourah, saint Louis quitta son heaume et prit le chapeau de fer de Joinville pour avoir le vent. Ce devait etre en effet, suivant l'observation de M. Quicherat, un vrai supplice que de porter un heaume sous le soleil d'Afrique."
books.google.com/books?id=E_hJ8EENCdAC&pg=PA465&dq=%22avoir+le+vent%22+st+louis&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDj6Ll2PvMAhWM7iYKHUwbC_AQ6AEIIDAA#v=onepage&q=%22avoir%20le%20vent%22%20st%20louis&f=false
very swift and nice response, YOU GOT THE WIND! thank you!
It strikes me that it would be very effective against arrows (provided you see them coming) as if you bend your head forward it will provide wide protection to your head, neck and shoulders.