Any comments are welcome; I'm especially interested in constructive criticism.....everyone can get better.

Here's a raised bascinet with engraved latten borders. The visor began as a forge welded cone and was raised from there. I'm much happier with this one than the last one, and the client was ecstatic.

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Cheers,

I particularly like the brass trim with the inscribing!

Thanks,

Gas torch, big rosebud, brazing flux, the right temp, and good timing. It's a lap seam, of course.

I did a test first too. BTW, the seam is not completely invisible, but with more practice I could probably make it so.

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Cheers,

The bascinet looks wonderful. Did you forge weld the bascinet bowl into a cone before rasing or start with a flat sheet?

It is my understanding that several of the surviving houndskull visors had the cone of the visor forge welded.

I can hardly wait for you to get my project underway.

The skull started out as a flat sheet of steel.

I saw it when it started, and I still can't believe he can get that much shape from a flat piece of metal- the helmet is *gorgeous*.

Took a huge amount of pounding though, I can vouch for that, too.

Looks museum-quality. From the Churburg garniture, right?

I'm very curious about the finish you put on it. It's something that I've become very interested in of late, as I'm trying to improve my own work. I want to be able to do a more authentic finish, and I'm wondering if you would consider the finish on this helm to be within the technical capabilities of the period that it comes from.

Did you do the riveted maille, or do you contract that out? Nice in either case.

That portion of skull above the sights is less than I've seen in photographs of authentic pieces. You have access to many more references than I do, so I'm curious if this helm represents a common style of the period, or if a closer fit was paramount to the customer. Illustrations would have me believe that it was more common to have an extremely high crown. I've also never seen any examples with a central ridge, but again my reference materials are pretty limited.

The proportions in the visor are beautiful. I've seen a lot of modern reproductions that just look goofy, but this isn't one of them. Personally, I prefer the mouth to be boxed in like the eyes, but your choice is well done. What does the engraving say, and where do you get latten?

I'm just getting started with learning to engrave, and am interested in the tools you use.

Do you prefer hand gravers, or the power gravers?

--James--

"I'm wondering if you would consider the finish on this helm to be within the technical capabilities of the period that it comes from."

I do. This is an upper end helm of the period and I believe it is worthy of a good polish. Not mirror, mind you, but a good shine. Given medieval technology and the grinding mills of the time, I think it's perfectly plausible. I don't necessarily think mirror polish is, however.

"Did you do the riveted maille, or do you contract that out?"

I have an overseas manufacturer that makes pieces specifically for me.

"That portion of skull above the sights is less than I've seen in photographs of authentic pieces. You have access to many more references than I do, so I'm curious if this helm represents a common style of the period, or if a closer fit was paramount to the customer. Illustrations would have me believe that it was more common to have an extremely high crown. I've also never seen any examples with a central ridge, but again my reference materials are pretty limited."

Bascinet crowns are generally higher than on SCA bascinets we've all seen, but this area on my bascinet is pretty typical. I was specifically working from the Churburg 13 and the one with the wiggle graved trim in the Royal armouries. This is a collector's piece and was not made to fit the client, though I tried it on myself to orient the visor, eyes, etc. and found that it would work just fine. It's a real helmet, it just won't be used by the owner.

"The proportions in the visor are beautiful. I've seen a lot of modern reproductions that just look goofy, but this isn't one of them.

Why thank you.

Personally, I prefer the mouth to be boxed in like the eyes, but your choice is well done.

This is a choice dictated by the Churburg helmet visor.

What does the engraving say, and where do you get latten?"

Something like "Jesus passes through the midst of them". I don't know latin and the translation I have of it is not necessarily trustworthy.

Latten is copper alloy, that's all. This includes brass and bronze. The alloy varies from piece to piece. I used brass and I think it's appropriate to call it by its medieval name, 'latten'.

"Do you prefer hand gravers, or the power gravers?"

I use a Magnagraver on a Foredom motor. I have to make a living at this and don't have the time to use hand gravers.

"Is the cone welded on the top or bottom of the visor?"

Welded on the bottom. Less shaping there so less possibility of separating the weld. It's not a perfect weld, btw, but I don't think medieval armourers would worry about whether the weld was invisible or not, as long as the visor held together. I'm sure mine would.

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Cheers,

I don't necessarily think the mail that's available now is perfect by any stretch, but it's a damned good product for the money. And riveted mail wasn't even available 3 years ago.

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Cheers,

Nice helm. Very clean. I am curious though as to your statement pertaining to the riveted mail available today. Could you be a bit more specific as to what you would consider perfect?

I can only add to the chorus... beautiful work.

Erik, not to speak for him, but I think his comments were only refering to the indian mass created mail.

Yes that would make sense. That doesn't sound too conceited though does it? It's not meant to.

Seigneur de Leon,

Yes it would. That helm is damn nice. Instead of using the D-shaped rings, I would rather use the 20 gauge 3/16"ID round ones and make it look like the aventail on the Lyle bascinet in the RA in Leeds. That would be sweet.

In any event Jeff has really outdone himself on that piece. I must admit though that it is really one of the only pieces of his work that I have seen other than that posted on his site, but nevertheless it is stunning.

My hats off to you Mr. Hedgecock.

If we ever meet face to face, you can check out my armet - It's pictured on his site, and it truly is stunning work.

If you'd like to view my other work (at least a portion of it) you might visit my website:
http://www.historicenterprises.com

specifically view the 'custom work gallery' in the 'arms and armour' section.

The direct address is:
http://www.historicenterprises.com/haa/gallery.html

Thanks for the kind words.

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Cheers,

If you are going to attend the MTA in Jamestown this year I will be there with Novae Militiae.

Jeff,

Very nice looking pieces in the gallery. I especially like the Corinthian helm.