a question about this combination:
does anybody have an idea how to mount the bevor to the brig, so that it doesn't hit my face on direct impact? how should the bevor look? any historical info, or for that matter practical advice or pictures?

many thanks in advance

There is no indication on any surviving brigandine I am aware of, of 1th century date, for some method of affixing the brigandine to the bevor (some brigandines are displayed with bevors that have two little holes near the point that are thought to be for points, to point them to munition breastplates).

15th century brigandines open up on the centerline, and overlap right under left on the centerline, which would preclude the rare staple and pin arrangements seen on a handful of 15th century breastplates, which would provide for a more rigid method of securing the bevor.

If you are wearing a brigandine, and a sallet and bevor, you are likely also wearing a mail standard, sleeves, and skirt. The standard is a padded collar of mail, that is a pretty stiff defence on it's own. Bevors are usually padded on the chinline. They are intended to fit fairly close. Many, if not most have no other point of attatchment than the strap round the neck. Strapped over a standard, which as noted has it's own integral padding, over the collar of an arming doublet makes for a sturdy defense. I'm probably one of a handful of people if not the only person, who has been struck at point blank range on the centerline of the throat of my bevor, with a 50lb draw weight bow (flat trajectory, inside of 30 yards) topped with a rabbit blunt. It was a square hit. I was wearing a brigandine, standard, bevor and kettlehat over a good replica of an arming doublet (in addition to plate arms and pauldrons. The strike was poweerful, but the impact felt was negligable.

I don't know what you are worried about being struck by in the throat, but if you have good replicas well made, and the bevor is properly strapped on you (over a normal standard and arming doublet), you should have nothing to fear.

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thanks for your replies! unfortunately, i dont have pictures yet.

well, my bevor does have the holes to attach it to points. havent tried this yet.

as it has no lining and i have no standard (yet) i was worried about it moving in the direction of my face when i get hit from the front. directly or upwards.

i am worried about getting struck by a hand-and-a-half from point blank

will try to get some pictures.
the bringandine i not yet have. its currently under production. the guy who builds it refered to some originals and the construction plan that was posted in this forum a while ago

i will try to get some pictures from the bevor.

And do not forget to put a padded liner into your bevor.

Regards

Ivo

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Definitely pad it. Have one of your mates strap it securly for you. I've seen many recent pictures of reenactors with the bevor dangeling from their neck, being absolutely no use other than as an encumberance (and a potentially dangerous one). I don't know if they think they are being cool, doing something accurate (the fellows who are specifically mentioned in chronicles as having dangling , poorly strapped bevors are the ones described as meeting messy ends, so they are only being accurate if they want to meet a messy end), or if the bevors are unpadded, or otherwise inaccuratly made and difficult to wear, or they can't strap it themselves, or have to much pride to ask a friend to tighten it.

The reason hardly matters, the end result if it isn't properly strapped is possibly what you fear - having it shoved up into your face, possibly with force. If it is secure, and it is padded, then you should have few if any worries.

Original bevors follow several schools of thought in looking at how they are variously constructed. Mine is a smaller bevor,close fitting, with no dropping lame. When it is securely strapped, it sits right at the middle of my mouth. The gorget plate, or the lame below the chinpiece has a leather riveted to it's edge - the ensemble moves to a degree side to side with my head, and my head can move a little further inside the bevor. It is not uncomfortable to wear, and the leather on the lower edge is there so as it rubs over the surface of brigandine or breastplate, it doesn't mar it. The bevor pivots as a spring where the two components making it up atr riveted together on the side - I can tilt my head down while wearing it slightly due to it's construction.

Larger bevors of multiple upper lames are sometimes designed so as to move within them, rather than moving with the persons head. Something like that you could secure to a breastplate.

Bob, masquerading as Jenn, who did not bother to log off this morning.

[ 01-30-2005: Message edited by: Fire Stryker ]

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regarding the padding: should i better use thick soft or thin stiff padding? or thick stiff?
some animals hair (camel?) or raw cotton?
same question for the helmet padding?

well, the sallet/kettlehat (not so sure as what to call it...) has no visor but a wider brim (shorter and with a more downwards angle than most kettlehats i've seen).

so basically i have a very thin slit. a bit wider than what i would have with a closed sallet.

Examples here: http://banditt.uber-geek.us/history/german1.html
(The link should work now)

Kettlehat with slits is an "Eisenhut".
Kettlehat without eyslits is an usually just reffered to as "kattelhat" or "arming hat". These look like 16C Morions without the fin on the top. They are the 15C predecessor to the morion.

In service,

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~ Jason Banditt Adams
Illustrator for the gaming industry
www.Rogue-Artist.com

it has no eyeslit. it looks a bit like an openfaced sallet with a brim around.
like the last kettlehat on your first page, but with a much shorter brim that has a straighter angle downwards.