How To Make a Great Helm - Armour & Armor

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Great Helm Pattern and Construction

by K.G rayson
O ur thanks to K.G rayson for allow ing us to re-publish this article on Arador.
(see also:An Introduction to the Skillof M aking Arm our and Building SpauldersAn exercise in basic ham m erw ork,finishing,and assem bly)
This type of helm is a nice basic helm to m ake.Itis typicalof those found
throughoutw estern europe from about1275 tillabout1375.This m akes it
perfectfor those recreating transitionalera arm our.This is based of several
helm s c1300.Tw o exam ples can be seen on the right.
The firstof these helm s I m ade in Janurary 2001.
These patterns are designed to fita 61.5cm (24)head,w ith 12m m (1/2)
padding.(see also:Facts and M yths aboutArm our Patterns)

Im ages from Arm s and

Arm our of the Crusading Era,
1050-1350:W estern Europe
and the Crusader States

The Patterns
Click on each im age then printitoutusing a fullsheetof A4 paper.Carefully cut
around the outside of the lines.

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Putting it together
G eta sheetof m ild
steel.I w ould
recom m end 16 gauge,
butif you prefer a
little extra protection,
then use 14 gauge.If
you are m aking this
for SCA com bat,m ake
sure your steelis true
16 gauge (1.600m m )
or 14 gauge
(2.000m m ),as itoften
m ay notbe.Place the
patterns on your
m etaland m ark
around them .Then
cutoutyour pattern
w ith a jigsaw ,angle
grinder,nibbler,m etal
shear,or snips.(see

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M etalSizes)
Step 1)O n the top
piece,use a blunted
cold chiselto score
around the dotted line,
then fold each tab
dow n.

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Top

Step 1

Step 2)Curve the top back piece around a pipe-like object,m aking sure to get
the flared-outshape.Then drillholes and rivetitto the top plate.

Step 2

Step 3)Fold the top frontdow n the dotted line and curve the restslightly.Then
rivetto the top plate,and top back.

Step 3

Step 4)Curve the back bottom and rivetitto the top bottom .

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Step 5)Fold the frontbottom dow n the dotted line and rivetto the back bottom .

Step 5

Step 6)Rivetthe nasalto the fronttop,drillbreathing holes,pad up and its

done!

Step 6

N ote:top plate tabs can go either inside or

outside.G reathelm construction by R.
M cW illiam s

Tags:arador,arm or,arm our,greathelm ,greathelm pattern,how to m ake a

greathelm

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4 Comments on this article. Feel free to join this conversation.

Tim Robinson

A ugust13,2013 at7:12 pm -

Reply

Ihave never seen how to m ake a greathelm explained so easily.A fter I

com plete m y currentprojects,w e m usttry this.

law rence

O ctober 1,2013 at9:33 am -

Reply

This looks for m e a beginner though w hen iprinted the patterns outallon A 4
paper itlooked very sm all,Ieven done a m ockup in cardboard,w hathave i
done w rong.thank you for tim e law rence

K G rayson

D ecem ber 4,2013 at12:40 am -

Reply

Im very glad people are stillgetting good use ofthis.The size issue w as from
converting itfrom A 4 to letter standard and itgota little skew ed som ew here.
Itw illusually need som e slightchange from person to person anyw ay,so
m ake itfirstoutofcardstock to fit,then cutin m etalw hen the size is right.

Lee W agoner

July 30,2014 at4:31 am -

Reply

H ow big ofa sheetofsteeldoes this require? Im thinking 18 gauge.H ow m uch

did the sheetcostfor you? Thanks!

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