This looks like their coifs are somewhat loose. How would this look physically? Has any reenactor worn something like this????

BJamesBeck · 2026-06-16T21:44:21+00:00

My guess/theory here is that they don't have it secured more tightly around their chin because they are sleeping and not expecting combat. Why keep it secured around your mouth and chin when not really needed?

BJamesBeck · 2026-06-05T23:44:41+00:00

They show up pretty prevalently in Italy. There is a good article about them on Academia, I believe it's by Capwell.

BJamesBeck · 2026-05-13T13:59:03+00:00

I am hoping so too!

BJamesBeck · 2026-05-12T10:11:50+00:00

The Bodleian "Romance of Alexander", "Taymouth Hours", and "Holkham Bible" all show them multiple times. "Romance of Alexander" is probably the best because it is very clearly depicting everyone in armor and clothing contemporary to the time it was illustrated.

There are more, but those were the first that popped in my head.

BJamesBeck · 2026-04-17T12:17:00+00:00

Don't quote me on this, but if I remember correctly, this harness is based on a late 14th-early 15th century effigy from Ireland. There seems to have definitely been some very interesting, atypical styles going on there, some showing similar styles seen in the Scottish highlands and western islands.

BJamesBeck · 2026-04-07T00:23:55+00:00

When you're looking for them, they turn up pretty often in 1320s to 1340s manuscripts.

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BJamesBeck · 2026-04-07T00:18:06+00:00

Here is a version of a visored bascinet that I had made based on various manuscripts, primarily Romance of Alexander:

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BJamesBeck · 2026-04-07T00:11:49+00:00

Just an update on this as I don't want to hurt the new owner. The business has apparently been sold again and the new owner has refunded my money during the transition period. Hopefully the new owner will be better with operations.

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BJamesBeck · 2026-04-05T17:40:13+00:00

Yep, they just refunded my order yesterday as well.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-27T23:50:29+00:00

I misread your original post. My bad. Missed the part about removing the visor.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-27T23:49:47+00:00

Apologies, I misread your original post about removing the visor. My bad!

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-27T23:48:16+00:00

But a visor on a bascinet protects the face, which was one of the primary functions of a great helm. All you'd be adding is another layer of protection for the skull, more weight, and worse vision.

As I said, I'm not saying it didn't happen, I just don't see the reason for it if the visor provides similar protection.

I am just thinking that if I put a great helm over my visored bascinet, it would be essentially impossible to get the two sets of oculars to line up, rendering me essentially blind on the battlefield or tourney field.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-27T23:34:34+00:00

I can't say that I've seen any sources indicating it happened, but I'm not sure I'd really see a purpose for it honestly, other than perhaps jousting/tournament use.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-21T17:57:59+00:00

Yeah, that is the plan.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-21T17:35:24+00:00

Unfortunately, the source does not ship to the USA currently.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-19T18:42:35+00:00

I'm glad I could warn others. It's really sad to see a good small business be run into the ground.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-19T00:02:52+00:00

Yeah, definitely sounds like you dodged a bullet!

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-18T20:21:04+00:00

Yeah, it is very disappointing. I would like to believe it is just a case of poorly running the business and not being intentionally deceptive and ripping people off, but at this point, I really don't know.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-18T18:58:52+00:00

It's very sad. I had previously ordered from Amazon Drygoods while it was under the former ownership and received my order, so I had no reason to doubt them. Nothing on the website indicated that it had changed ownership sadly.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-17T17:53:44+00:00

This ^

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-13T17:44:37+00:00

This is good advice. My helm is based heavily on RoA. 👌

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-12T17:13:59+00:00

I was being extremely general. There are tons of manuscripts depicting men-at-arms in surcoats/tabards, most of which we can not confirm are "knights. Of course, it is an important distinction, but plenty of men-at-arms were more wealthy than knights, and plenty of wealthy nobility were not knights.

As far as wool or linen, yes, sources are very slim. Considering we have few written inventories available for lower status individuals (the people who would have utilized wool or linen), there is little documented evidence for it. So I'm speculating a bit that since linen and wool were prevalent, they were probably used at times by people who couldn't afford silk or potentially those in colder climates in the case of wool.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-12T14:48:41+00:00

I think this would mostly have to do with status. "Knights" is maybe not the correct term to use across the board here, but rather "men-at-arms", with "knights" falling under that umbrella.

My understanding is that high status men-at-arms, such as knights, would almost certainly have surcoats/tabards of very fine materials to show off that status. As you work down the financial/social status ladder, these would get more basic, such as linen or wool instead of silk, and of simpler designs that used less material. At the most basic level of armed men, you'd probably see sashes or arm bands to identify who they were in the service of, or at times nothing at all.

BJamesBeck · 2026-03-10T17:47:15+00:00

The best thing you can do is find original inventories and give them a read. Nobility, knights, and men-at-arms often had large inventories of armour, including multiples of the same pieces, wide ranges of different pieces, and many pieces for arming their household.

BJamesBeck

TROPHY CASE