15th century armet Avant armor, 2 mm (battle-ready)

Product description

This early type armet is modeled after the original from the mid-15th century, which is part of the Avant armour. Helmets like this were worn throughout Europe from the second half of the 15th century. It is, for example, part of the 15th-century armour of the Duke of Milan.

The armet is an Italian helmet type that developed in the early 15th century, possibly as a response to the great bascinet. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the armet became very popular and was worn in Italy, France, England, the Low Countries, and Spain. The armet was notable for being the first helmet of its time to fully enclose the head while remaining compact and light enough to move with the wearer. Its use was essentially limited to fully armored knights and warriors. The helmet required a mechanism to open and close it for practical wear.

A typical armet consisted of four components: the skull, the two large hinged cheekpieces that closed over the chin at the front, and a visor with double pivot points—one on each side of the skull. The cheekpieces opened sideways via horizontal hinges; when closed, they overlapped at the chin and were secured with a spring pin that fit into a matching hole, or with a rotating latch and pierced hook.

This armet features an additional bevor, called a “wrapper.” This plate was likely only attached during jousting, providing extra neck protection when charging at full speed with a lance. The leather strap is reinforced at the back with a rondel, and the wrapper is fastened to the back of the helmet with a leather strap.

The neck protection of this helmet consists of two layers, as the helmet closes behind the bevor. The visor can be easily locked, and the bevor and helmet can be combined with other armour pieces.

The skull is made from 2 mm thick steel, and the visor and bevor from 1.6 mm thick steel. The helmet is fitted with a linen liner and leather chin strap and is suitable for a maximum head circumference of 63 cm.