pattern
This pattern developed by Sir Paul of Somerton in the early 1990’s (or perhaps late 1980’)
- scan the pattern and put it here
when/how made
- in 1992 or 1993 I was living in the Shire of Glyn Dwfn (20. Ashland, Oregon 1991 - 1994) with Paul of Somerton, who helped me build my first suit of armour, using patterns he had developed. I did most of the dishing myself, and Paul regularly came over to make minor adjustments to the curve and demonstrate techniques. The welding was done by his squire, who welded boats for a living, and so just took it to work, called it a “test weld”, and didn’t charge us for time or materials.
photos of the helmet
taken by Aleslif in May 2022:
gave it away
2026-08-02 Tristyn tried on my armour, including the old bacinet helmet I made with Paul’s help when I lived in 20. Ashland, Oregon 1991 - 1994. I have a very small head, so Tristyn is like the third or fourth person who could fit in this helmet at all. Tristyn’s joy in fighting at this first try was super apparant. I haven’t worn the helm in years, so I gave it to him, so it will be easier/more affordable to make his own when he gets home.
modifications needed
While Tristyn’s head is small enough to put my helmet on, the chin cup kept sliding up and needed adjusting often. Since I remember Paul saying that the anchor point of the chin cup needs to be at the hinge point of the jaw, I assumed that his proportions are different than mine, and so we checked, and it looks like he needs that rivit shifted back a couple of cm.