07-28-2006, 08:22 PM
For safety purposes, I would recommend a chinstrap rather than leather thong, for several reasons:
First, we don't know for certain what the real helmets had, so accuracy's ambiguous. Not that the Romans didn't know how to make a buckle and a strap, they're all over a segmentata... Regardless, no one will see it unless they take your helmet and turn it upside down.
Secondly, leather thong is fine for a legionary helmet, since it ties just below the chin, rather than further back, which would provide much better support, a la WWII German helmet. Looks period, and not many head shots as a legionary [reenact]. Quite a few as a gladiator, most unintentional.
When I attended the Collegium Gladiatorium in Hungary last summer, I noticed they all used chinstraps... also that they fight full contact on occasion (with rudii in that case), and that blows to the head are inevitable. Personally, I use pressed wool felt (available from McMaster Carr) to line mine, and do so until the fit is extremely snug. So that's another option.
Good luck,
Jim / Valerius
First, we don't know for certain what the real helmets had, so accuracy's ambiguous. Not that the Romans didn't know how to make a buckle and a strap, they're all over a segmentata... Regardless, no one will see it unless they take your helmet and turn it upside down.
Secondly, leather thong is fine for a legionary helmet, since it ties just below the chin, rather than further back, which would provide much better support, a la WWII German helmet. Looks period, and not many head shots as a legionary [reenact]. Quite a few as a gladiator, most unintentional.
When I attended the Collegium Gladiatorium in Hungary last summer, I noticed they all used chinstraps... also that they fight full contact on occasion (with rudii in that case), and that blows to the head are inevitable. Personally, I use pressed wool felt (available from McMaster Carr) to line mine, and do so until the fit is extremely snug. So that's another option.
Good luck,
Jim / Valerius
