SA0239 Medieval Knight Helmet with Visor

Medieval Knight Helmet with Visor
Made from a construction of 18 Gauge steel with brass accent features, this
medieval knight helmet is a perfect renaissance item. Capturing the style and look
of a medieval knight’s helmet. Commonplace throughout Europe, it first came into
use early in the 16th century and had attained its classic form by c.
1550.Accompanied by plate armour, burgonets were mostly worn by cavalry:
cuirassiers, demi-lancers and, in Eastern Europe, hussars.German burgonet, c.
1560, showing the open face of the helmet.The Border Reivers, of the EnglishScottish borderlands, were very fond of burgonets and the morion in Elizabethan
times, and as a result reivers were often called steil (steel) bonnets.Burgonets
were also a popular helmet type among the Polish winged hussars, where they
merged with types of lobster-tailed pot helmets (zischagge), often featuring a
nasal bar or facial guard.The burgonet was common among the mercenary Swiss
infantry who were pikemen who could defend themselves against cavalry (perhaps
taking helmets of this form as trophies). Following the appearance of the Adrian
and Brodie helmets and the Stahlhelm, in the First World War, the Swiss
experimented with a “streamlined” form of the burgonet for their own national
helmet, but both designs were rejected.The factors of utility of the burgonet over
older helmets include:Cost—The main factor in the decision to wear one;
burgonets were significantly cheaper than large closed-face
helmets.Encumbrance—Close helmets were very bulky and heavy. It could be hard
for the wearer to see, breathe or turn his head while wearing one. The burgonet,
however, was light and had an open face that gave an advantage in
offense.Protection—The burgonet was not as protective as heavier helms, but still
afforded some protection. Having an open face could be remedied with a falling
buffe.