Medieval Helmet “The King's Guard”
Italian houndskull bascinet, 15th c.
Medieval Helmet “The King's Guard”
Italian houndskull bascinet, 15th c.
Definitely the pride of our 14th century offerings – the King’s Guard Bascinet comes with a reenactor grade, “hundskugel” visor and a bargrill visor. This combination allows for a great look on the field (while maintaining excellent vision) and a period look at court, formal presentations and strict reenactment events. The maille aventail, mounted in the period style stitched to a leather piece and attached with brass verveilles, both complements the look and gives needed protection to the neck and upper shoulders.
Our King’s Guard Houndskull is hand-crafted by our Lead Armourer in thick, 2 mm (14 ga) stainless steel designed to withstand the rigors of both rattan and steel combat for years to come. Mirror polished steel matches perfectly with the inscribed brass borders creating a helm any knight of the 14th century would have been proud to wear. For those participating in reenactment societies that do not allow stainless steel or other non-period metals, we can produce this helm in mild-steel, however our etching process works much better with stainless steel and we offer this non-decorated alternative - Houndskull Bascinet.
With ArmStreet’s signature electro-acid etching both on the steel and deeply engraved brass borders, this helm is hand-polished to a sheen any actual King’s Guard would be proud of and any King would expect.
While beautiful, this armour is built to take the rigors of rattan and steel combat and when matched with the other pieces of the King’s Guard kit creates a look that would stand out on the field of the Combat of the Thirty and be right at home in any Late 14th Century Nobleman’s home.
Our ArmStreet artisans have gone the extra mile to create an armour that screams renown and will bring both pride and prestige to any knight who wears it.
Latin inscriptions and English Translations:
Upper border: Latin (Psalm 18:38): Persequebar inimicos meos. English: I have pursued mine enemies
Bottom border: Latin (Psalm 18:39): Confringebam illos, [nec poterant stare], cadebant subtus pedes meos. English: I have wounded them [that they were not able to rise]: they are fallen under my feet.
To check how to measure yourself please click here.
Please contact us if you have any additional questions.
Chin strap with a drawstring and toggle
Chin straps with one buckle (left pictures) and two buckles (right pictures).
Safety disclaimer: Sword-fighting and fencing is a dangerous sport. Fencing, historical fencing, medieval reenactment and martial arts as well as other related types of activity, are inherently connected to a certain risk level of injuries or death. The Company declines all responsibility for any traumas or harm done to oneself or to the third person, along with any material or consequential damage, impaired during the products usage. We admonish that all acts with armour, weapons or their components have to be performed before designated person who is responsible for safety of the particular event and accredited to supervise armour and sport weapon conformance to the event’s standards.
- Main material: 2 mm (14 ga) stainless steel;
- Optionally can be made of 2.5 mm (12 ga) stainless steel for $200 extra;
- Bordering: brass;
- Technologies: cold-forging, etching (electroplating and acid etching);
- Period padding, chin strap, stainless steel aventail - included.
- no padding by request;
- cell foam fabric padding.
This item is part of the “The King's Guard” collection View collection
Helm fits nicely especially with the adjustable suspension padding. The twisted brass pins holding the face plate is a nice touch. Breathing with hound face is good but, I changed to the bar grill face plate for SCA fighting though I have tried it in combat yet, Vision is not a wide as my original Klapvisor Bascinet but ample enough. Chin straps (2) are very nice but a tight fit with the avetail installed.
The helmet fits amazing, and can handle a unguarded polearm blow with ease. Armstreet never lets me down.
This Helmet is awesome, great fit, good padding. Being able to open the face plate is an awesome feature, being able to drink water without removing the helmet is very convenient (not sure how marshals will feel about this feature when I go for authorization, I might need to add some sort of extra strap to hold the face plate down). The chin straps are a little difficult to fasten but I have been able to do it without a mirror and in my armor.
Huge fan of this bascinet. Very comfortable and fits my head perfectly. The construction is solid and reliable, and the maille aventail is strong. It didn't come with padding for the aventail, so I made that myself, because it desperately needed it. I also attached a golden dragon to the skull because I think it looks cool. I've taken some pretty hard strikes to the head with steel swords as well as pommel strikes to the visor and I didn't feel a thing. No dents either, just scratches. The helmet weighs 6kg but you get used to it pretty fast. Super happy with it!
I really like the helmet I received, it fits very comfortably, it looks really nice, it does it's job. I really like most of the design choices the armorer made. There is however one glaring aesthetic issue and that is the base of visor does not go to the base of the helmet(see photo attached). I did not ask for it to look like that and there was no reason to make it look like that. I chose not to deal with returning it because the helmet it fine otherwise. I do think there is a problem in the process of ordering and producing the helmet. Namely that the process is too opaque. What I mean is that once specifications are put in and the order is made the I just have to sit with my fingers crossed hoping that I get something that vaguely resembles what I asked for. I really think there ought to be more communication because I am spending a lot of money and would like to know what I am getting. It would make a lot of sense to send the customer photos drawings that are the intended design and ask the customer clarify certain design choices if you all are unsure what we meant.
Received mine yesterday. Love it!
Hi. When measuring my head for a helm, do you I need to measure the circumference of the padding?
Hello, we need the head circumference measurement with no extra size, because padding comes with helmet. If you do not need our padding and would like to use your own one, then please leave this comment to your order and we will contact you for more info on the measurements.
I got this helm four days ago for SCA fighting and have practiced in it four times. Great fit. Surprisingly good vision and breathability. The customization was spot on. I will buy more things from this armorer.
I like this helm, I was able to handle one at Pennsic and the finish and workmanship is top notch.
Hello! I absolutely LOVE your store! Sasha was very helpful. I ordered a custom made Rondelle plates for finger gauntlets with custom etching and design. Sasha helped me along the way and was very patient with several changes I had to make after the order was placed. (my English to Latin translation skills need some serious work.) The customer service and timely communication is some of the best I have ever received from any online company that I have ever had the pleasure of doing business with! I recommend Armstreet to all of my friends for the astounding quality and craftsmanship. I will be ordering a helmet soon as well. I will see you guys at Pennsic! Thank you very much!
Wow! Thank you for such a great feedback! We are proud to be of good assistance :)
Always welcome back to us!
This is a great helm, and now it's mine! Exactly as ordered, beautiful workmanship, highly recommended for medieval lovers :)
Thank you for the feedback, John! Your positive review is the most welcome compliment for us!
Gorgeous helm! I am thrilled with the quality! Thank you!
Great, thank you! Always welcome back!
Is it possible to have the engraved latin say something else?
Hello, please send us the words you would like to have instead so we can tell if it is possible.
Is it at all possible for the visor locking system to be built warfare historical, rather than the tournament spring-pin setup? Such as tighter pivots and slight offset alignment, so it holds open/closed by torsion between visor and helmet, instead of any hard lock.
Hello, unfortunately, it is not possible, sorry.
Hi I'm wondering if I could have no padding and aventail, and is it possible to add my own padding and aventail to the helmet. and if the the visor is stainless steel. thank you
Hello, yes, we can send you the helmet prepared for your own padding and aventail and yes, the visor is stainless steel.
Can this be paladin etched?
Yes, it should be possible. Please contact our support team for the price.
Hello, I see this aventail can also be made of riveted mail. Is that also done in stainless steel? Thank you for the help!
Hi Mark, riveted aventail can be made in mild steel only, unfortunately.
Hi, this armor looks amazing but can you tell me if the aventail is made from butted chainmail or riveted chainmail?
Hello Darryl, the aventail is butted by default but we can make it riveted for $70 extra.
Good Morning. Can I buy the bassinet without the SCA Bargrill visor? How much would it cost? Greetings and have a good day.
Hi Francisco, without the barglille this helmet costs $130 less.
I plan on piecing this set together, but I was wondering if the helmet could be made in mild steel with a riveted aventail like your other helms, and without the inscriptions in the brass (Just a plain brass border)?
Hi Thomas, yes, all alterations are possible. Please simply leave this request in the comment to your order.
What is the size of the eye slits? For jousting the requirement is 15mm and I am curious if this would meet the standards.
The eye slits` size can be customised if needed, please mention the required dimensions in the comments to your order.
What do the inscriptions say on all of these pieces and can they be changed to something else? I know the option exists to NOT have them at all. Another variable if we order many of these pieces can that be changed?
Upper border: I have pursued mine enemies
Bottom border: I have wounded them [that they were not able to rise]: they are fallen under my feet.
Custom etching is possible, please send the preferred dictum at contact@armstreet.com. Then we'll be able to estimate the price and processing time.
Can the customer use the Paladin armet helm with the etching and have the kings guard edging to it?
Paladin Armet cannot be made with such brass borders as on the King's Guard helmet, sorry.
is this Bascinet with two replacable visors or not ? and can i upgrade to 2.5mm stainless steel and how much it cost
Yes, two visors are included: Houndskull visor and SCA Bargrill visor.
Optionally can be made of 2.5 mm (12 ga) stainless steel for $200 extra, simply add a comment to your order. We'll send an invoice for the extra charge to your PayPal email.
I am interested in the King's Guard medieval bascinet. I see that it comes with the hounskull visor but I would like to know if it could be made with the klappvisor instead. And if so would there be a change in the price from the 849.
Can be made with hounskull or bargrill visor only, sorry.
Hi, where is a picture of the full set together? i cannot find any armour on your site that has the same name, and i cant find the actual suit with brass etching, only the gloves and helmet. Thanks
You're welcome - Full set “The King's Guard”!
Second helmet purchase from these guys, love'em!
Thank you, Tomas!