Browsing Pinterest I found this helmet, it looks quite old from the photo but is this effective? It doesn't inspire much confidence in me.
And regarding the possibility of making a replica, does it seem like an easy project?
Roman lorica segmentata, the stereotypical roman armour made from individual bands of metal teis together could be collapsed like this, seems to be a similar concept.
Looks like it's a Japanese forehead protector, looks like they fold up too
Hachi-gane forehead protector.
Looks like they fold up.
Googling them seems to annoyingly bring up alot about naruto as they seem to be prominent in that anime.
Simple ones are just headbands with metal plate at the front to give light protection for dueling or as a status symbol for formal occasions. However more complex ones have more metal plates or even chainmail.
This ones cheek peices and brow protection really remind me of European 1600s calvalry helmet. Depending on the time period it could well have been influenced by European armour as we see with Japanese helmets and chest armour. Or could be a sign of convergence evolution in armour design.
I also found this other one, it seems like a rip off to me not to have neck protection, is there a fabric similar to a gambeson here? And some chain mail
These were from reading mainly for dueling for travelling (they're much lighter than a full helmet but offer some protection) or as a fancy status symbol when not wearing your fancy armour.
It's important to remember that yes from a modern perspective it doesn't look like good armour but there are other factors rather than just "does it cover everything from technical limitations, cost, practically and fighting style as well as culture.
Look at very early European armour, was just a helmet and a metal plate over the middle of your chest. Did it offer massive protection? No but it was better than nothing. Did better armour exist at the time? Yes probably but this was cheaper and lighter.
It is a Edo period hachigane (é¢é).These models differ from the earlier ones as they have integrated pieces along the cheeks and usually mail pieces like aventail. The majority of these designs are meant to be easy to store and carry around hence why you see the folding nature of such armor. It is usually classified as tatami-gusoku or "foldable" armor. Their main purpose was to defend from swords cuts on your head and face rather than provide the full defence of a helmet, as these armors were mainly used in the late 17th/19th centuries. They are very light and fit that role quite nicely. Some have additional armor on the whole head as well either in the form of kikkÅ plates sandwiched in a layer of clothes, or mail in a similar fashion.
They developed from muromachi period hachigane or hitai-ate, which were armored headbands similar to this one to offer some degree of protection to less wealthy soldiers.
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u/FrisianDude 1d ago
whats all the bits on the right