The Sky Guard

The Sky Guard is a bascinet helmet that was the most popular style of helmet in the late 13th, 14th and early 15th centuries for both knights and common soldiers throughout Europe. Because the bascinet was popular for such a long period of time, there are many variations in its appearance and shape. Early bascinets were worn over or under a mail coif with a arming cap and around 1330 an aventail (mail covering the neck and shoulders) and faceplates became commonplace.

The shape of the helmet continued to evolve as the sides became longer to provide better protection and padded liners were often attached to the inside of the helmet. Rounded, globular, conical, and pointed variations of the helmets were all popular. by the late 1300s, metal or plate armor pieces had replaced mail.

The method of attachment and shape of the faceplate or visor changed continuously to offer better protection, visibility, breathing, ventilation and decoration. Visors were removable and held in place by locking pins and could be attached by a central pin (klappvisor) or by two hinges on the sides of the helmet. The visor had various shapes; flat, conical (hounds skull) or round convex (pig face).

The Sky Guard is made from steel, has a leather liner/suspension system and chin strap. The visor is removable and held in place by two pins located on the sides of the helmet, and has symmetrical holes on both sides of the visor to facilitate ventilation and breathing. A metal post on the right side of the helmet is provided to secure the visor in the closed position.