Armour Discussion: not all sallets are created equal.

I talk through some of my experiences owning and operating armour. In this instance, the Sallet and Bevor.
Please do leave questions or comments, and like and share the video, plus subscribe to see the rest of the series.

[@hacheurdepoulet]

Could you maybe do a video on how you went about making the bevor liner? I'm sure it would be interesting

[@ZacharyEvans]

I'll see what I can do.

[@shaidrim]

Geographic note: Tirol is a shared region between Italy and Austria, not Germany with which Italy has no border in common.

[@ImpartiallySpeaking]

Can you help with some advice. Re the ‘bevor up’ - would you take that to be up as covering lower face or up as in pushed back above the head gear to reveal the face?

[@TheDragorin]

would the gothic articulated tail sallets help with that issue? also please dear god you armor guys need to start linking these armor smiths you talk about. saint george the modern day armorer is not popular enough to find on google. he kinda get overshadowed by some other people.

[@arabaey]

Could you please add references to the amorers you mention in the description?

[@ZacharyEvans]

I'll get that done, although neither appear to have working websites.

[@wulfheywood1321]

@@ZacharyEvans St George was working up till last week when it suddenly went down. It did the same last year.

[@ZacharyEvans]

Thanks. I wonder if he needs to renew it.

[@Schmunzel57]

If the visor falls down, dose that not mean the hinge rivets are in line? The should not, so that the twist in the steel acts as a spring holding it up or down. Or I’m wrong and is that only for later versions?

[@ZacharyEvans]

Yes, that can be the case. The visor is held up entirely by friction and that is caused by a combination of the tightness of the rivets and the angle of the pivot. I don't think all historical examples do have an offset pivot, but I may be wrong on that. It is possible for the visor to be held in place just on the strength of the rivets being tight. If your visor has an offset pivot however, you do still need tight rivets.

[@SackRingDice]

I can't seem to be able to find St George's armory store anywhere online(?) what's his website?

[@ZacharyEvans]

Hey there. His website appears to be down at the moment. I'm not sure if that means he has stopped trading. I will check and get back to you.

[@freethemonkey6768]

The website is back up now www.stgeorgearmoury.co.uk/

[@texasbeast239]

Could you maybe discuss neck protection when you have the helmet tail cut higher like that? Coifs, standards, gorgets, etc. And compensatory measures for more open face style helms or larger eyelets, such as mesh, wolfram ribbed cages, etc.

[@portl1298]

Not entirely related, but while the pronunciation of “Sallet” makes sense (pronounced Sal-let) as a mug blooded American I believe it’s much better pronounced “Sal-lay”. This is why English kinda sucks and is hard to learn; we spell a word how it looks best than say the word how it sounds best, but that’s definitely unrelated

[@ZacharyEvans]

English is a funny language

[@janehollander1934]

Hi dear Zac Evans, as I saw this video of you talking about your jousting Sallet & Bevor ("Beaver"). I had to think of an unanswered "question" I've been walking around with for many years now. And it's a connected to one of Shakespeare's most famous plays: 'Hamlet' that my question is related to. As it's there that I heard of the word Bevor/Beaver, for the very first time, many years back. Where in Act 1 Scene 2 the Bevor is mentioned in connection to the night watchmen having seen Hamlet's Father's Ghost "Old Hamlet" (the late King of Denmark). And there is something in the text that I don't fully understand in connection to the Ghost (probably) being "ready" for a Battle/Warfare. I'll share this particular part of the text: Hamlet; 'Indeed, indeed, sirs. But this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night?' Marcellus; [with Bernardo] 'We do, my lord'. Hamlet; 'Arm'd, say you?' Marcellus; 'Arm'd, my lord' Hamlet; 'From top to toe?' Marcellus; 'My lord, from head to foot'. Hamlet;' Then saw you NOT his face?' Horatio; 'O, yes, my lord! He wore his beaver (Bevor) UP!' Hamlet; 'What, look'd he frowningly'. Horatio; 'A countenance more in sorrow than in anger'... So my Questions are: 1) can one wear his Bevor/"Beaver" UP?!? And how? 🤔 Are there different positions you can wear a Bevor in? Because 2) If it's "UP"...how can you still see a facial expression? If you wear your Sallet + Bevor isn't your face totally obscured? Or did Shakespeare write with a late 1500, or even turn of that century going into early 1600, type of the then more fashionable 'closed' Helmets. Where the Bevor is "integrated" and is able to pivot up & down? Looking forward to your insights on this. Greetings👋🏻 from the Netherlands 🇳🇱

[@ZacharyEvans]

Hi Janet This is a tricky one to answer, because I'm no literary scholar, and my knowledge of 16th century armour is rudimentary. What I do know is that there are several 16th century helmets I know of that include chin protection as part of the helm, and hinged like a visor, so "up" is the open position. We can assume Shakespeare is probably imagining this form of helm rather than a sallet and bevor as I have. Another possibility is that Billy used the wrong word, and meant visor, but I am happy to assume that there was enough common knowledge about military matters that this is unlikely.

[@joker56281]

Very interesting video, as someone new to the whole armor thing I'd love a video of advice for getting started with a harness

[@ZacharyEvans]

Thanks. That's certainly something that can be done.

[@andrewbrown6522]

Cyclists can have the same problem. You'll notice a lot of couriers and city riders using skateboard style instead for that reason. Same with backpacks aka backplate. Id like to see more of the little particulars that make or break it for you or others.

[@Komeijientity]

where u buy i am from india i larp in the jungle

[@soty9107]

henlo i am also india man want to larp together?

[@mrbloodylordbaronsamedi.9937]

I am glad my country medieval army never had any of late medieval armour and helmets

[@thomasdietrich4030]

Nicely done! I think I have painted myself into a corner with my setup, as my bevor is connected to the breastplate with a spring lock and staple. This gives excellent throat protection but severely limits mobility in foot combat, at least with the bevors upper lame in the "up" position. Have you had trouble jousting with the bevors freely moving bib plate? I would guess that thats not completely lance safe as its not fixed to your breastplate 🤔

[@ZacharyEvans]

I tend to use the sallet and Bevor for melee and battlefield use, as I have an armet for jousting. Most historical targes are very large and with a solid lance with steel coronel it's unlikely that it would manage to get up between the Bevor and breastplate. Jousting with balsa makes that more of an issue, as smaller splinters are more likely to skid about your armour, especially if your shield is smaller. I may do a video on this if it would be of interest.

[@thomasdietrich4030]

@@ZacharyEvans ah, that explains it. I think, in retrospect, that I should have gone the same route although jousting is not necessarily on my menu.

[@ZacharyEvans]

Any choice is a compromise on something else, and we often feel the grass is greener on the other side. Thankfully armour tends to hold its value relatively well, so I've been able to hone my armour over time. If you're not keen on your set up I would recommend changing it. I was once persuaded to wear a Bevor that didn't quite fit and that was the only time I've been properly injured in armour.

[@thomasdietrich4030]

@@ZacharyEvans I made my bevor myself, so it shouldn't be a big problem (except for time) to just remake a second bevor that is not stapled onto the Breastplate. But before I do that I will need to test the rest of my armour once fighting is back on the menu. And once I've done my legs, sabatons and a new set of gauntlets of course. I think armor is always a compromise and nothing is really fixed, as you can always improve here or there, especially when you enjoy the armoring aspect 😅

[@andrewhallard537]

Is the bevor hard to breath in? Would you add a breath at the bottom? Im worried that co2 would build up at the bottom

[@ZacharyEvans]

It's harder to breathe than without, but not as difficult as an armet. I would not put breaths in, as it ruins the 15th century look. CO2 build up is not a big problem, as the Bevor isn't airtight, there is airflow. You just find that the air you breathe is hotter and damper than if you're not wearing it.

[@andrewhallard537]

@@ZacharyEvans thanks for the reply! Wanna get into buhurt eventually

[@ZacharyEvans]

I'm afraid I don't really have any experience with bohurt. Sallet and Bevor is one of the "light armour" options of the 15th century however, and in tournaments they often went for a heavier bascinet, although not always.

[@theplaidpilot8156]

​@@ZacharyEvans Does it make it harder to see? I'm thinking about getting a close sallet, and I'm not sure about putting breaths on the bevor and visor. i know that the breaths on my houndskull bascinet help a lot with seeing my opponent's lower half, so is it relevant with a sallet and bevor as well?

[@ZacharyEvans]

It will help, but generally isn't seen on most originals. With practice and conditioning you get used to it.

[@Komeijientity]

on a serious note where did you get in contact with the amourer/smith that made you that helm. Could i get a link maybe or is there any sites you could recomend because i am curently looking for an Italian sallet and bevor

[@ZacharyEvans]

Here he is: facebook.com/roman.tereschenko.5

[@Komeijientity]

@@ZacharyEvans thanks this means alot

[@ZacharyEvans]

Not a problem.