Grand Bascinet

This what I would call a Grand Bascinet or Battle Helm

This style of Helm was from around the period of 1450 so was worn from the end of the Hundred Years War with France and just before the War of Roses kicked off.

Made by the great armourer David Hewitt of  White Rose Armory in his early learning years, his stuff is full on museum quality today.

I have no picture of me in my full armour wearing this helmet, last worn in battle I believe at a re-enactment of Jack Cades rebellion in 1450 or 1990 in the real world.

The helmet is designed to fix firmly to the back and breast plate, it offers no head movement other the limited movement from space inside the helmet, I found this not my cup of tea for foot combat while you feel pretty invulnerable, you need to be constantly twisting your shoulders to see what is behind you and this effect good balance and your fighting stance,  I much prefer a beaver and sallet.

The helmet hinges apart for access as can be seen above.

Vision is not bad actually you mainly see through the vent holes.

Commander Hunter of Death Angel Squad

This is a leather covered steampunk or hell angel novelty helmet

I bought it off ebay its well made, good buckles and lining, comfortable but doubt it would actually be suitable head protection for a biker, but that's not what helm is about anyway.

This helm apparently gets a thumb up. 

Velvet Riding Hat

I own this Helmet after spending about year having riding lesson in the vain hope of becoming a Jouster.

Before I got anywhere near even a basic rider  I fell off a horse straight on to rigid fence at a canter, ambulanced to the hospital no fractures to my ribs where found but it was 6 months before I could lie on that side of body and I never went back to riding apart from the odd pony trek while on holiday.
I think good riders start young, and own their own horse and stables or train full time such as for the Queens life guards.

This is certified riding helmet velvet covered in the equestrian style, although modern helmets are much more practical, this one is now 25 year old.

This style of this riding helmet is called a Hunt Cap.

Sallet

The medieval sallet was the helmet of choice for 15th Century medieval soldiers, some had visors, some where worn with beavers which protected the neck and chin.

Worn by me in period of about 5 or 6 years when I was part of the Buckinhams Retinue a soldier in the Duke of Stafford's household.

 My sallet was not a good example but it served a purpose, you can find much better quality elsewhere. 

I should also note I no longer own this helmet it was sold on to another keen reinactor.

Dr Livinstone I Presume

The Pith Helmet is a light weight helmet made of cork (or pith) and then covered in cloth with small holes for ventilation.

Helmets rather than hats in that they are designed to provide physical protection against hard things hitting the head. 

I mainly think of these as worn by European gentlemen (and women) explorers but they were more often worn by the government officials, army, police and navy.  

Worn in for the most part during the 18th and 19th by people from colonial countries in the tropics, although it seems they were worn as official headgear as late as the 1960's 

Also worn by travellers from United States and adopted by the Vietnamese army.

Pith Helmet also know as Safari helmet, Sun helmet, Topee, Sola topee, Salacot or Topi

This one was found in a Army Surplus Store and was possibly (I did say possibly) made post WWII in India from Shola Pith