Pig Face Bascinet Helmet: 14th-Century Steel Combat Helmet with Chainmail Aventail for Buhurt, SCA & HMB

The pig face bascinet is one of the most recognizable combat helmets in medieval history, and this version is built to fight in the modern arena. The elongated houndskull visor projects forward and downward, deflecting strikes away from the face while the bretèche sight slit and clustered breathing holes deliver ventilation that keeps you sharp through every round. Available with a full riveted chainmail aventail and padded cotton liner, or as a standalone helmet for fighters who already have their own mail and padding setup.

Five material and gauge combinations let you match the helmet to your ruleset, your budget, and your fighting intensity.

Features & Specifications

What’s Included

With Chainmail Aventail & Liner option:

• 1x Pig face bascinet helmet (material and gauge of your choice)
• 1x Riveted steel chainmail aventail (attached to helmet via vervelles or direct rivet)
• 1x Quilted white cotton padded liner with scalloped brow cushion
• 1x Riveted brown leather chin strap with steel buckle
• Steel visor chain stays (pre-installed)
• ArmorCulture care card

Without Chainmail Aventail & Liner option:

• 1x Pig face bascinet helmet (material and gauge of your choice)
• 1x Riveted brown leather chin strap with steel buckle
• Steel visor chain stays (pre-installed)
• ArmorCulture care card

Material & Gauge Guide

Choosing the right material and gauge depends on your ruleset, your role on the field, and how often you fight.

Mild Steel is the standard choice for most fighters. It is easy to repair, widely accepted at all tournaments, and the most affordable entry point.

Hardened Steel (tempered spring steel) resists denting significantly better than mild steel under repeated heavy strikes. If you compete at national or international level, hardened steel holds its shape through seasons of fighting where mild steel would dish and deform.

Stainless Steel combines corrosion resistance with solid impact performance. It holds its finish through sweat, rain, and storage without the constant oiling that mild steel requires. Ideal for fighters who train outdoors year-round or who want a low-maintenance tournament helmet.

The Visor: Bretèche Sight & Breathing System

The pig face visor on this bascinet uses a two-zone ventilation design that separates vision from breathing.

Bretèche sight slit: A horizontal row of evenly spaced vertical slots runs across the upper visor at eye level, providing a wide field of vision while keeping the face protected behind solid steel between each slot. The alternating slot-and-bar pattern deflects incoming weapon tips laterally rather than funneling them toward the eyes.

Clustered breathing holes: Below the sight line, a triangular cluster of round breathing holes is drilled into the protruding snout of the visor. This places the air intake at the lowest point of the visor, where exhaled air naturally falls and fresh air enters. The forward projection of the snout also creates a buffer of airspace between your face and the steel, reducing fog and heat buildup inside the helmet.

Chain stays: Two steel chains run from the visor to the skull on each side, preventing the visor from swinging fully open and being lost during combat. The chains also keep the visor accessible for quick lifts between rounds without needing to fumble with a latch.

The Chainmail Aventail

The optional riveted chainmail aventail is a full neck and shoulder curtain made from individually riveted steel rings. It attaches to the base of the helmet skull and drapes down to cover the neck, throat, and upper shoulders on all sides. The riveted construction is significantly stronger than butted chainmail and resists ring separation under impact, which matters when a polearm or mace catches the edge.

The aventail provides the critical neck protection zone that the helmet dome does not cover. In combination with a gorget or standard, it creates a complete head and neck protection system. For fighters who already own a chainmail coif or separate aventail, the “without” option lets you run your existing setup.

The Padded Liner

The included padded liner (with aventail option) is a quilted white cotton cap with a scalloped brow pad that sits inside the helmet dome. The multi-layer cotton batting absorbs shock on impact and creates a stable cushion between your head and the steel. The scalloped brow section adds extra padding at the forehead where strikes concentrate, and the smooth cotton interior sits comfortably against the skin during long tournament days.

Why Choose This Bascinet?

The pig face visor deflects, not absorbs. The elongated houndskull snout angles strikes downward and away from the face. A flat-faced visor takes the full force of every hit directly. The pig face geometry redirects that energy along the surface of the visor and off the bottom edge. Over a full day of fighting, that geometry reduces cumulative impact fatigue on your neck and spine.

Five material options cover every ruleset. Some tournaments mandate minimum gauge. Some allow stainless but not mild. Some fighters want the weight savings of hardened 16 gauge over mild 14 gauge at the same protection level. With five combinations on one helmet, you can order exactly what your event requires without compromising on the design you want.

With or without aventail and liner. New fighters benefit from the complete package: helmet, chainmail aventail, and padded liner ready to fight. Experienced fighters who have invested in custom mail or specific padding setups can order the helmet alone and integrate it with their existing gear. Either way, you get the same helmet.

Visor chains keep everything secure. The steel chain stays on both sides of the visor prevent it from swinging too far when opened and keep it attached if a hinge pin loosens during combat. It is a small detail that prevents a big problem mid-fight.

Hand-formed, not stamped. Every helmet is hand-raised from steel sheet by ArmorCulture smiths. The dome is shaped on a mandrel, the visor fitted to the skull, and every rivet set individually. The result is a helmet with correct proportions, proper clearance, and a fit that mass-produced imports cannot match.

Sizing & Fit Guide

Measure your head circumference at the widest point (around the forehead, above the ears, and across the back of the skull). If you are using the padded liner option, measure without any other headwear. If ordering without liner, measure over whatever padding you plan to wear underneath.

Between sizes? Contact us with your exact measurements. We can adjust the fit at no extra cost.

Care & Maintenance

Wipe down all steel surfaces with a dry cloth after every fight or event. For mild steel helmets, apply a thin coat of Renaissance Wax or mineral oil to prevent surface rust, especially after exposure to sweat. Stainless steel requires minimal oiling but benefits from periodic buffing. Hardened steel should be oiled the same as mild steel. Inspect visor hinge pins, chain stays, and aventail rivets before each use. Hang the chainmail aventail separately to air dry after events. Shake debris from the mail and tumble with dry rice occasionally to remove tarnish. Store the padded liner in a ventilated area. See our full armor care guide for detailed instructions.

Shipping & Returns

This is a made-to-order item. Please allow 4-6 weeks for crafting. We ship worldwide with tracked shipping. Standard delivery times: USA 7-12 business days, UK 10-14 business days, Canada 10-14 business days, Australia 14-21 business days. See our full shipping and returns policy for details. Custom-sized orders are final sale.