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The Kiev Helm

The construction of the Kiev helmet is unlike any other that I have been able to find.  A series of 14 sub-triangular strips are held at the apex by a pair of oval plates between which they are trapped and riveted. At the lower edge, a series of large, rounded washers are used to spread the riveted load, there being one washer and rivet at either side of each strip. There is no other riveting. The helmet is bowl shaped with ear cut outs at the rim and has no nasal bar.

Food for thought: It has been suggested, by one more knowledgeable such things, that the ear cut-outs are quite similar to what was done on the Romano-Sassanid infantry helmets. In this thinking one should wonder if this helmet should not properly be reconstructed with cheek pieces like those of the Romano-Sassanid infantry helmets.

 

Important UPDATES!

07/10/2002

ITS OFFICIAL!!

The Strong and Kiev helms aren't actually period helms at all, the owner of the "Strong" helmet, Doug Strong, recently posted this to a forum calle the Armor Archive:

"Well it is official. The Strong helmet in my colleciton and the Kiev helmet published in Dominic Tweedle's book "The Anglian Helmet from Coppergate" as a 10th century Viking Helmet is actually the metal liner from the SSK90. This helmet was made at the end of WWII by the German Luftwaffe for their early Jet pilots. (i.e. the Messershmidt ME262) I have seen pictures and it absolutely the same helmet. I will post similar info on my helmet page.

Needless to say I am a bit disappointed but It is more important for accurate information to be out there about early helmets than it is for me to actually own one. It was really cool to own what we believed was one though"

0628/2002

The authenticity of both the Kiev helm and the "Strong" helm is now in question!

There is a probability of 98% it is 1000 years younger and may just be a incorrectly attributed lining of Luftwaffe helmet. There was also a third helmet of the type on sale in early 2000 in St.Petersburg, perfectly preserved - including maker's stamp on the lower crown plate (the place covered by museum stiker on Kiev specimen and not properly cleared on the "Strong" helmet. This is all speculation at this point but something i thought necessary to point out to those researching the two helms.