Could Warriors SPLIT Helmets? - How Well Did Medieval Armor Really Work?

We have some paintings from the Middle Ages depicting battle scenes that show swords cutting into helmets. Of course we have to take everything with a grain of salt... many of those images contain accurate, realistic portrayals of arms and armor, but some have mythical creatures and manhunting killer bunnies...

So how plausible is this armor slicing trope? Are some helmets more susceptible to damage from blades than others? Let's take a closer look!


** Related Videos **

A Lesser Known "Viking" Helmet
   • A Lesser Known "Viking" Helmet  

Tests of reproduction helmets (2016)
Part 1:    • Helmet Tests, Part 1 - Steel reinforc...  
Part 2:    • Helmet Tests, Part 2 - Light Norman N...  
Part 3:    • Helmet tests, part 3 - Norman mask he...  
Part 4:    • Helmet Tests, Part 4 - Unexpected Wea...  
Part 5:    • Helmet Tests, Part 5 - Bascinet vs. A...  

Driftwood Club VS 1mm Mild Steel Helmet - Skall Smash!
   • Driftwood Club VS 1mm Mild Steel Helm...  

Can a 350lb Medieval Crossbow Penetrate Steel Helmets? (16 / 14ga)
   • Can a 350lb Medieval Crossbow Penetra...  

Is Armor REALLY Impervious to Sword Blows?
   • Is Armor REALLY Impervious to Sword B...  

Why Armor Did Not Make Knights (Fully) Invulnerable...
   • Why Armor Did Not Make Knights (Fully...  


** Sources / Credits **

Kabutowari (helmet splitting) test from 1987
   • Kawabata Terutaka notorious Kabutowar...  

Katana vs Steel Samurai Helmet (Kabutowari) Lords of the Blades Ep.1 by ‪@AdamCeladin‬
   • Katana vs Steel Samurai Helmet (Kabut...  

Highly detailed depiction of knights fighting, 1370-1380
https://manuscriptminiatures.com/4365...
Chris Caple, The Yarm Helmet (2020)
https://durham-repository.worktribe.c...
https://manuscriptminiatures.com
https://wiktenauer.com/
Corinthian bronze helmet
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Knightly nasal helmet, 13th century
https://www.greatestcollectibles.com/...
Bascinet, ca 1400
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Armet, ca 1440
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Visored sallet, 1475
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Fancy visored design from 1535
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Burgonet, 17th century
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Montefortino bronze helmet with obvious battle damage
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryE...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Corroded iron nasal helmet
https://tinyurl.com/2j8v7sr2
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Intro music:
"Wandering Merchant" by Tausdei
https://opengameart.org/content/wande...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)

Outro music:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission


** Time Stamps **

00:00 - 00:28 The armor slicing trope
00:28 - 01:44 Medieval paintings and weird stuff
01:44 - 03:24 A highly detailed, realistic image of fighting knights
03:24 - 04:24 Available evidence: original armor
04:24 - 04:54 Real battle damage on surviving helmets
04:54 - 06:10 Variety of helmets in history & their thicknesses
06:10 - 08:07 Practical testing / how hard did they hit in battle?
08:07 - 08:33 Limiting factor: The sword
08:33 - 09:40 WHERE you hit matters!
09:40 - 10:38 Kabutowari (cutting a Japanese helmet with a katana)
10:38 Conclusion


** Support the Channel **

Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
  / skallagrim  
   / @skallagrim  

Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:

Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
https://www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259

Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
http://www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799

Want to treat your face fluff? I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
https://beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHW...

Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - https://www.amazon.com/shop/skallagri...
Canada - https://amzn.to/2HeOCMA


** Second Channel / other Social Media **

   / @skallhalla  
  / _skallagrim_  
  / skallagrimyt  
  / skallagrim_yt  

#skallagrim #medieval #history #armor #knight #helmet #sword