360 
early form they were serviceable heavy 
axes with a hook-shaped end and a stout 
prong at the side. From this form were 
developed shapes which were very long 
and very narrow —the cutting blade 
suggesting a surgical knife and the prong 
at the side becoming a huge needle 
twenty inches in length. Now it is 
remarkable that this highly specialized 
type was used only toward the close of 
the Wars of the Roses when knights were 
SPIDER 
HELMET 
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
armed “to the proof” with the most 
complete and efficient armor which the 
world has seen. Its plates could no 
longer be crushed, hence the heavy ax- 
head of our earlier pole-arm gave place 
to the long-bladed incurved knife which 
might be slipped neatly between the 
plates, say of shoulder, knee or elbow, 
and inflict a dangerous wound. So too 
this specialized billhook lost its stout 
beak or pick, for this could no longer be 
eis. IRON HAT-LINING 
PIKE MANS 
POT 
CREST —__ 
BOWL 
(TIMBRE) 
(BEVOR) 
CHIN GUARD 
THE PARTS OF A HELMET 
HELMETS 
THEIR KINDS AND DEVELOPMENT DURING 
THE CENTURIES 
600 AD. 
--~ MORION: 
CABASSET 
ae CONICAL. OR NORMAN CASOUB 
Zz 1000 
a 
Ss. 
“aA SPANGENHELM 
A.D. 600 
