Viking Gjermundbu helmet with aventail

Gjermundbu helmet, Viking spectacle helmet with chainmail aventail, 1.6mm steel

This wearable Viking spectacle helmet, featuring a pointed crown and a short nasal guard, is a reconstruction of a helmet discovered in a burial mound at the Gjermundbu farm in the municipality of Ringerike, Norway. The Viking helmet dates back to the 9th/10th century. Its overall design, specifically the metal bands (or "spangen") and the spectacle-style face guard, reveals a close affinity to the Nordic crested helmets of the Vendel Period, which preceded the Viking Age.

This reproduction is hand-forged from 1.6 mm steel. The rounded helmet bowl, the metal bands (comprising a brow band, a longitudinal crest band, and a transverse band running from ear to ear), and the face guard are all joined together using steel rivets. The blackened interior features an adjustable leather liner, riveted to the bowl, while the chin strap, made from approximately 1.5 mm thick leather, is secured with a brass buckle featuring an antique finish.

To protect the neck, the helmet is equipped with an attached, short chainmail aventail (as the original archaeological find also shows traces of such a feature). The 4-in-1 pattern mail is constructed from 1.2 mm thick, riveted round steel rings (RRR – Round Rings Riveted) with an inner diameter of approximately 8 mm. The aventail is attached directly to the lower edge of the helmet bowl.

An early medieval *Spangenhelm* (banded helmet) that will perfectly complete your transformation into a proud Nordic warrior! Naturally, it also makes an excellent decorative addition to any helmet collector’s personal treasury.

Details:

- Material: 1.6 mm steel; leather inlay and chin strap

- Aventail: Chainmail made of round steel rings with round rivet heads (RRR), inner diameter (ID) 8 mm

- Suitable for a head circumference of up to approx. 63 cm

- Long internal distance (back of head to forehead): approx. 21 cm

- Short internal distance (ear to ear): approx. 19 cm

- Height (excluding aventail): approx. 18 cm (approx. 29 cm including nasal/face guard and apex)

- Length of aventail (fully extended): approx. 13 cm

- Weight (including aventail): approx. 2.85 kg

- Delivery does NOT include a helmet stand

The specifications above may vary slightly from piece to piece.

The steel used here is not rustproof and may show minor signs of corrosion. We recommend regular maintenance of the helmet—for example, by using Ballistol, a versatile oil that is excellent for the care and preservation of steel items.