German Reiter headgear???

[Terry37]

I have some Essex German Reiters with the headgear as shown in George Gush's book  (see attached picture), but am not sure if that is a metal helmet of some kind or a soft cloth/felt hat. Does anyone have any info on it?

 

Thanks, any help is appreciated,

Terry

[von Lucky]

Looks like the headgear of Stratioti.

What's the Essex Miniatures code? I think cloth/felt - as even though he's wearing a breastplate, it looks like a "light" horse troop type.

[Metternich]

It's probably a helmet (it was uncommon, but there was a "hat" helmet that aped a civilian hat) if you look closely, you can see the scale chinstrap.   

[Terry37]

Ah, I had not noticed the chin scales, and yes that certainly seems to indicate a metal helmet! Good catch!!!

I looked through the Essex catalog on line and could not find him, so am not sure if he is still available. I got the figures some years ago. He's a nice figure though so I am surprised if they pulled him from the line.

Thank you gentlemen!

Terry

[von Lucky]

And I learnt something new today (thank you) - that's why I love this place.

[Sparrow]

Hinchcliffe had a Reiter figure in this headgear (holding a pistol close to the body pointing upwards if my memory is working properly....... which it doesn’t much these days!). Perhaps that’s what you have? (I’m assuming you’re talking good old 25mm here? If 15mm it could be a minifig?)

Hope this is of some help/interest......

[Big Martin Back]

Yes, Sparrow, you're right about the Hinchliffe figure. I've got some of them in the loft still.

[sukhe_bator]

There are a few examples of metal hats imitating soft hats and soft hats were often worn with 'secrets', metal skullcaps underneath

[Paul Richardson]

I don't know whether or not the chin straps are conclusive. Certainly in the seventeenth century metal hats were sometimes worn under soft hats. The chin straps could belong to an (otherwise concealed) metal hat.

[whiskey priest]

I'd imagine if it was a steel helmet then it would probably be either painted or covered in fabric to make it look like a normal hat anyway so paint it as a hat and you win both ways.

[Terry37]

More great feedback - thank you all!

No, I game in 15 MM and the figures are Essex. I looked again through their on line listing but could not find him (maybe my old eyes???). He is holding a boar spear, but I plan to convert that to a pistol as true German reiters should be distinguished by having pistols!

I am also a HOTT gamer so my requirement is only for three of these guys, so I can see a mix of painted and maybe one unpainted.

Thanks again,

Terry

[Metternich]

Here's a comparatively well-known example of a 17th century hat helmet :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrete_(helmet)#/media/File:Helmet_in_the_Shape_of_a_Cavalier%27s_Hat_MET_29.158.53_012AA2015.jpg

And if you follow this Pinterest link you'll see a few more:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/460563499362802286/


I've never come across an example of a secrete with chin scales.