Rattan helmet, maybe Vietnamese

Chris Evans · 1st February 2008, 06:53 AM

Nick,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Wardigo

Chris:
Please thank your secretary for me. Would you mind asking her to be a little more specific? I'd like to know what characteristics about it make it look Vietnamese to her.

She said looks! Couldn't be more specific, save than to say that hast like that are not worn in her country.

Cheers
Chris

Philip · 4th February 2008, 06:40 AM

Interesting to note that this helmet, like the Vietnamese and Chinese rattan bucklers, has an essentially spiral structure, the cane being of round cross-section and bound with thin, narrow strips of split rattan. The rattan headgear worn by the Vietnamese units serving in the French colonial forces (the Linh Tap) are constructed quite differently. Though they vary in size and degree of conality, they are made of thick rattan split into flat laths, assembled radially around a central peak and reinforced with other rattan strips at the rim.

Either type of helmet or hat will provide considerable protection against cuts to the head. Even a direct hit with a blade is not likely to penetrate the weave. The British learned from their experiences in Asia that they could not cut through a rattan shield with their naval cutlasses, which are quite stout, heavy-bladed weapons. The extensive use of cane for shields in areas as diverse as Tibet, Turkey, and parts of equatorial Africa attest to the virtues of this material in the construction of effective, lightweight, and inexpensive body protection.

Nick Wardigo · 6th February 2008, 05:21 AM

Thanks for chiming in, Phil. Here's a thought...I wonder if the flat-lath construction you describe (and which I believe is depicted in the postcard) is more typical of Tonkin (North Vietnam) and the spiral construction is more typical of Cochinchina (South Vietnam). We already know that there were differences in their swords: southern Vietnam more closely resembling dha; northern Vietnam more influenced by Chinese jian and dao. It's no great stretch to imagine there might be variations in their armor.

4th February 2008, 06:40 AM	#2
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	helmet construction Interesting to note that this helmet, like the Vietnamese and Chinese rattan bucklers, has an essentially spiral structure, the cane being of round cross-section and bound with thin, narrow strips of split rattan. The rattan headgear worn by the Vietnamese units serving in the French colonial forces (the Linh Tap) are constructed quite differently. Though they vary in size and degree of conality, they are made of thick rattan split into flat laths, assembled radially around a central peak and reinforced with other rattan strips at the rim. Either type of helmet or hat will provide considerable protection against cuts to the head. Even a direct hit with a blade is not likely to penetrate the weave. The British learned from their experiences in Asia that they could not cut through a rattan shield with their naval cutlasses, which are quite stout, heavy-bladed weapons. The extensive use of cane for shields in areas as diverse as Tibet, Turkey, and parts of equatorial Africa attest to the virtues of this material in the construction of effective, lightweight, and inexpensive body protection.

6th February 2008, 05:21 AM	#3
Nick Wardigo Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 54	Thanks for chiming in, Phil. Here's a thought...I wonder if the flat-lath construction you describe (and which I believe is depicted in the postcard) is more typical of Tonkin (North Vietnam) and the spiral construction is more typical of Cochinchina (South Vietnam). We already know that there were differences in their swords: southern Vietnam more closely resembling dha; northern Vietnam more influenced by Chinese jian and dao. It's no great stretch to imagine there might be variations in their armor.