Why do British Ceremonial Helmet "Chinstraps" fasten on the LIP?

It looks ridiculously stupid. Is there a reason for this?

Apparently it's not just British either.. Royal Thai Guard.

It keeps the hats on their faces. Obviously.

It keeps the hats on their faces. Obviously.

MissLibrarian

Basically yes!,It's also tradition and for decoration and indicates rank.

Their chins are in a different place then the rest of humanitys.

It looks ridiculously stupid. Is there a reason for this?

Apparently it's not just British either.. Royal Thai Guard.

th3warr1or

[QUOTE="th3warr1or"]

It looks ridiculously stupid. Is there a reason for this?

Apparently it's not just British either.. Royal Thai Guard.

Theokhoth

to prove how tough they are that they can still kick your --- even looking like a goofball. just like these guys...

to prove how tough they are that they can still kick your --- even looking like a goofball. just like these guys...

comp_atkins

All they can do is kick...they have no arms.

[QUOTE="comp_atkins"]

to prove how tough they are that they can still kick your --- even looking like a goofball. just like these guys...

Kcube

All they can do is kick...they have no arms.

No answers yet... Damn. I've wondered about this before. I've seen that with state troopers (cops) who wear the drill sergeant-sty|e hats: The damn chinstrap is over their mouth. What the hell is with that?!

No answers yet... Damn. I've wondered about this before. I've seen that with state troopers (cops) who wear the drill sergeant-sty|e hats: The damn chinstrap is over their mouth. What the hell is with that?!

Palantas

It's a physics thing. If the helmet is particularly heavy (I know a bearskin weighs about 2lb, I expect that pointy hairy metal one weighs about the same) and - more importantly - top-heavy, then having the anchoring strap under the chin won't work. If the hat tipped back for any reason it'd choke the wearer. Securing the strap round the jaw-bone like that gives significantly more stability.

Under-the-chin straps will only really work if you've a more lightweight helmet you want to keep flush with the skull - a WWII American tin helmet or a cycle helmet, for example.

I dunno why US state troopers do it though. Stupidity or hero worship maybe?

good question. i imagine if they had to do some fighting it would be uncomfortable and hard to fight like that.

good question. i imagine if they had to do some fighting it would be uncomfortable and hard to fight like that.

needled24-7

[QUOTE="needled24-7"]

good question. i imagine if they had to do some fighting it would be uncomfortable and hard to fight like that.

atony12

[QUOTE="atony12"][QUOTE="needled24-7"]

good question. i imagine if they had to do some fighting it would be uncomfortable and hard to fight like that.

Theokhoth

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"][QUOTE="atony12"] that's why its a ceremonial helmet not a combat helmetneedled24-7

But what if they need to do combat during a ceremony? :?Theokhoth

[QUOTE="Palantas"]

No answers yet... Damn. I've wondered about this before. I've seen that with state troopers (cops) who wear the drill sergeant-sty|e hats: The damn chinstrap is over their mouth. What the hell is with that?!

MissLibrarian

It's a physics thing. If the helmet is particularly heavy (I know a bearskin weighs about 2lb, I expect that pointy hairy metal one weighs about the same) and - more importantly - top-heavy, then having the anchoring strap under the chin won't work. If the hat tipped back for any reason it'd choke the wearer. Securing the strap round the jaw-bone like that gives significantly more stability.

Under-the-chin straps will only really work if you've a more lightweight helmet you want to keep flush with the skull - a WWII American tin helmet or a cycle helmet, for example.

I dunno why US state troopers do it though. Stupidity or hero worship maybe?

It's a physics thing. If the helmet is particularly heavy (I know a bearskin weighs about 2lb, I expect that pointy hairy metal one weighs about the same) and - more importantly - top-heavy, then having the anchoring strap under the chin won't work. If the hat tipped back for any reason it'd choke the wearer. Securing the strap round the jaw-bone like that gives significantly more stability.

MissLibrarian

I dunno about that. US military PASGT helmets weight over four pounds with night optics, and they have a chin strap.

In this sty|e: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_soldiers_wearing_the_PASGT_helmet,_Hawaii.jpg

That's not exactly under the chin, but it sure as hell isn't that over-the-mouth thing.

On the inside of those straps, soldiers like to store small amounts of jam, chocolate, peanut butter, or whatever else they fancy. Obviously, the strap needs to stay within tongue's reach.

I dunno about that. US military PASGT helmets weight over four pounds with night optics, and they have a chin strap.

In this sty|e: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_soldiers_wearing_the_PASGT_helmet,_Hawaii.jpg

That's not exactly under the chin, but it sure as hell isn't that over-the-mouth thing.Palantas

As Comp said referencing the same picture above, it still has the almost-lip component, the hat needs to be 'balanced' using the line of the jaw like that. And that British ceremonial hat would be more unstable than the PASGT helmet since it is significantly taller. Top-heavy, like I said.