Custom Leather Fire Helmet Fronts
Traditional leather helmet fronts — laser-cut, laser engraved, and machine-stitched by a working firefighter since 2013.
A fire helmet front — also called a shield, a front-piece, or just a "front" — is the leather nameplate mounted to the front of your fire helmet. It carries your department, your company, and your last name. In FDNY and most East Coast departments, it's almost always called a "front" — never a shield. On the West Coast and in most modern helmet manuals, it's called a shield. Either way, we make them.
Every front we ship is cut from two stacked layers of 9oz vegetable-tanned leather, laser engraved with your lettering, paint-filled by hand, and machine-stitched together on a Cobra Class 3. No printing, no vinyl, no decals. The lettering is engraved into the leather — it will outlast the helmet.
Brian Williams — a 25-year captain at Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department — has been making leather helmet fronts since 2013. Every front that ships out of our shop goes out the door with the same scrutiny Brian applies to his own gear. If it's not good enough for his helmet, it's not shipping to yours.
The front is the one piece of a firefighter's gear that's allowed to carry personality. Your rank. Your company. Your department's style. The shape you grew up with in your firehouse. The shape in the gear-display case of the guy who retired before you showed up. It carries the story of the career.
FDNY & East Coast Styles
Traditional eagle-topped fronts, Kingpin shapes, Legacy Passport, and classic three-rocker layouts. Cut for Cairns N6A Leatherhead, Phenix TL-2, and other traditional leather helmets.
Midwest & West Coast Shields
Solo, Crew, Blackout, and modern clean-line shapes for composite helmets (Bullard UST, MSA Cairns XF1, Morning Pride).
Laser-Engraved Lettering
Every front is laser engraved into the leather and paint-filled by hand with enamel paint. Crisp, precise, and built to last. No vinyl, no print, no decals.
Gold Lettering & Antique Finishes
Gold painted lettering and the aged leather finish of the Antique Shield. Ask before ordering.
Shop Helmet Fronts
Build Your Own in the Shield Builder
Design your own helmet front in the builder — pick the shape, rocker layout, leather color, and lettering. See it before you buy.
Open Shield BuilderHelmet Front FAQ
What's the difference between a fire helmet front and a shield?
+
Nothing — they're the same product with two different names. On the East Coast, especially in FDNY and most traditional departments, it's called a 'front' or 'helmet front.' On the West Coast, the Midwest, and in most modern helmet manuals, it's called a 'shield.' The leather piece mounted to the front of your helmet is the same whether you call it a front, a shield, a front-piece, or a badge.
Do you make true FDNY-style fronts?
+
Yes. Our Kingpin, Classic, and Legacy Passport shapes are true FDNY-style leather fronts — laser-cut, machine-stitched, with traditional rocker layouts and eagle fronts where called for. Brian Williams has been making these for 12+ years and we ship to FDNY members regularly.
Can you do gold lettering or an antique look?
+
Gold lettering, yes, in gold paint. We don't do gold leaf: lettering is laser engraved into the leather and filled with paint. For an old-school look, the Antique Shield has an aged leather finish. Message us before ordering with the look you want.
Will your fronts fit Cairns traditional leatherheads?
+
Yes. Cairns 1010, 1044, N5A and N6A helmets take our 6.25" size, and we cut fronts for other traditional leather fire helmets too. Phenix TL-2 helmets take the 6.75", and Bullard UST helmets take the 6".
How long does a custom front take to make?
+
Standard production is approximately 28 days. Promotion-day rush orders are available with a 5-day guarantee. Bulk department orders are 4-6 weeks.