My general feeling is that although the testing wasn't really very scientific, it does give us some general idea of the effect of weapons on armour. Our intent this particular day was actually sword testing. We began with relatively light, easily cut targets and progressed to harder targets and eventually to whacking maille and plate armour. Some of the swords were destroyed, some sustained minor damage and some were completely unharmed. As far as the damage to someone wearing the armour, I think it would have been substantial. A man wearing that helm, for instance, would certainly have been injured, perhaps knocked unconcious, maybe even killed. It would certainly have been a "bell ringer". Of course, without a helmet, one would have zero chance of surviving a direct sword blow to the head. The helmet didn't have a liner, it was just stuck on top of a folded up towel on top of the wooden stand.
I sympathize him. 
