The Armour Archive

Greetings,

I'm going to start using a wooden shield for the first time and am not entirely sure about edging. Does anyone have any documentation or tips on edging a wooden shield? Pictures always rock!

Many thanks,
Sigtyr

I've found a great article on making a round center hung. It's pretty dang good. Unfortunately I don't seem to have it on my work computer. I'll post it when I get home. Though, I'm sure someone on here will have answered it for you.

They guy in the article used leather that he had soaked in water and affixed it with what looked to be carpet tacks or hob nails. some folks use rawhide. Or both.

Like I said, I'm sure someone will answer you on this, but I'll post the link anyways when I get home or if my searchfu is dialed in today I'll get it put up today while at work..

best of luck.

heh.. found it. There are links to how he makes blanks as well as how he made his handle(which I don't care for and will go a more accurate on myself).

http://member.melbpc.org.au/~kja/shield.html

I use 3-4 layers of wood glue soaked canvas with a layer of rawhide stitched over that. I get some good life out of a shield.

I'm slightly confused on the stitching part. Are you drilling holes and stitching it around the edge through the holes?

Regards

Exactly. I used artificial sinew. PM me if you want detailed instructions.

Sir Bartholomew Hightower uses a method real similar to what Sir Malcom shows here.
His tutorial (the edging part is down a bit) is here: http://www.hightowercrossbows.com/shieldhowto.htm

I've used this exact same method for years, and it works well. An additional advantage is that the rawhide can be re-used when the shield finally gives up.

Thank you all

Do you HAVE to edge a wooden shield?

Would a 3/4" radius of wood be legal with no other covering? What if it was hardened with epoxy, does that change the answer?

I'm pretty sure al the above is legal, but I'd love to hear if you have a different opinion.

-Halbrust

Halbrust wrote:Do you HAVE to edge a wooden shield?

If you like happy rattan players willing to come out on the field and take you on, install something with a bit of give about your edges. At minimum across the top and the upper halves of the sides. Spares the other chaps' rattan.

Rawhide-over-rope, the rawhide glued and sewn down, is low-profile and lightweight.

If you're going up against sharps, there is less call for a resilient edge, as you'd kinda like to get the other guy's blade to stick in your shield for a moment so you can hack his arm off at the elbow. After that his contribution to the other side's war effort is pretty much limited to making faces at you, and remarks upon your family tree, until he passes out.

Rawhide edging is the way to go -the stuffs nigh invulnerable. I rivited all of my shields so far (almost a dozen), but i believe I will be stitching my next shield.

(^_^)

In any case, good for you for abandoning cHeaters!

The sound of those bare aluminum shields getting hit always reminds me of drunks throwing trash cans at each other in an alley.

By the way, my shield is 7/8th thick, rounded, fiberglassed & covered with canvas. I'm pretty sure it takes less out of a sword than going edge-on into a 1/16th" piece of aluminum covered with car door edging.

I am glad this came up as I will be starting to make my first shield this weekend(funds jpermiting) or the next(payday.. heh). more info the better.....

Who is the cheapest supplier of rawhide?
Thaks

http://www.mcmaster.com/#trim-molding/=b3ht16

Lots of choices and sizes that may work well for you, especially if it's canvassed first.

For those trims, I would suggest putting them on either the bare shield or once it's been canvassed. Then stretch your rawhide over it and you should be good to go.

Marius Brittanicus wrote:Who is the cheapest supplier of rawhide?
Thaks

if you were willing to edge it like this


you could buy the large bag of rolled rawhide chews at sams club for 15 bucks should be more than enough

eidelon wrote:

Marius Brittanicus wrote:Who is the cheapest supplier of rawhide?
Thaks

if you were willing to edge it like this


you could buy the large bag of rolled rawhide chews at sams club for 15 bucks should be more than enough

Well that one is a Single piece all the way around with the tabs added over.

Check out page two in the How To below. I get my raw hide from Tandy. A sheet runs me about $25 and is enough to usually do 3 kite shields.



GreenShield