The Armour Archive

OK so I got a 1/2" piece of pine plywood, cut a 16.5" center grip buckler blank out of it, edged it in 1/2" hemp rope, and have faced it in canvass glued down with wood glue.

The handle was cut out of the remainder wood, has been coated in linseed oil & I will be building up a better grip on it.

I will be dishing out the boss tomorrow or this weekend.

I will put down some watered down wood glue as psuedo-gesso and then painting it.

I will be edging it in light leather or rawhide.

-Ivan

This is where I am now having applied watered down wood glue as a gesso to fill up the porous structure of the canvas, strengthen it, and give me a surface i can paint on after sanding.

I will let it dry overnight and sand & paint tomorrow, as well as making the edging & center boss if I can.

-Ivan

sweet! can't wait to see the finished product.

Todays pics.

just curious about the fork....you paint it with that?

I'd suggest cutting the canvas on the bias next time so that it will lay better on the rope edge.

Fork painting gives a good texture. besides when your opponent is confronted by the fork in the shield, he cannot decide which way to swing!

The texture thing shall (hopefully) be cured by the edging being shrunk on, but I will remember that for next time!

well just be sure not to fork that shield up or you might have to make another one.

Today's update.....

.... I HATE ANNEALING WITH A PROPANE PENCIL TORCH!!!!

I WANT A JOB SO I CAN GET A BETTER ONE!!!

I HATE DISHING WITH A MESSED UP FOREARM!!!

There.. I feel better!

-Ivan

BTW the boss is 16 ga mild steel.

This was taken just now after I put it in the oven at 550'F for a while. Took it out, and sprayed some gun oil on it.

You may not be able to see from the pic but the blued color is absolutely gorgeous!

-Ivan

very nice

Need to do some touch up work but the painting is 95% done.

Baron Alcyoneus wrote:I'd suggest cutting the canvas on the bias next time so that it will lay better on the rope edge.

A little off topic, but here's something for Baron Alcyoneus to try... cut two circles of woven fabric, one on the bias and one not on the bias. Lay them beside each other, then rotate one of the circles 45 degrees and compare to the other one. An amazing tranformation will occur as the orientation of the bias in both circles becomes identical Great advise though for non round shields

Nice in progress photos Ivan, I like seeing different ways people make stuff. The rope edging is a neat idea.

Just edging & handle attachment to go.

Rawhide edge is clamped on and shrinking down as I type. In just 2 days it should be ready for final securing and handle attachment!

Looking good Ivan, keep up the good work.


TY

PB

Today's Progress.

So now except for the rawhide patch I just put on the leading edge the shield is done!

-Ivan

Man that is an awesome buckler/targe. Very inspiring.