The Armour Archive

Looking at putting together my first shield. I love center boss styles. Need advice on a pre-cute pieces.

Armorer?
Ideal Sizes?
Metal Type/Grade?

Suggestions on coverings (hide...etc)

Size really depends on your personal size. Mine is an aluminum (T .06 I believe) coffin style with the length being equal to my chin to crotch and the width (at the wides point) is about two inches wider then my shoulder to shoulder width.

Recommendation so far.
28" 0.100 thick 6061 t6 aluminum
If i can afford don't do a center boss "eight reasons" go ahead and have it made into the shield

Right now i'm on a semi tight budget. Trying to see if i should just make a wood one or go right for aluminum? Under $100 would be nice.

I purchased mine from By My Hand for under $100. I want to say it was around $70.

What kind of fighting?

A 18" buckler from Windrose is a great way to meet people up close and personal like.

archibald wrote:What kind of fighting?

A 18" buckler from Windrose is a great way to meet people up close and personal like.

looking for my first starter shield. Something i can use for one on one primary but also in melee. Right now i'm using an oval wood shield covered in hide and i'm doing great with it for half the time then my arms starting wearing.

Round shield

Eskil,

I made a round out of 3/8" plywood with a center hammered boss, aluminum channel and heater hose edging, covered front and back in duck cloth. It wore my arm out something fierce, because it was only 20" or so in diameter...I had to keep the thing moving constantly. Since you are a beginner like me, I recommend that you go larger, for more coverage, but with size comes weight. So choose your materials wisely. (My .071 titanium sheet I ordered should be arriving any day now )

It is not just the weight of the object, but how it is held that will also add to fatigue. Using a center grip, it has been recommended to me that I hold it close to my body, with my arm bent about 90 degrees. That way you can see over the shield. This is fairly comforable, but puts a lot of strain on the biceps and traps above the shoulder blade when you swivel your lower arm outward to intercept a blow. Bigger shield = less movement.

If your shield is too small, when attempting to block a leg wrap shot, one should also position the blade of the sword to block a potential fake to the leg that is really going to your head.

I am not making any sense am I?

Sources suggest that some rounds were up to a meter in diameter! You can even strap it instead of using a center grip, both ways were used in period. Search for Duke Paul Bellatrix and check out the style of shield his Grace uses.

Oddvarr

Oddvarr wrote:Eskil,

I made a round out of 3/8" plywood with a center hammered boss, aluminum channel and heater hose edging, covered front and back in duck cloth. It wore my arm out something fierce, because it was only 20" or so in diameter...I had to keep the thing moving constantly. Since you are a beginner like me, I recommend that you go larger, for more coverage, but with size comes weight. So choose your materials wisely. (My .071 titanium sheet I ordered should be arriving any day now )

It is not just the weight of the object, but how it is held that will also add to fatigue. Using a center grip, it has been recommended to me that I hold it close to my body, with my arm bent about 90 degrees. That way you can see over the shield. This is fairly comforable, but puts a lot of strain on the biceps and traps above the shoulder blade when you swivel your lower arm outward to intercept a blow. Bigger shield = less movement.

If your shield is too small, when attempting to block a leg wrap shot, one should also position the blade of the sword to block a potential fake to the leg that is really going to your head.

I am not making any sense am I?

Sources suggest that some rounds were up to a meter in diameter! You can even strap it instead of using a center grip, both ways were used in period. Search for Duke Paul Bellatrix and check out the style of shield his Grace uses.

Oddvarr

apprecaite the info. Where did you order your shield and boss from?

Jamie Blackrose in Indy can probably set you up with an aluminum shield. For a cheap center boss, check out Kult of Athena. Cover it with linen and edge it with either car door trim, leather or rawhide.

Oh, and I can probably hook you up with rawhide.

David de Clermont wrote:Jamie Blackrose in Indy can probably set you up with an aluminum shield. For a cheap center boss, check out Kult of Athena. Cover it with linen and edge it with either car door trim, leather or rawhide.

+1 i have two shields from jamie, both under 100.

David de Clermont wrote:Jamie Blackrose in Indy can probably set you up with an aluminum shield. For a cheap center boss, check out Kult of Athena. Cover it with linen and edge it with either car door trim, leather or rawhide.

what size you think?? large or medium?? for the center boss and is that strong enough you think?

David de Clermont wrote:Jamie Blackrose in Indy can probably set you up with an aluminum shield. For a cheap center boss, check out Kult of Athena. Cover it with linen and edge it with either car door trim, leather or rawhide.

Jamie is out of stock until March of 2012 any other ideas?

I'll try and be at practice tomorrow, we can talk then.

Looks like you have plenty of help local to you...that is great!

I ordered a hammered boss from Otto here on the archive. He had one in stock IIRC, and I got it the same week I ordered it. I really like the hammered look.

I made my the shield myself, took me an afternoon of work.

~O

3/8" Euro Birch; 33" with a center boss from Hjalmr, edged with leather. Constructed myself with a drill and a jigsaw. Might consider going as small as 28", depending on your size.

IF your going with aluminum find a local tig welder and get 1/2 round stock welded on the edges. makes the leather/rawhide edge last forever and kills the vibration shakes, it does make it loud without edging:D here in the outlands the thickend edge counts the same as a regular alum shield with hose on it. ( actually damages weapons less than the normal edge)

Eirik wrote:


3/8" Euro Birch; 33" with a center boss from Hjalmr, edged with leather. Constructed myself with a drill and a jigsaw. Might consider going as small as 28", depending on your size.

Does Hjalmr have a website???

Samuel wrote:IF your going with aluminum find a local tig welder and get 1/2 round stock welded on the edges. makes the leather/rawhide edge last forever and kills the vibration shakes, it does make it loud without edging:D here in the outlands the thickend edge counts the same as a regular alum shield with hose on it. ( actually damages weapons less than the normal edge)

any idea what he might charge me?

what you guys recommend on size of a center boss??

depending on what type of weld machine hes got and how fast it goes. you may be seeing as cheap at 40 bucks. as pricey as a hundred.

Ive tig welded complete edges on the outside edge in about three hours. thats with my typical " ohh cool part of the movie I got playing in the shop!!" distractions as well as doing about 6 beads 3 inches long spaced around the inside just for added beef.


most hobby welders will do a project like this if you buy the rod and donate to the gas. ( 1lb pack of alum is 20 bucks. in my shop that goes a long way to getting stuff welded:D