The Armour Archive

Greetings, amigos!

With the permission of Master Geoffrey, I’d like to announce that he will now be carrying high quality wooden shield blanks at GAA Armouries! These shields are built by my father-in-law, Royce Kessler, a woodworker and boat builder with over 30 years experience. His knowledge of woodcraft and dedication to quality has won him several awards in the field of woodworking, and his work is on display in several art galleries across the country.

I am proud to say that I am the first to have had a chance to fight with his shields, and my experience with it has been fantastic. I’ve been fighting for over a year and a half with my shield (through events and weekly fighter practices), with only minimal wear on the face and very minor damage with no structural failure on the leading edge. Despite it’s toughness and construction material, my shield is incredibly light weight, about equal to the aluminum shields that are being used by other fighters in my Shire.

These shields are now being offered exclusively through GAA Armouries:
http://www.hammeredsteel.com/gaa/armour/gaa/default.htm

Information will be available at the GAA Armouries page within the next couple of days.

Details on the shields are as follows:

Shields are constructed of 100% void-free laminated birch.
Lamination is 12 ply per ½â€

A direct link to the shields, with pictures:

http://www.hammeredsteel.com/gaa/armour/gaa/SH-002.htm

ooo... i might just look into that in the near future.

Sweet!! And are these really going to be available as custom pieces?

Yep, available as custom pieces (within reason I'm sure.) From what he told me, he can do any of the standard shapes within a 30" x 30" size (round, heater, coffin, teardrop, etc), and with a basic curve to any of those shapes. Other customization will have to be negotiated.

I'm not much of a woodworker myself, but I can say that my father-in-law does some amazing things in wood. He builds canoes that are gorgeous...lapstrake construction, 9ft long, but still light enough that my wife can pick it up with one hand, using the other just to balance it:

http://www.spearfishcreek.com/pics/raina2.jpg

Pictures of his woodcrafting abilities can be seen at:

http://www.spearfishcreek.com/

Keep in mind, though, that his shields are available only through GAA Armouries.


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Bastiano Francisco de Valencia
Squire to Sir Richard of RaeFen
Shire of Tir Briste, Kingdom of Meridies

AKA
WOEG - the Worshipper Of Espresso Gods

MKA
Mark Baron

I have to tell you, I've crossed swords with my silly spanish friend Bastianno many times and I get to see quite a bit of that wooden heater that he uses. Let me tell you, it's a hell of a shield. Tough as metal and much lighter than steel or aluminum shields. I'm actually considering buying one myself since my metal shield is getting a bit old and beat up.
As an honest SCA fighter with a healthy appreciation for protecting myself from getting hit...I have to say it's a good buy!

Wulfram

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"Remember....Pillage first, then burn!"

YES, I AM A SILLY SPANIARD!

(sorry all, but I made a vow after losing a tournament to El Lobo here that every time he insults me or Spain I would repeat it loudly, and I take my vows seriously.)

Can he dish a round shield so that it looks like a gigantic salad bowl? Let me explain this another way. I want a 30" round shield that curves upward at the edges, but lies relatively flat at the center. Can your father do that?

I will also email this to the people at GAA.

Thanks.

MJB

MJB,

I had asked him about just such a shield before he decided to produce them, and he said he would not be able to make one at the standard price in that fashion. I am not sure what he would charge to do one in that style, but I am sure Master Geoffrey will get that information to you.

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Bastiano Francisco de Valencia
Squire to Sir Richard of RaeFen
Shire of Tir Briste, Kingdom of Meridies

AKA
WOEG - the Worshipper Of Espresso Gods

MKA
Mark Baron

shameless bump for a good friend.

shameless bump for a good friend.

I still want one. Badly.

I also, but can't purchase until my house no longer leaks... I keep staring at them longingly... very, very cool.

Email sent, thank you.

I have one - heater, 24"x 30". I HIGHLY recommend getting at least one.
When it arrived at my house, I sat and stared at it for some time. Nicely done,
and beautiful as is. I didn't want to cover it at first.

After one friend of mine saw it, and handled it, he quickly placed his order.
We are both VERY pleased with these shields. Thanks GAA!

* If you do buy one, try not to gunk it up with heater hose, if possible.
Trim it with some leather, and cover it with canvas. Simply beautiful.

I must agree with all who have owned or seen one. They are truely beautiful and functional. It is actually lighter than my aluminum shield and is very very durable. I punch block a lot and my aluminum tends to bend at the corner this is a problem the birch will not have. I have thrown some really hard blows into WEOGs shield and it has held up without failure.
Once my finances are in order I will order mine and put the aluminum aside. Plus I love the sound of the wood being hit!!!

With regard to my wonderful friend Bastianno (woeg) I would like to offer a bit of advice to anyone thinking of buying one of these beautiful shields...If you plan on buying one the size of a door for war fighting, an you expect to be on a shield wall, make sure you can carry it!!

These shields are wonderfuly weighted and balanced, but they are rather heavy at larger sizes.

Take care.

WOEG, is your father in law the same gentleman who makes shields for Massa G and lives in Colorado Springs? If so, I must say that after having met him;while pickinng up one of his wonderful pieces. I can not recomend him highly enough, aside from being a great guy; his quality and workmanship are second to none. I got a center grip teardrop from him, and I love it.