Heater Shield Question

[2biggij]

Im currently building a heater shield. On some of the pictures Ive seen of shields people have made, I have seen a set of straps that I dont know what they are for. In addition to the grip straps, the straps you slide your wrist/lower arm through, and the long shoulder strap, I have sometimes seen two thin but long straps that are attached to the shield just above the arm padding. They look like they are used to either tie the shield to something, or tie something to the shield. Any ideas on what they might be?

[Ernst]

Yes. Your suspicion is correct, as they are used to hang the shield for display, or to identify where the knight is staying for the night.

[Otto von Teich]

I've been wondering that myself recently. While the answer makes sense Ernst, why not just use the guige (shoulder strap) to hang it? It seems easier. I think on late period small tournament targets the straps were used to tie it off to the armour as there were no enarmes. And the laces are similar in design, size and placement. But I see these turn up on earlier heaters. While it makes some sense and your probably right, it just seems to fiddley to try to hang the shield with that thin lace. OTOH, if it was used to tie it off to something like a small diameter pole or stake stuck into the ground, it would work well. Like a pavaise? Any other thoughts from anyone?

[losthelm]

It could be a carry strap or an alternative grip.

I think dark moon or calontir use them on larger plywood shields.
Dark moon would do the roman shield wall thing being quite difficult to deal with in bridge or narrow pass scenarios.

[Gerhard von Liebau]

Otto, it made sense last time we brought it up! :p

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=167321&hilit=historic+heater+shield

[Otto von Teich]

LOL Indeed it did! I must be getting senile. I forgot that conversation! Ahh well. Thanks again for turning me on to the link for the book. It was very helpful last month as I finally worked on several shields myself. I guess I should add the befestigungsriemen to a couple of them. Should be an easy add on.

[Ernst]

I've been wondering that myself recently. While the answer makes sense Ernst, why not just use the guige (shoulder strap) to hang it?

That's a method which seems to also be used, especially in the field.
BL Royal 20 D I, fo.11r
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4165/21817/

[2biggij]

Many thanks for the reply. And I had in fact read that post about the historical heater shield, but either my eyes are failing me or my mind is, because I completely missed that sentence about hanging the shield at ones lodgings. Thats why I love this community, you guys all seem to remember everything!