The Armour Archive

I know, I know...But what I want to know is how well would a polyethylene shield hold up to rattan combat? I'm thinking about making an aspis/hoplon out of a 36" snow saucer. Thery're only $25.95 and I thought it cheap enough to try. Any ideas how it will hold up?
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They last forever in foam combat. Know that from the local boffer club. Don't know about their durability in the rattan department, though.

me thinks it would die fast and horrible death unless the plastic they use has been beefed up since i last owned one - that was a damn long time ago tho so YMMV....

You could get a steel snow saucer made by Flexible Flier that is 26" in diameter for about the same price. It is made with appox 16g steel and even has rolled edges.

It will last about 4 hits.
My dad once gave me a Police riot shield, it lasted 4 hits.
So for rattan combat, don't expect much.
Now go find an old steel one or even aluminum, and you'll have a winner.

Sir Thorfinn wrote:It will last about 4 hits.

That reminded me of the Tootsie Roll Pop commercial for some reason. But, I think you are spot on. Very short lifespan vs. rattan.

I tried one of the red metal sled shields- it looks like tinfoil now.
So not the best for rattan.
Sarre

Damn! you guys hit hard.

Halberds wrote:Damn! you guys hit hard.

Says the guy with arms like this.

There used to be a bunch of guys who used those as passive spear shields, before the "must be controlled with the hand" rule came about. They surprisingly stand up really well.

Keegan Ingrassia wrote:

Halberds wrote:Damn! you guys hit hard.

Says the guy with arms like this.

Thats what i get to be hit by in 7 months????

Eh, he's one of the small unmotivated ones.
Spend on your boots, you need good traction to run away.


Sir Thorfinn

William of Stonebridge wrote:You could get a steel snow saucer made by Flexible Flier that is 26" in diameter for about the same price. It is made with appox 16g steel and even has rolled edges.

Someone in my shire tried something like that quite some years ago. Looks like a nice round shield. It ended up wrapped around his arm. Well, almost. It dented with every hit. Not just alittle, but alot.

The quality has gone down over the years I rember them being at least 18 guage back in my youth.
I think the older versions that just straped to the forarm twisted and turned a bit more to disapate the force.

Sir Thorfinn wrote:My dad once gave me a Police riot shield, it lasted 4 hits.

Now THAT is terribly disheartening....

For some reason, Calontir has banned he use of plastic for shields, however I wonder if they might make an exception for a 36"-40" convex round (apsis) if certain weight requirements were met. something like the round that Gloukos made from a big sandy lid.

Then cutting the bottom of the car wash barrel for a shield is verboten?

What if... it was covered with cow hide or canvas?
And had a 14ga. metal Mad Matt shield boss?

What then?

Hal