The Armour Archive

I am selling the shield I made when I first started SCA combat a few years ago. As it turns out, I quickly decided that I wanted to be a combat archer so the shield did not get used past my qualification with "sword & board." Hence it is "new" and unblemished, save for some paint flaking on the leather edging.

As with all my SCA equipment, I took great pains make this shield look as period as possible, whilst meeting the requirements of SCA combat & safety. The core is the typical 24" x 36" aircraft aluminum blank sold by folks like Mandrake, which I skinned front and back with a layer of canvas soaked in white glue. The edge of the aluminum blank was covered with automotive door trim, then wrapped with belly leather.

I then gessoed the entire thing, then spray-painted the back a neutral tan and the front and sides a gloss green. Last, a plate shield basket was mounted, along with leather armstrap and a quilted canvas pad. I took pains to either subdue or disguise the modern mounting hardware.

This is a stout shield and not for bandy-armed boys. It weighs in around 12-13 pounds. It's ready for you to paint with your own heraldic imagery!

I am selling it for $90.00, which includes shipping within the Cont. U.S.
If you are interested, please e-mail me.

Cheers,
Tim


[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/finkas/Shield1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/finkas/Shield2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/finkas/Shield3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/finkas/Shield4.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/finkas/Shield5.jpg[/img]

Correct me if I am wrong but the entire point of having aluminum shields is to lighten the weight of the shield compared to say, 5ply plywood, isnt it??? (and they are indestructable).

OswynHaddock wrote:Correct me if I am wrong but the entire point of having aluminum shields is to lighten the weight of the shield compared to say, 5ply plywood, isnt it??? (and they are indestructable).

It makes sense, what you are saying. However, this being my first and only shield, I have nothing to use for comparison. What would a plywood shield weigh, with the same furniture and treatment as this one?

Cheers,
Tim

I think the argument on aluminum shields was that it was the same weight, just thinner and it had a longer lifespan.

a 24x36 blank made of 1/2" plywood would weigh almost nine pounds before you cut the blank to shape. This is before the guard, handle, edging, paint, etc.

I have found that my aluminum shield weighs more then my previous wood shields. But then we were also using ash or birch for our shields (light and very strong.

We also use the aluminum U-channel on the edges, and then a roll of strapping tape to cover the U-channel on the wooden shields. Now we use the aluminum shields, with some sort of car-door edging, and they are still heavier then the wood.

Timothy_D_Finkas wrote:I am selling the shield I made when I first started SCA combat a few years ago. As it turns out, I quickly decided that I wanted to be a combat archer so the shield did not get used past my qualification with "sword & board." Hence it is "new" and unblemished, save for some paint flaking on the leather edging.

I am interested in this, if it is still available.

Response sent by Private Message. Corky, please check your AA Inbox.

Looks to be a well made shield to me. I use a T-6 that doesn't have a much weight to it and **sometimes** I feel that a bit more guts to it would help me during melees. Of course, for one-on-one I prefer as light as possible. But that's just me...

Jonah