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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2009 1:11:58 GMT
What kind of wood should I use?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2009 16:03:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 5:12:50 GMT
What kind of wood should I use? Pine and poplar are nice. Poplar weights more but lasts longer. Either will weight less and last longer (assuming proper steel rim) then plywood. Oak bands also help shields last longer for not that much extra weight.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 5:39:53 GMT
Wood, Leather, a center-boss and grip and some serious endurance in your shield arm. Center-grip shields are a REAL pain! I actually like center grip shields quite a bit. They give you a great deal of flexibility in use. You just have to use lighter shields then you would with strapped shields...which of course usually means smaller shields...and I´m a big proponent of using small shields hehe .
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 6:46:54 GMT
Anyway, my shield is 7075 T6 Aluminum. Costs more and weighs less (same strength out of thinner metal). THAT's why your shield weighs as much as mine, despite being smaller, tsafa. The metal... Ahh... T6 explains everything. It makes sense now. I actually like center grip shields quite a bit. They give you a great deal of flexibility in use. You just have to use lighter shields then you would with strapped shields...which of course usually means smaller shields...and I´m a big proponent of using small shields hehe . All shields have strength and weaknesses. I prefer the stability of a forearm strapped sheild. I also find it less tiring. One thing I have noticed with center grip shields is that they have more options when coming up against an off-handed fighter (righty vs lefty). They better able to shift he shield over. The advice I heard, and I tell others, is to use whatever shield type most of the people at your practice use. Particularly the more experienced people. The is the shield they will best be able to train you with.
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Post by shadowhowler on Sept 21, 2009 8:15:08 GMT
My own (VERY limited) experiences with shields was with strapped shields... then our very own Tom showed me what he can do with a center grip shield and I became scared. He is VERY aggressive with his shield use... I had not seen that before.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 12:38:37 GMT
My preference is a ~10" 14g buckler. I love how little it gets in the way compared to a big strapped wall. Its small enough to do some grappling with like keylocks and throws but is still effective defense and heavy enough to make a mean striking object.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 16:44:40 GMT
My preference is a ~10" 14g buckler. I love how little it gets in the way compared to a big strapped wall. The problem with bucklers is that don't get in the way of your opponents sword either Yes, I'm being an ass ;D Buckler is very graceful to see in action, but you just have to be very good with it. There is no margin for error. There is no free meal either. While the buckler gets less in the way of your offense... the sword now become a huge part of your defense. You can no longer attack anywhere you want and depend on just your buckler to defend you. You can only attack in such a manor so that you sword closes off your opponents line of attack... or you have to have to first gain control of your opponents blade with your buckler before you attack. Your offense is limited with the buckler too, but for a different reason.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 19:16:50 GMT
So true. It also doesn't have, in it self, enough mass to directly oppose a hard shot. Lots of limitations, but then everything is a trade off. Bucklers are just more fun. The problem with bucklers is that don't get in the way of your opponents sword either
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 19:23:37 GMT
tsafa: find that when you brace a center grip against your forearm it has almost as much stability as a forearm strapped shield. Since you can switch grips with so little loss, I really do find center grip shields quite nice. That being said, I don´t use a center grip shield normally as they cost more to make...and more labor. I like my lazy and cheap SCA shield that consists of a 2x2 x1/4 inch plywood edged in 1 roll of duct tape with leather(nylon if short on money) straps. The whole thing weights abut 5 lbs and last about 1 year with 1-2 fighter practice a week. jimc: Buckler can be a fine shield in a lot of situations...but what I find is that in most times when you are allowed to grapple or lock somebody because of the small size of the buckler, one could modify and just shield bash if one had a larger shield instead. Locking an elbow is fine...shattering an elbow with the steel rim of a 10 lb shield is also quite effective(one of the main reasons why we can´t shield bash in the SCA...there is no safe way to actually do this at full speed and full follow through). Shadowhowlwer: You can be very aggressive with any shield. I have seen heater shield users who are more aggressive with their shield then Tom. But center grip certainly does facilitate an aggressive fighting style .
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2009 22:17:52 GMT
So true. It also doesn't have, in it self, enough mass to directly oppose a hard shot. Lots of limitations, but then everything is a trade off. Bucklers are just more fun. The problem with bucklers is that don't get in the way of your opponents sword either A 4 to 5 lb buckler can stop sword blows. The arm absorbs some of the impact as it gives. Stopping polearms with a buckler can be tough. You many have to depend on bringing the buckler and sword together to lock them together. I have not seen too many such encounters. In the few I have seen, the buckler-man plays keep away and at some point tries to close distance fast. Either way the encounter is usually over very quickly. I suspect that in combat sword and buckler would have been more of a backup weapon to an archer or the like. Cold Napalm- I have seen guys brace center-grip shields with their shoulder, sword hilt, and in melee, both. It works and does stabilize the shield but now it opens up holes that were not there before. There is a cost-benefit to all weapons and defenses.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2009 0:18:29 GMT
Yeah I have seen the shoulder and hilt brace...but I have seen that done with forearm strapped shields as well. What I´m talking about is different. But yes there are definitely trade offs...I just like the versatility of center grip shields...although I just got my pine shield and it´s quite fun.
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Post by shadowhowler on Sept 22, 2009 3:56:41 GMT
Shadowhowlwer: You can be very aggressive with any shield. I have seen heater shield users who are more aggressive with their shield then Tom. But center grip certainly does facilitate an aggressive fighting style . I would not, repeat, NOT, want to come up against one of these Heater Shield users you are talking about... Tom shoves his shield right in your face... and is the most aggrasive with it I have seen (again, remember, VERY limtied experince... me that is, not Tom.) so I can only guess at what a pain it would be to have an even bigger shield shoved down ones throat. No fun.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2009 20:46:39 GMT
If it weren't for the rules against it in the SCA, you'd see real shield use in the videos Tsafa has posted. The shield was as much a weapon as the sword. If you doubt me, have a friend try a shield bash on you.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2009 4:54:26 GMT
My feeling on aggressive shield use is that is should be used as one possible attack out of a number of options. Its like any other attack combination, if you become dependent on it, your opponent will turn it against you. Most aggressive shield action usually involve moving the shield out of a good defensive position. The most effective shield use I have seen used against me, is with such subtle motions that I did not realize the shield was used to hook or pin unless I was told after. If I don't see it, I can't stop it.
If I wanted to shield bash someone, I would set it up. There is no way I could just shield-bash someone like Taran and him not see it coming a mile away. The first thing I would need to do is to get their shield out of the way so I hit the person rather then their shield. Shields are bigger then blades and need more room to get through. I would probably through a wrap over the head or the back of their leg and see how they block it first. Does he turn his shield back? Does he bring his sword blade over his back? How quick does he recover? How big of an opening does he create when he moves his shield and sword to block. If I were to jab with my shield, my sword has to be on full defense, because as soon as I jab forward, his sword is inbound on my head. I have only tested this out a few times with a buffer shield. There is no doubt, a good shield-bash with the edge is effective, the challenge is in how to get the shield in there without getting hit first.
Having fought Taran, I don't think I could easily shield-bash him without getting gutted like a fish. He specifically looks for an open shield to do a low thrust. I had to counter by closing my shield more then usual. This makes bashing with the edge more difficult for either of us. In that position, shield pins are effective. If you can pin the shield completely flat with your shield-edge, the backside is open to a wrap.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2009 16:22:11 GMT
Well, gutted like a fish, or speared through the eye. Depends on which I think is the easier target. Remember your chin-strap.
However, another option is a linebacker rush. Put your shoulder into your shield and just stutter-step a charge into my shield and throw me off the ground. It works pretty well, especially if I am as immobile as I was at Pennsic.
I really gotta work on my movement. Should have run rings around you, literally.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2009 2:40:37 GMT
You know, shield bashes against shields as big as your guys' shields isn't so much aimed at the person as it is aimed at nullifying that large shield while still providing a good line of cover. That usually means for smaller shield users like me, punch blocking the sword attack and then swinging in to pin your shield. Sounds easy enough...but we all know that ain't true . edit: oh yeah review to my new shield here... /index.cgi?action=display&board=otherweaponreviews&thread=12572&page=1
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2009 21:13:42 GMT
This is my newest addition to my collection of homemade Shields. My Coat of Arms hope to improve in the arts dept. , FUN ;D Yeoldegaffer,Thanks again
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2009 2:36:14 GMT
wiskyjac, that is beautiful!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2009 2:59:35 GMT
Wiskyjac, you should consider selling shields on ebay.
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