Gundog48 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 There wasn't a whole lot of blacksmithing involved in this project, but I thought you'd appreciate it nonetheless! A friend of mine was looking for a Viking shield for a theatrical production, it wasn't going to be used, but just had to look the part! We agreed on a scaled down version for practicalities sake. I made it from planks of pine which were glued then braced. I cut the inner hole, sealed, painted then made the centre boss. I've never really done any woodwork before apart from handles nor have I done any sheet metal work, so I was quite happy with the end result. I was tempted to put a leather rim around it to stop it splitting in combat, but it looked nice as it was and wouldn't have been worth the extra time and expense (leather is rather expensive in the UK!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKrzysz Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 It looks good. If you want to put something cheap around the rim, try rawhide. You can get it in the form of dog bones from the petstore. Let it soak in warm water and it will come part and reveal a large steel of rawhide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch4ging Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Looks good, Gundog. What about the ax, did you create that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Looks good, just don't give it a serious testing. I like the rawhide chew bone idea, thanks for the tip Whitehot guy. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gundog48 Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 Thanks for the kind words! The hardest this is going to face is a plastic sword! I really enjoyed this so I think I'll have a go at a properly made full sized one for myself! Good idea with the dog chews, I've heard of it being done before, although I'm not sure my rawhide working skills are good enough to make it look like one solid piece as it would be made up of small chews! Perhaps a wide genuine leather belt or sheet steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camero68 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 So cool, turned out really great. Very lucky friend to have you make him one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Thanks for the kind words! The hardest this is going to face is a plastic sword! I really enjoyed this so I think I'll have a go at a properly made full sized one for myself! Good idea with the dog chews, I've heard of it being done before, although I'm not sure my rawhide working skills are good enough to make it look like one solid piece as it would be made up of small chews! Perhaps a wide genuine leather belt or sheet steel? Don't worry about the rawhide chews looking like one piece. If you can't blend the joins well enough accentuate them, make them a statement of some kind. How about shaping the ends like fists, maybe holding swords and axes painted on the shield? OOH, holding the head of a vanquished and plundered foe, by it's hair of course? Viking shield, never miss a chance to look intimidating and fearsome. Just thinking. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastRonin Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Looks great. Since it was for stage 'use'. Why not use naugahide (sp?). You know, the fake leather they use on cheap furniture. Fake shield, fake leather... makes sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.