A Guide to making a basic shield for beginners.


By Caspian



There are lots of different ways to make shields and many people will tell you different ways to do it. Here’s a good starting point to making your first shield.

You can get the following things from Bunnings:
  • 9mm ply wood Hose for edging around the whole shield. Garden hose is ok, pressure hose is better.
  • PVA glue
  • 6 x 5mm bolts

  • You will also need some calico to cover your shield with and you can paint a design on this. If you’re looking to display your own arms, make sure you’ve spoken to our Herald first.
  • Plus you will require strong leather for strapping your shield.

    Step 1. Cut the ply into a 2 foot diameter circle.
    Step 2. Slit the hose so that you can fit it over the edge of the shield. It has to go completely around the shield.
    Step 3. Using the calico and PVA glue, cover your shield, making sure you wrap the calico over the hose. It help if you slit the calico as you go so that it will fit around the shield. Make sure you’ve got about 10cms spare that you can glue to the back of the shield.
    Step 4. Cut some leather straps. One for your hand to grip and two for the fore-arm.
    Step 5. Strap shield along the diameter by laying your arm along it and drawing an outline in texta of the shape of your arm.
    Step 6. For the straps over the forearm, one should be a few cms in front of the elbow, the other midway up your arm. One strap for the hand grip.
    Step 7. The arm should be placed equi-distant so that there is as much room in front of the fingers as there is behind the elbow.
    Step 8. Use the bolts to bolt the strapping to the shield.

    And now you have a shield!

    If you haven’t made a shield before, it might be a good idea if you get some help for your first one. You should always check the Marshal’s handbook for standards. If you don’t have a copy and you’re intending to fight, get one! You will not be authorised to fight if you haven’t read it and learned and understood it’s contents. Contact the group Marshal or visit the website for the Lochac copy.