How to Test A Scutum

[Hibernicus]

I know the durability of luan scutums. Used them for years in the SCA

Some scutums we were using until recently had been retired SCA shields and are now back in SCA circulation. Tough.

I do not believe that a 3 ply replica is as durable as luan. The replica is more resistant to penetration by pilum. I've stabbed right through a luan scutum with a gladius. It barely nicks the replica. An edge cut does not go as deep on a replica but based on observations will cause a replica to fail and probably sooner than a luan scutum.

I also think that as tough as the replicas are that crushing blows will weaken them too... accumulative blows from repeated shield charges, being crushed under a pile of bodies and gear, being fallen on..

It is my suspicion that the repicas will weaken and completely fail sooner than luan. While a pilum might penetrate a luan scutum to the wood haft leaving a small square hole, I suspect that repeated blows by pilum will eventually weaken the structure of the scutum because in our tests the inner lath layer starts to crack and split.

This part of my motivation to test replicas and see them torn apart. Each replica costs $250- $275 in materials and takes 40-50 hours to make. Having someone pay for it is even better! Putting 2-3 replicas through the paces is expensive! Compared to labor the materials are cheap!!

But this is something we were committed to do before the opportunity to test them by "experts" presented itself.

Maybe we can learn something.