Roman Scutum Shields

[mrmovieprop]

Many of the cheaper ones are metal instead of made from wood with metal reinforcement at edge. Is there any advantage of disadvantage of metal versus wood for this style shield? The weight seems comparable too.

[Robert Vermaat]

A wooden edge? Are you sure you don't mean rawhide?

Cost would be the first thing that comes to mind.

[Nathan Ross]

Many of the cheaper ones are metal instead of made from wood

All Roman shields were made of wood, usually with metal or rawhide edging.

I've never heard of a Roman shield made of metal, if that's what you mean, although such things do appear in fantasy art and some bad modern reproductions.

[mrmovieprop]

Nathan I mean the replicas available for sale some are of all metal not metal and wood.

[Robert Vermaat]

Not one that I've ever seen. Maybe toys?

[Nathan Ross]

Maybe toys?

I've noticed that 'English Heritage' sells fake metal (actually plastic) 'Roman' shields.

Most are probably based on props from 60s Roman movies. Here's one that's apparently from the 1963 'Cleopatra':

[Flavivs Aetivs]

Deepeeka and some costume stores sell cheap sheet aluminum Roman shields.