wicker training shields

[John Conyard]

I always envisage them a little like my coracle (skin boat). A frame of willow and hazel, with a rawhide edging which could be moulded to provide an umbo. It sounds simple enough, but I would not want to have to try making one!

[Tib. Gabinius]

This one http://www.weiden-korb.de/ made already some for another group.
My request ended in a sending of pictures of the dimensions i wanted mine and his answer, that he wasn't able to understand what i ment.
Perhaps someone else has more luck with him, if yes, i would like to get also one

Price was 90 Euro, today perhaps a bit more.

They look like this:
http://erste-legion.de/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1632#1632

(i hope it's allowed to post this way, cause i've no idea how to load up here.
If not, mods, please edit it

[Marcus Mummius]

http://erste-legion.de/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1632#1632

This link doesn't work... :wink:

[Tib. Gabinius]

Right now our forum is down. I don't know why and hope that the server is tomorrow fixed...
otherwise i will try to figure another way out to show.

[Tib. Gabinius]

It's back online now.

[Salvianus]

In the previous thread I noted a request for the words used by Vegetius.

Book I, XI.
Antiqui, sicut inuenitur in libris, hoc genere exercuere tirones. Scuta de
uimine in modum cratium conrotundata texebant, ita ut duplum pondus cratis
haberet, quam scutum publicum habere consueuit. Idemque clauas ligneas dupli
aeque ponderis pro gladiis tironibus dabant. Eoque modo non tantum mane sed
etiam post meridiem exercebantur ad palos.


Clarke's old translation:
We are informed by the writings of the ancients that, among their other exercises, they had that of the post. They gave their recruits round bucklers woven with willows, twice as heavy as those used on real service, and wooden swords double the weight of the common ones. They exercised them with these at the post both morning and afternoon.

I'd be very interested in a more up to date translation of the key phrase there, but the obvious point is that they are not depicted sparring, but practise against a post which doesn't hit back. The willow/wicker shields are to practise the thrust without opening themselves up.

[Marcus Mummius]

Looks very nice, thanks! I know nothing from this kind of work. So I don't know if this is expensive or not. Is it difficult to do or does it just take very long?

Does anyone know how the shield Tobias posted on his forum could be constructed?

Might be something good to do while not busy at an event.

Vale,

[Tib. Gabinius]

He took 80-90 Euro last year, this year he will take more i guess.
I talked to another "Weidenflechter" and he told me, that it will take time to water the wood and bring the bow into them, and then took again a bit of time to make the shield itself, he would take 150 Euro.

Another girl i knew took 100 for a really bad one.

So i guess, it's not very cheap and it would be affordable to learn to do itself.