Does anyone know of a place who could make hide shields for training? It does not need to be fancy. We need it for training purposes.

Kind regards
Manouchehr

By hide shield do you mean consisting of nothing but hide, or do you mean it will have a wicker base or some such?
Oh, but alas I no not anyone who could.
Maybe you and your colleagues should try to make one! It could prove to be informative and fun.
Just a thought.

you mean one made out of raw hide? Native American style? African? Probably would need to get a really thick hide such as buffallo and shrink it... I have seen some that were arround 1/2 inch thick or better. Doesn't need a wicker backing when it is that thick. But as for someone who could get a hide like that... no idea.

Manouchehr,

The curator of the Near Eastern collection has me working on just such a project right now. I have an upcoming appointment to study the related items in the collection to recreate them for display. I will not be at liberty to share anything on the topic until his academic paper is presented in a year or two.

I will definitely make a couple to bang around with for comparison with Western shield technologies. It wouldn't be difficult to increase the batch size when they go into production later this fall. Set aside some time later in October to discuss this.

Cheers!

Sam and Christopher many thanks

Kel many thanks. Actually I have written articles on it in Persian and how they were made. we have historical accounts on them as well. What I am looking for is omeone who could make some asap for our training. Thanks anyway.

Kind regards
Manouchehr

You could also contact Neil Burridge. He made a close reproduction of leather shield from the bronze age as found in Clonbrin, Ireland.

http://www.bronze-age-swords.com/Clonbrin_shield.htm