Hello,

I'm looking to commission a late migration era shield circa 500-650 for training/sparring/historical re-enactment purposes. It need be nothing fancy like the Sutton Hoo mound 1 shield but I need it to be able to stand up to punishment acting like a period shield of it's day would. As of doing it myself I really don't have any experience and the tools to be able to do such a thing.

So I need to ask a few question's:

In difference to period viking shields I've been told based on the fragments of examples from Illerup, they were bigger and the hand grip is part of the center plank, re-enforced with wood and a sheet metal cover. I've also seen examples that the boss's were different then period viking shields.

Would a viking period boss still count as historicaly accurate?

I've also read of off-set central grips on migration shields. Would this be a requirement of a shield in the late migration era or would it not necessarily need to be done (the shield could have the grip central along the central line of the boss ilke a viking shield)?

Maybe someone could show me a specialized custom viking shield maker that could do modifications to make such a shield a late migration one?

If anyone could help me out I'd greatly appreciate it.

Best regards,

Barrett Hiebert

From my limited understanding migration period shields got bigger the later you go.

As well as the boss shape changed.

I've got a replica boss from the about 650c. Its sugar loaf.

Where as i've a friend with a replica shield from 550c and the boss is very different.

I can't find pictures of the 550 one but here is the pictures from the 650one.

https://plus.google.com/photos/103678990181810814871/albums/5694097837329052881?authkey=CKym6t24o_O3IA

the shield from the above grave was linden with a short iron bar grip,

all the best

Bjarki