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Uwe Zankl




Location: Bavaria, Germany
Joined: 28 Dec 2010

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Wed 29 Dec, 2010 7:08 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Nils Anderssen wrote:
Hi,

You can find detailed pictures of the shield/buckler displayed at the Museum of Cultural History in oslo here:

http://www.vikverir.no/ressurser.html (in the medieval part of the gallery).

I don't have any exact measurements of it, but i guess it is about 45 cm in diameter.

There is also a thread about some other similar, but smaller, Norwegian bucklers here:
[url]http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7398&highlight= [/url]
If you look at Vegard Vike (a curator at Museum of Cultural History in Oslo) post on his reconstruction you may find more information.
The first shield looks like it is thinner than these four.

There are two similar bucklers displayed in Copenhagen, but I don't have any pictures of them right now, but I will post them as soon as possible.

Underneath you can find a picture of one of my bucklers based on one of the Norwegian finds (made by Řyvind Ottnes).

The weight of these bucklers are in the heavier end of the scale, but my experience is is an advantage when you are fighting. A lighter buckler tend to be pushed all over the place, while a heavier buckler is more stabile and absorbs shock better. The downside to the weight is that it is of course heavier to fight with and requires more strength.

Hope this helps out Happy


Hello Nils

Thanks a million for this link...http://www.vikverir.no/ressurser.html
I am now downloading the 2000 pictures...they are in HQ, what a treasure! The wife isn't happy since the internet will be blocked for a longer while...

cheers
Uwe
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Harry Lindfors





Joined: 07 May 2008

Posts: 45

PostPosted: Thu 30 Dec, 2010 8:19 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

On Osprey's Men-At-Arms- series, "Medieval Scandinavian Armies (1), 1100-1300", page 22. A black-and-white picture of this same shield, with the caption:
"Round shield from Rike, 13th century; diameter, 51cm (20ins). It is reinforced with a series of decorative iron straps riveted to the front."

So I guess that answers the question of diameter?
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Matthew Stagmer
Industry Professional



Location: Maryland, USA
Joined: 23 Jan 2008

Posts: 493

PostPosted: Thu 30 Dec, 2010 10:21 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Just thought that I would poke in and say that I would love to make one of these!
Matthew Stagmer
Maker of custom and production weaponry
Youtube.com/ThatWorks
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Elling Polden




Location: Bergen, Norway
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
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PostPosted: Thu 30 Dec, 2010 10:37 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The shield in question is probably a oversize buckler rather than a battle shield; With everyone else carrying a full size kite or heater shield, a 50 cm round shield is not something you would like to stand in the battle line with.

Judging from the numerous finds of similar bucklers, we can assume that such ornate bucklers where fashionable in Norway in the 12th-13th c, probably as a sign of status for retainers or wealthy men. It was a period of much internal strife, so being, and appearing, able to defend oneself would be important.

"this [fight] looks curious, almost like a game. See, they are looking around them before they fall, to find a dry spot to fall on, or they are falling on their shields. Can you see blood on their cloths and weapons? No. This must be trickery."
-Reidar Sendeman, from King Sverre's Saga, 1201
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Artis Aboltins




PostPosted: Thu 30 Dec, 2010 12:28 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I think that Elling has nailed the matter right there - it might be very handy tool for a bodyguard or a reasonably cautious person of status to carry around, even on social occasions where large shield would be inappropriate.
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Hadrian Coffin
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Location: Oxford, England
Joined: 03 Apr 2008

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PostPosted: Thu 30 Dec, 2010 6:24 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hello,
There is not much I can add to this discussion, but perhaps a bit of insight of what I saw when I was last in Oslo... about two and a half years ago.
I did not bother asking to see this shield up close as it is not something I am particularly interested in. My notebook says Rike, Valle, Setesdale as a find place, and 14th century. The shield has a runic inscription on it, "Gunnar made me. Helge owns me".
Cheers,
Hadrian

Historia magistra vitae est
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Hadrian Coffin
Industry Professional



Location: Oxford, England
Joined: 03 Apr 2008

Posts: 403

PostPosted: Thu 30 Dec, 2010 6:33 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I found a photocopy I have of the inscription...


 Attachment: 674 Bytes
rune-rike-skjold.gif


Historia magistra vitae est
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Scott Woodruff





Joined: 30 Nov 2005
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PostPosted: Thu 30 Dec, 2010 8:03 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thank you all for the info. I too would like to make one of these as soon as I finish my full-sized shield for viking reenactment. The more I learn about Scandinavian arms and armor, the more fascinated I become. I am trying to get together a 10th-11th c kit for use with "The Vikings", but keep getting distracted, wanting to make some cool Scandinavian/Baltic 12th-15th C stuff!
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Stephen Curtin




Location: Cork, Ireland
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PostPosted: Sat 21 Dec, 2013 6:30 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

http://armourinart.com/5084/15803/

Hey guys. Here's something that you might find interesting. I just came across this image and it made me think of this thread.

Éirinn go Brách
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Sat 21 Dec, 2013 6:52 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Matthew S.---Why are you wasting time posting? Get to it, man! I'd love to see a badass reproduction of this shield! I think that would be awesome! Just don't make it Conan the Barbarian heavy. Laughing Out Loud .......McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Sat 21 Dec, 2013 6:55 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow....I just realized how old this thread is. WTF?! Laughing Out Loud .....I just woke up, no coffee yet. Laughing Out Loud .........McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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