From: carl@silver.lcs.mit.edu (Carl J.M. Alexander)
Subject: Re: Shield durability
Organization:  Organization??? 
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 19:33:00 GMT

In article <1992Apr14.131955.14843@usenet.ins.cwru.edu> cpg3078@swuts.sbc.com (Michael A. Chance) writes:
 
Describes a group of people . . . 
>flailing away at this used shield, and decided to get my favorite toy 
>and have a go.  My . . . replica Danish axe . . . [is] about 48 inches in 
>total length, a typical bearded axe style with about 9 inches of
>cutting edge (measured along the arc of the edge not the cord).  
>I've never weighed it, but I guess it's about the same weight as 
>the two-handed firewood axe Balderick used [5 lbs.], maybe a 
>little lighter . . . . The head is iron, and the edge is
>tempered.  The main difference is that it has no wedge to it.  It's a
>constant 1/4 inch in width from the edge to the haft.
> 
>Since I don't keep an edge on the blade (it's used at a lot of demo for
>kids), I fully expected it to sort of bounce off the shield.  I start my
>first swing with the head on the ground behind me, and put just enough
>force into the swing to get it moving and stay moving.  Almost no body
>strength, and no final "umph".  The swing was aimed at the face of the
>shield, not the edge.  When the blade hit, it didn't cut into
>the shield.  It blew a hole out of it!  About 12 inches by 4 inches,
>right in the center of the shield.  This was exterior grade 1/2 inch
>plywood.  Talk about surprise!  I was impressed.
>
>I tried another swing, the standard SCA 90 degree arc type.  I used the
>same force that I'd use in SCA combat for a killing blow.  Result:
>another 12 by 4 hole next to the first one.
>
>To be fair, I did strike a blow on the edge of the shield, and the
>blade penetrated about 4 or 5 inches from the edge.  This one was also a
>90 degree arc swing.
>
>Obviously, the edge of a shield can take more punishment than the face
>can (tho' I don't claim to fully understand the physics).  I'd always
>wondered about the story of the guy a Stamford Bridge who held off the
>Saxon army with just a Danish axe.  After seeing what one can do, I'd be
>a little leery about rushing the guy myself!
>
>Personally, I believe the stories about the effects of polearms on
>shields, and tend to have a very healthy respect for them, even SCA
>ones.  The forces involved can get tremendous.
>
>Mikjal Annarbjorn
>irl Michael A. Chance
>Barony of Three Rivers, Calontir
>Barony of Shattered Crystal, Midrealm

Frankly, I don't think this experiment proves very much, because of the
condition of the shield.  This was an old, used shield that had been
discarded by its owner; it is probable that the glue had been
pulverized and the wood fibres crushed.  Depending on how many blows
the shield's face had taken, I wouldn't be too surprised if the same
results could be achieved with a baseball bat.  
 
I would be most interested in learning what would happen were this 
Danish Axe to be tried against a new shield--bear in mind that period
shields were discarded far more frequently than ours.  
 
I'm not saying that period weapons didn't destroy period shields, with
deadly results; of course they did.  But period weapons also trapped
period weapons, with equally deadly results.  It seems to me that in
ignoring both of these factors, our rules strike a reasonable balance.
 
Alexander of Kiev 
 
Carl Alexander
carl@silver.lcs.mit.edu
 

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca