05-16-2007, 09:24 AM
Quote:Agreed it isn't what we normally see depicted, but surely you cannot say that vertical grip shields did not exist?
Exactly that! Without plausible, verifiable evidence (not just speculation), I would have to say just that.
Quote:We only have very few surviving shield boards of the tens of thousands that must have existed. I think we will have to agree to differ in opinion on this one Mike!
Agreed (that we disagree!)...
Quote:I still think that a shield of over 3ft in width of this period would likely have a curved face. Which would mean a bent grip bar. The iron grip itself is 85cm in length! I still think it's too wide to be fitted horizontally.
As one of Mel Gibson's better scriptwriters put it, 'there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so'. For me, I'm afraid, the integrity of the evidence is more important (and this lacks it).
Mike Bishop
