08-19-2019, 07:50 PM
(08-19-2019, 04:16 PM)Dan D\Silva Wrote: Neat!
There is a little more evidence about the violin shields than my previous post may have implied. A few of the reliefs from Persepolis show them from the back, and they're held in such a way that they must have an armband and an off-center handgrip.
IIRC gilding metal is indeed another name for this kind of brass. I don't know the name of the gauge system that most of the sellers I've seen use, but under it, the equivalent to 14SWG would be 12-gauge (0.08 inches = just about 2.03mm). At that point the options and number of sellers narrow, and the price shoots up. It would probably have made sense to not cut out a hand hole in the center-gripped shield at all, and instead given it a protruding grip and a thinner-gauge boss on top of the shield board (this seems to be how LBA Eastern Mediterranean shields were made), but no use crying over spilled milk. The violin shield can function with a thinner boss since it won't have a cutout for the hand. Thankfully I have not yet invested in any materials for it, so it'll be easier to plan correctly.
The gauge problem occured to me when I did a search for ready made shield bosses, they seemed so inconsistant on gauge, so I checked the page for the link you gave for actual thickness of metal, and found that the measurements only fit according to my admittedly old tables 16SWG (these days I use metric) it turns out it appears to be AWG or American Wire Gauge, not one I've dealt with before and curiously its the only one that exactly fits on the table with a SWG measurement, in other words you cant simple say its a couple of sizes smaller eg: 16AWG doesnt become 18SWG but a little less then 17SWG... curious. It could be a problem though for anyone ordering ready made items online and not something I'd previously considered, so knowing the actual thickness of the base plate is more important.
I've seen some greek vase images of Persians with X I crossed arm straps and handgrip but they were for long curved pelta types (not sure what you'd call them), but thought it too awkward for a Violin shaped shield, but if you think it will work for you try it.
1.5mm or there abouts would be find for a center plate you could do with less though.
A 14SWG plate at 2mm would be considerably less at the apex of a domed boss, maybe 16SWG but again that should be fine..
As always refine the overall weight of the shield to something that is truly useable for you.
Incidently I've used a long shield in that general arrangement X I before, center grip is preferable.
Ivor
"And the four bare walls stand on the seashore. a wreck a skeleton a monument of that instability and vicissitude to which all things human are subject. Not a dwelling within sight, and the farm labourer, and curious traveller, are the only persons that ever visit the scene where once so many thousands were congregated." T.Lewin 1867
"And the four bare walls stand on the seashore. a wreck a skeleton a monument of that instability and vicissitude to which all things human are subject. Not a dwelling within sight, and the farm labourer, and curious traveller, are the only persons that ever visit the scene where once so many thousands were congregated." T.Lewin 1867
