About two thirds done.

This is my smaller diameter wooden viking shield.
Its been sanded down and the surface given a coat of clear polyurethane to protect the wood.

Hard to see, but there are actual board lines etched into the surface to simulate the planked construction of the originals.

The shield boss is 14 gauge mild steel, painted with black rustoleum to hope keep rust away.
Needs the rawhide leather rim added, and I am still pondering what kind of decorative symbols or designs to paint on the surface.
The viking age existed before heraldry....So medieval devices that are the standard personal identification in SCA use aren't really appropriate.
Some heralds might give me grief...But it takes literally years for them to get around to approving a device for someone, and I have been seeing more and more fighters just paint whatever the hell they want on a shield.

I'm thinking something with badgers...
Its just a pain to find any art references of badgers from Norse art to use for inspiration.
So far, I've got a small silver broach found at Birka...And nothing else.
Time to get creative.


This shield is two feet in diameter, and made from 3/8ths inch oak plywood.
I think I screwed up in using oak though- It makes the shield much heavier than it needs to be without necessarily making it much stronger for SCA rattan combat.
I might make another in 3/8ths inch birch. If I can find some.

I'll post another pic when this is done and painted up.

-Badger-