| tigrifsgt | 15 Jul 2014 1:50 p.m. PST |
I have seen many good looking figures this way from Vikings to Crusades. Is it historically accurate? On my bowmen I usually put a short sword or axe for close in hand fighting, but did they have shields on also. It seems that it would be cumbersome during shooting. |
| MajorB | 15 Jul 2014 2:23 p.m. PST |
Depends what sort of shield it is and how it is supported. |
| tigrifsgt | 15 Jul 2014 3:41 p.m. PST |
On figures I have seen heater up to full size. Most seem to be on the shoulders with straps or cross chest. |
| Ron W DuBray | 15 Jul 2014 4:46 p.m. PST |
From first hand experience: You don't even note the shield on your back when firing a bow or crossbow. Its not in the way at all. It like have having an empty backpack on. |
| Ethanjt21 | 16 Jul 2014 7:22 a.m. PST |
Aren't they called pavise shields? I believe this was big in Malta, with all the city crossbowmen having pavise shields. You set them up as a wall to fire from, though I don't know whether or not they were used in hand to hand. If your archers are stuck in hand to hand you've probably lost already anyway….. |
| MajorB | 16 Jul 2014 7:34 a.m. PST |
Aren't they called pavise shields? I don't think so, no. Pavises are big wooden boards. You wouldn't want one of ghen on your back! Pavises were mainly used by crossbowmen and handgunners because of the time taken to reload their weapon. |
| Ron W DuBray | 16 Jul 2014 2:29 p.m. PST |
Here are photos of pavise shield on back and being used
link
Back pack strapping
believe it or not they were mostly harden leather with laminated layers of silk and/or linen with some wooden parts to hold shape and make hard points. some used thin wood with the lamination layers. |
| tigrifsgt | 16 Jul 2014 4:07 p.m. PST |
What I am talking about is, did Viking archers, crusade archers, HYW archers, WoTR archers actually fight with a shield tied to their backs? It looks good on miniatures, but did it actually happen. |
| Druzhina | 16 Jul 2014 9:04 p.m. PST |
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| MajorB | 17 Jul 2014 2:09 a.m. PST |
What I am talking about is, did Viking archers, crusade archers, HYW archers, WoTR archers actually fight with a shield tied to their backs? It looks good on miniatures, but did it actually happen. As far as I am aware, WOTR archers only had a small shield (known as a buckler) if they had a shield at all. A buckler is only about 12ins in diameter and was usually slung from the belt when not in use. |
| The Red Baron | 17 Jul 2014 6:56 a.m. PST |
Shields were pretty much defunct by the time of the Wotr, armour having developed to point where shields were superfluous, other than as Major B says, bucklers whcih were more offensive than defensive in their use. |
| Great War Ace | 17 Jul 2014 9:30 a.m. PST |
Yes to that. Small "fist" bucklers are the only archer "shields" that have any evidence for them. Archers and early crossbowmen (crusades) used the spearmen as their "shields" and shot from behind them overhead…. |
| Robert Burke | 20 Jul 2014 5:44 p.m. PST |
Who makes crossbowmen with shields on their backs in 15mm? I could use some. |
| tigrifsgt | 21 Jul 2014 3:43 p.m. PST |
I've just been using left over shields from other companies. For 15's you could probably make them from heavy card stock. |
gets medieval.
