Weapons
leaf bladed gaiso (javelin)
barbed gaiso
Roman pilum (heavy javelin)
vogaison (barbed javelin)
bayonet spear (semi-blunted)
sword
Coverings
wool felt
leather
rawhide
All shields painted and then covered in bees wax.
Test 1- Javelins
From a close range of about 1.5 meters, we took several throws into each shield. Yes, we enjoyed ourselves...
We noticed, that the leaf bladed gaiso did not penetrate the felt covering very well. the fabric seemed to dissipate the energy and it bounced out of the shield every time leaving a superficial mark. The barbed gaiso penetrated well, sticking in every time, and breaking through the shield, this was also the case with the pilum. As both weapons were used to disable shields it made sense that this was the outcome.
The vogaison did the most damage, by penetrating deep into the felt often breaking through at least 1-2cm each time.
The most devastating impact was on the wooden spine. the leaf bladed gaiso punched through the shield with ease. this would have cause a devastating hit with much trauma to the individual holding it. Splitting the spine, and driving 4-6 cm past where the grip was, it would have caused sever damage to the warrior's hand and wrist.
(photos by: K. Beckham)
The leather shield was punctured with each throw, as was the rawhide. the javelins often penetrated into the harder surfaces with greater ease than the softer. Rawhide covered shield had the most damage from the javelins.
Test 2- Bayonet point
All I have yo say is "WOW!"
standing from 2 meters off and one handed this weapon cause a lot of damage. It punched through every shield with ease, damaging the felt covered, leather, and raw hide with equal damage. It was even tested against two shields at once...
(photo by: K. Beckham)
The bayonet point punched through both shields leather and rawhide... many time the spear would punch through 4-6 cm... exceptionally devastating given that this shield had a semi-blunted tip. This just demonstrated the power of any weapon with a small point to punch through any material.
Test 3- Sword
We sued a standard Gallic infantry sword on these shields... and it was shall we say... OMG FUN!
Both Bryan and I took swings at the shield on edge simulating an attach from close range.
The felt shield disintegrated before our eyes with each hit. the fibers laminating the shield did very little of reinforcing the wood. large chunks of the shield disappeared with each hit...
the leather shield did a little better taking a little more time to break apart. the cuts seemed to twist in the shield making it easy to trap an opponents weapon and still remain functional. still cut the shield in half...
The rawhide shield did the best... the double edging made it difficult to cut and the rawhide was amazingly rugged against each cut.
The results....
Felt shields are good for repelling javelins, but make sure there is an iron boss...
Leather is decent all the way around.
Rawhide amazing in heavy combat, but can easily be damaged by javelins.
FIRST
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