Patinated Steel Viking Shield Boss, 8.5 Inches

Patinated Steel Viking Shield Boss, 8.5 Inches

Steel Umbo for a Functional Round Shield

The shield boss has a low hemispherical dome, a broad mounting flange and six evenly spaced pre-drilled holes. The raised dome sits over the hand opening in the centre of the shield board. The hand is therefore enclosed behind the steel boss while gripping the transverse handle fixed across the rear of the shield.

The curved surface helps redirect oblique impacts away from the centre and makes it more difficult for an edge or point to reach the hand directly. Its broad flange distributes stress over a larger area of the wooden board. Six rivets and six washers are included, providing the basic fittings required for installation.

Distinctive Patinated Finish

The surface has an irregular grey to dark-grey patina with a mottled pattern resembling natural scale. Each Viking shield boss consequently has a slightly individual appearance suited to Viking Age, early medieval and fantasy equipment. The finish removes the overly modern shine of freshly worked steel, but it is not a complete barrier against corrosion. Regular oiling is still essential.

Shield Bosses in the Viking Age

Central shield bosses were used from the Iron Age and remained an important feature of European shields throughout the early medieval period. They are particularly characteristic of Viking round shields from the 8th to the 11th century. These shields had a hand opening in the centre and were held by a transverse grip positioned behind the boss.

The primary purpose of the boss was to protect the hand and reinforce the heavily stressed centre of the shield. A round shield was not merely passive protection. It could be rotated and moved to redirect an opponent’s weapon, control distance and disrupt balance. In modern reenactment or historical combat, use only techniques permitted by the organiser’s rules and appropriate to the protective equipment worn by everyone involved.

Archaeological excavations frequently preserve the iron shield boss even where the original wooden board has survived only as fragments or has disappeared entirely. The shape, size and construction of these fittings are therefore valuable evidence when reconstructing early medieval shields. This model is broadly inspired by Viking and medieval examples rather than being an exact reproduction of one specific archaeological find.

How to Fit the Shield Boss

• Mark the centre of the shield board and cut a hand opening large enough for comfortable use but smaller than the mounting flange.
• Place the boss on the front of the shield and centre it carefully over the opening.
• Mark the positions of all six pre-drilled holes and drill through the wooden board with a suitable bit.
• Insert the rivets from the front so that their rounded heads sit neatly against the flange.
• Fit the supplied washers on the rear and gradually peen the projecting ends of the rivets.
• Support each rivet head against a firm metal surface and work evenly to avoid distorting the flange.
• Check the inside of the finished shield carefully for sharp projections that could injure the hand or damage a glove.

Wear safety glasses and suitable work gloves while cutting, drilling and riveting, and secure the shield board firmly before starting. Where you have limited experience with solid rivets, we recommend having the final peening completed by an experienced craftsperson.

Technical Specifications

Because of the hand-finished construction and irregular patination, dimensions, weight, colour, surface pattern and minor working marks may vary slightly from one item to another.

Care and Safe Use

• Before installation, remove excess transport or protective oil with a soft cloth.
• After use, wipe away dirt, perspiration and moisture and dry the boss thoroughly.
• Protect the steel regularly with a thin coating of gun oil, mineral oil or another non-acidic conservation oil.
• Store the shield in a dry, ventilated place rather than directly on damp ground or inside a wet cover.
• Before every contact session, inspect the rivets, washers, wooden board and steel dome for loosening, cracks or deformation.
• Do not use a loose, severely dented or damaged shield boss until it has been repaired correctly.
• The mounting flange must sit firmly against the shield and must not leave exposed sharp edges.
• The actual strength of the completed shield also depends on the board, grip, rivets and quality of assembly.
• Do not use the boss as cookware, a serving bowl or an improvised striking implement outside regulated historical combat.

Recommended Accessories

• Wooden blank for a Viking round shield corresponding to equipment of the 8th–11th centuries.
• Wooden or steel-reinforced central shield grip for correct handling behind the boss.
• Rawhide or strong linen facing inspired by ancient and medieval shield construction.
• Leather or rawhide edging to reduce splitting around the circumference of the wooden board.
• Additional historical rivets and washers for securing the grip, edge reinforcement or carrying strap.
• Steel conservation oil and a soft maintenance cloth for regular corrosion protection.
• Padded gloves and forearm protection appropriate to the rules of your reenactment or historical combat group.