Got a Real World Weapons or Armour Question? Mk XI

[Galloglaich]

I've heard basswood is almost like balsa, I was wondering if linden was a little tougher maybe? It's a mystery to me how these shields worked. I have made some myself out of birch plywood which were very light, 3/8" inch, and have held up pretty well to beating from wood sticks and nylon fencing swords, but I kind of wonder how well they would stand up to a sharp.

Can you describe the characteristics of some other woods like birch, poplar, spruce, fir, (northern European species of) pine? I believe those were used for shields historically as well.

Ash was, of course, used for spears quite a bit. Now sadly most ash trees are dead...

EDIT: An in-depth article on Viking shields, pretty much corroborates what I was saying earlier.

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/arti...ng_shields.htm

G