The most versatile blocking item in boffer combat system is the shield. A commonly used fighting style is “sword-and-board,” i.e. sword and shield. Shields are also the most complex and time-consuming boffers to build, so if you’re ready to start, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time! This is a list of the things you’ll need to start:

Shields come in all shapes and sizes, and can be made from almost any material. I prefer to work with 1/4” plywood from Home Depot, but you can also build a shield from lightweight plastic sign material, or a heavy-duty plastic barrel. This tutorial will walk you through making a plywood shield. Making a plastic shield is different for the first few steps, but once the shape is finalized, a plastic shield is made just like a wooden one.

The first thing you need to do when making a shield is to decide how it will look. The maximum dimensions for a shield is 521 square inches, a dimension which includes the foam. (Shields may not be more than 36” on any side.) So if you’re designing your shield to have a special shape, be sure to calculate its total area, and then subtract an inch from every side to account for the thickness of the foam. Here are the dimensions for the three most commonly used shields, calculated to leave an extra inch for foam:

I suggest that you draw your shield on paper before you go to buy your plastic or wood, so that you’ll know exactly how big a piece you’ll need. Newsprint works well for this, and can be found at any artist’s supply store. If you need to draw a circle or curve, you can improvise a compass from a thumb tack, two paper clips and a piece of string, like this:

Once you have the paper template for your shield, you should decide where the handle and arm strap should go. Some people like to have their shield held straight out, where others prefer to hold the shield at a 45 degree angle. I have noticed that thinner people seem to prefer an angled grip whereas wider folks tend towards a straight handle.

You should also think about how far down on the shield to place your handle. I have noticed that taller people do well with a handle placed low on the shield, to protect their shoulder. Shorter folks tend to have their handles higher up, to protect their feet.

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