The heater shield was used by almost every class of society in medieval Europe, from knights to typical soldiers. This design lent itself to being relatively inexpensive and easy to make. The Fully Functional Handmade 16 Gauge Heater Shield is great for re-enactments or tournaments. You can customize this piece to your liking and it is 16 gauge so it can be used in training or competitions. Its top is flat, and the edges come to a point, like a triangle with convex-curving sides. Developing from kite shields, early heater shields are often just less than two feet wide. With such a reasonably large surface area this shield is excellent for heraldic display and it also features a wooden handle for a firm grip while in the midst of battle.
