just some notes to Lou,
not all shields would be rawhided, either with rawhide or leather, some would have had metal fittings around the edges, such as some roman shields, (if im correct, please post if otherwise, anyone?) as well as shields used by some Vikingr or scandanavian shields (not falling into the common trap of all scandanavians are Vikingr). Also, as i remember it, Guy's Morgensternen, whilst techniquly a blunt weapon is a ball with about ten spikes on it, that show was excellent, and then at camp i took my warhammer to the same shield, oh what fun that was, *coughs* i mean purly as historical research, (but, hehe, the warhammer took out some bloody big bits of wood for it's size
)
just remembered for those of you that want to see the damage a Dacian Falx can do to a roman shield, check this out,
http://www.gk.ro/sarmizegetusa/ranistorum/site_eng/arma.html
for other images just type it to google images. just remembered
As i understand it, there shields were built to last a bit better than say something like a roman shield, (as many of you have said, romans were able to dispose of shields after they'd been knocked in, because of the sheer amount that the empire could produce). though i know that shields used by the scandanavians werent unbreakable (well obviously, which ones arn't, but im reffering to the honour duels, where by both competators have three shields, the aim is to break the other persons shields, then you have won, and you have your honor, the other thing behind this is that you don't end up killing someone who could be a bloody good fighter and needed in a battle)
As for metal shields, if you look at the Apis of the Greeks, whilst made of wood, a lot if not pretty much all of them were covered in bronze or some form of metal. and whilst being a lot smaller, almost buckler sized some Greek or mercenary shields were entirly brass, bronze, and later iron, the shield actually looks like a type of wide brimmed hat, with a centeral bossed grip.
im sure i was going to say more, but i've once again forgotten what i was going to say.
LOL.
Tancred.