Blacked Out Firefighter Shield

[chriscraft]

Since 2010, blacked out FF leather shields have been becoming popular at fire houses across the US. Even if you have a colored numbered or white shield, it becomes smoked black during a fire and one must keep scrubbing away the dark smoke stained shield. So having a blacked out version to begin with wont make you look like a rookie anymore. Besides having a brightly painted number on a shield as identification that was great 100 years ago. Today every FF carries a two way radio, GPS, Personal Alarm Safety System and other reflective FF turnout gear.  

Traditional Firefighter's wore leather helmets that had leather hand tooled shields back in the day. Today they are still making traditional leather FF helmets but they don't  come with a leather shield, Craftsman not included. Most Fire Dept. issue a mixed pleather/composite material front. These flimsy fronts belong on a plastic composite firefighter helmet and not on a Traditional Leather Helmet. This is why I was sought out to build a few quality leather shields. I chose to use Hermann Oak 7/8 oz for the tooled front and backed it with 8/9 oz. Makes a beefy leather shield.

[TSes]

Very nice job. Is this modeled off of an original, or is it your design? Was this originally part of the helmet?

[chriscraft]

TSes, this isn't a copy off any pattern and I didn't have an actual sample to look at to just trace. That would have been much easier if a pattern was submitted. I designed the tooling layout.

  I did a web search on antique leather FF helmets and from all the different shaped shield pictures I found, I took the one I liked the best. This new layout had to fit within the measurments I was given. 

 Most of the antique leather helmets I found pictures of used a "High Eagle" mount. This mounts the shield slightly taller than the top of the helmet making the need for a tall shield.  I needed to design a shield to mount below the hieght of the helmet. Having a standard mass produced production shield in hand was a good base to start laying out my new outline for this shield. 

Now I had to design the inside layout, again looking at photos I picked out the number style that looked appropriate.

I came up with the top banner as it resembled a firefighter metal badge. The pebbled background is a good filler that makes the rest pop. I like this design and hope to use it again on a different Dept. Shield.

 Some of the projects we work on take on a special meaning. I was a volunteer firefighter so this was a fun project to work on.

I don't know if leather shields were originally part of the helmet or if the shields used to be hand tooled  by leatherworkers. I would imagine it was a skilled trade one would specifically learn for this purpose.   

Today a few top FF helmet companies still produce leather helmets such as Paul Conway, Cairns and Phenix. These companies also provide a shield for an additional cost but  it does not come close to what a private individual can produce. I've seen a few small companies that focus only on building leather FF shields, radio straps, radio harness, duty belts and truck belts.  

 Depending on the skill level of the leather shield maker, each shield can range from a basic $80 to a fully custom hand tooled/painted $400 presentation leather shield.

 I'll let you know when someone pays me close to $400 for one. 

The first sample shield took me a total of 20 hours to build including making the layout and design. This last one pictured took me 4 hours to build as I already knew how to go about building one. I think with much practice and a few speedy tools one might be able to build these in less that 2 hours. 

[JerseyFirefighter]

Awesome work. I REALLY wish I could take up tooling but every time im in the shop im trying to play catch up with orders. I keep saying to myself that I will bring some tooling stuff to the station one day and mess around on shift. Yet here I am, ordering more hardware and trying to tie up business ends in my down time. (and surfing here of course)  Keep up the great work. One day I will get into tooling.. just not today. 

[chriscraft]

JerseyFF, just find yourself a quiet place to practice tooling after your station duties while at the station. I can tell you that I wanted to construct one of these leather shields back in 2010 when I was at the station and never did. 

 Here is a link where I did a step-by-step on this blacked out shield. Maybe this will inspire you to get started.

leatherworker.net/forum/topic/69922-alphabet-stamping-on-a-firefighter-shield/

[JerseyFirefighter]

Outstanding. Thank you for the encouragement and link. Eager to give one a go.

By the way, that stitch groover has some serious bite to it. Brand? 

Edited April 24, 2016 by JerseyFirefighter

[chriscraft]

Thanks.

 Yes this stitch groover has some bite and tucks the stitch away. Its a Douglas Tool brand called the Versa Groover and I ordered both tip sizes.  Think I'm using the smaller of the two cutters. It's a Great quality stainless steel tool.

Edited April 24, 2016 by chriscraft