The body is 1/2" plywood
to front is covered in two layers of 4/5oz veg tanned leather
the center boss started out in life as the base of a brass candle stick holder
I cut the plates out of brass sheet
the back is two layers of wool blanketing with an extra two layers under the arm
the wool was then covered with a piece of oil tanned elk hide
the spike was ground square and hand filed out of a 7/8" bolt
then I cut the base of the spike down and threaded it 3/8x18