Couple of questions....

What type of bucklers would have been popular circa 1450 in the English/French regions?

Recommended manufacturers for sturdy, historical examples?

With that date any wood, or all steel round buckler of whatever size you want is probably fine.
Though in the 14th century you'll want to have a wood one with a steel boss.

And you could have just searched it on http://manuscriptminiatures.com it doesn't really need a thread.

I think a thread like this is perfectly acceptable! That's the whole point of this forum, to ask questions, to share, and to learn! Just searching for images in 'manuscript miniatures' can't tell you everything! If it could, we wouldn't need myArmoury.
:wtf:

That said, www.arms-n-armor.com make a nice metal one.. Though I don't like the handle. There are a bunch on Kult of Athena. Not sure what people here like?

Z

You can always try to make your own buckler from wood, with a steel boss. It´s not very difficult. For the red-white one, I have used an oak plank (some 10 mm thick), cut a round shape with a hole in the middle, covered it with two layers of linen on both sides, soaked well in a wood glue. I did not have proper pigments at that time, so it´s painted with oil colours. The rim is from leather (however, rawhide would have been much better). I have used a steel boss bought in a LH shop. A nice project for a weekend:)

http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=30030&highlight=

This is indeed a very nice project, and not so long to do. I'm currently building my own one right now. A simple maple board (12mm thick), rawhide, linen and a steel boss ordered on web.

I have another buckler planned for later this year, but inspired by an historical one kept in the Royal Armouries (Leeds). It will have iron (or soft steel) circlings, and a spiked boss.
I'm currently looking for someone able to make me a spiked boss like that!

Hmmm, for some reason, I was thinking they were all some sort of thin steel.....

I contacted Arms and Armor, but they no longer carry/make the bucklers, which is why I am on the look-out again.

This is to go along with my Archer kit (Currently involves a Yew bow, Albion Kingmaker, and Bollock dagger)

Also, regarding whether or not a thread is required for this; I believe it is.

I am looking for reputable makers of bucklers, not necessarily just research.

Sorry...I did not realise that you were looking for manufacturers and construction methods. :blush:
I thought your question was just on what they looked like...........(now I'm the jerk :confused: )
I think it would be okay to just get one of the shield bosses off KOA and make the rest out of wood.
And DO make a thread on WHATEVER questions you have.