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Philip Montgomery
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 Posted: Wed 03 Feb, 2010 9:28 am Post subject: Wanted: a buckler |
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I am seeking a buckler similar to kind used in MS I.33 and in particular one that looks and handles similar to the ones used the book "Medieval Sword and Shield" by Paul Wagner and Stephen Hand.
I need a buckler that is suitable for sparring and heavy use. Any suggestions or vendor recommendations are appreciated.
Thanks.
Philip Montgomery
~-----~
"A broken sword blade fwipping through the air like a scythe through rye does demand attention."
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Craig Shackleton
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| Posted: Wed 03 Feb, 2010 10:49 am Post subject: |
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I've tried out a lot of different bucklers for I.33 stuff, and my current favorite for price is the one from Alchem.
http://www.alcheminc.com/bucklers.html
They are incredibly rugged, but weigh half as much as anything else I've used. The handle is a simple dowel, and they appear to be simply spun steel with a rolled edge. They look fine but are not meant to display a high level of historical detail. They are for fighting with.
I personally find that the 12 inch diameter is perfect as well. offering enough coverage without interfering with your ability to cross your buckler and sword hands over each other, or engage in grapples, etc.
The GDFB bucklers all look nice, but they are really heavy, and the squashed pipe handles are a bit awkward to hold. OTOH, I have a great deal of confidence that they could take a lot of abuse.
I have a buckler from Darkwood, which I believe is actually manufactured by someone else, but with the Darkwood T shaped handle. I have the deep bowl version. It's light, and the T handle is pretty neat (although later period) and comfortable, but I find the size just a little off, and more importantly, I've used it way less and it's way more bashed up.
I haven't tried either the steel or cuirboulli buckler from revival, or the cuirboulli from purpleheart. I like the idea of leather in terms of weight, but can't really comment otherwise.
I'm saving my pennies for a Merc Tailor wood and steel buckler. I haven't seen one in person, but it looks nice on the web, and I love their armour.
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...cts_id=136
They also make an all-steel one, again I haven't tried one out.
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...ucts_id=57
Hope that helps!
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Steven Reich
Location: Arlington, VA Joined: 28 Oct 2003
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Wed 03 Feb, 2010 11:29 am Post subject: |
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I have one of these coming, so I'll let you know what I think of it after I try it out. I got it to hold up to heavy sparring without weighing as much as a manhole cover (i.e. GDBF).
Steve
Founder of NoVA-Assalto, an affiliate of the HEMA Alliance
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Craig Shackleton
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| Posted: Wed 03 Feb, 2010 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Steven Reich wrote: |
I have one of these coming, so I'll let you know what I think of it after I try it out. I got it to hold up to heavy sparring without weighing as much as a manhole cover (i.e. GDBF).
Steve |
Thanks! I look forward to hearing what you think of it!
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Sam Gordon Campbell
Location: Australia. Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 678
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Craig Shackleton
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| Posted: Sat 03 Apr, 2010 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Steven Reich wrote: |
I have one of these coming, so I'll let you know what I think of it after I try it out. I got it to hold up to heavy sparring without weighing as much as a manhole cover (i.e. GDBF).
Steve |
Steve,
Did you get this buckler? How do you like it?
Ottawa Swordplay
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Felix R.
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| Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 5:44 am Post subject: |
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I would always recommend making your own bucklers. So you have the choice of components used, size and weight. And the apperance of course.
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Mark T
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| Posted: Sun 04 Apr, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject: Stainless steel bucklers |
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I recently searched for stainless steel bucklers (very humid where I live), and came across this supplier in Germany - stick4stick: http://stick4stick.de/index.php?app=shop&...176b170d81
They offer two sizes in two styles, and the large ones are about 20% lighter than the GDFB models. As hardened stainless steel, I'm assuming they'd be pretty durable ...
If anyone has experience with these bucklers, please let me know!
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Steven Reich
Location: Arlington, VA Joined: 28 Oct 2003
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| Craig Shackleton wrote: | | Did you get this buckler? How do you like it? |
Oh yeah, I forgot about this thread. I got the buckler and like it very much; however, it isn't quite ideal from my point of view. That doesn't mean it isn't good, or worth the money.
Anyway, ideally, there are three things I'd change:
1. Smaller diameter. I'd prefer something closer to 11 or 12 inches.
1a. Lighter. I don't think it's unreasonably heavy, so if it was 12 inches, it would probably weight about what I'd like. However, it could probably be a little thinner without the durability suffering (at least for me and the type of people I fence with).
2. A protruding handle. Instead of a bar that is flush with the surface of the back of the buckler, I'd prefer a handle that is raised. This allows me to better turn the buckler in various directions and allows a little better control.
3. Smoother fittings and nails that attach the rawhide edging. I worry about catching these on someone's clothes in the event of grappling.
However, Here are the things that I do like:
1. Rawhide edging. This is great stuff--keeps the edge of the buckler in good shape.
2. The coppola (i.e. the boss in the center). This looks good (was it made by hand?) and will not easily deform.
3. Durability. This buckler is not going to quickly disintegrate from heavy use. In addition, it isn't a piece of ballast the way the GDFB bucklers are (i.e. the GDFB bucklers are just too heavy).
4. The look. These look professionally done (and they are). They aren't just put together in 15 minutes--there is some real craftsmanship in them.
Steve
Founder of NoVA-Assalto, an affiliate of the HEMA Alliance
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Steven Reich
Location: Arlington, VA Joined: 28 Oct 2003
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| Felix R. wrote: | | I would always recommend making your own bucklers. So you have the choice of components used, size and weight. And the appearance of course. |
While I don't disagree, since I live in a high-rise apartment building, this really isn't much of an option if it involves anything beyond drilling holes, bolting, or gluing things together.
I'd be happy to put my own bucklers together if someone provided kits (i.e. buckler blanks, a selection of centers, handles, etc.), but I'm not going to be cutting round blanks or doing any woodworking or metalworking that involves anything more than a hand drill, sandpaper, or a file.
Steve
Founder of NoVA-Assalto, an affiliate of the HEMA Alliance
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Felix R.
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| Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 5:52 am Post subject: |
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Wellyou can get the shield bosses in different ways of manufacture, material, size and weight. The the only thing would be to put the wooden disc and the boss together. That is the easiest way, and it is how I did my two bucklers. Wooden bucklers also have the good properties of reducing alot "clang" noise in the training hall.
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Craig Shackleton
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| Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 6:31 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the review Steve!
One thing we did when I used to make shields with a friend that would probably help on this buckler, is to bevel one side of the inside edge of the hole in the wood part of the buckler, where your hand goes in to grip it. Flattening out that lip gives a surprising amount of room to alter the way you grip your buckler.
I had forgotten that these were 13" instead of 12". I have one 13" steel buckler, and I also really prefer 12.
I'm also a fan of rawhide edging, but agree that the fasteners look a little bumpier than I'd prefer.
Well, I'm about to place a rather large order with Merc Tailor. I still need to decide whether to throw a buckler in, make my own, or make do with the several bucklers I already own...
Ottawa Swordplay
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Philip Montgomery
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| Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 6:36 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Steve. And thank you to everyone else who made suggestions.
Philip Montgomery
~-----~
"A broken sword blade fwipping through the air like a scythe through rye does demand attention."
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Mon 05 Apr, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Craig Shackleton wrote: | Thanks for the review Steve!
One thing we did when I used to make shields with a friend that would probably help on this buckler, is to bevel one side of the inside edge of the hole in the wood part of the buckler, where your hand goes in to grip it. Flattening out that lip gives a surprising amount of room to alter the way you grip your buckler.
I had forgotten that these were 13" instead of 12". I have one 13" steel buckler, and I also really prefer 12.
I'm also a fan of rawhide edging, but agree that the fasteners look a little bumpier than I'd prefer.
Well, I'm about to place a rather large order with Merc Tailor. I still need to decide whether to throw a buckler in, make my own, or make do with the several bucklers I already own... |
Well I have the Mercenary Taylor's buckler: It's around 13.5" in diameter but it's strong while not being a boat anchor being lighter than another buckler I have that is 11 " in diameter. A few less ounces is something you can really feel after a few minutes of sparring or training as the buckler is often held at near maximum extension.
The boss is raised from the plate so it isn't a separate unit riveted to the main disk. Although fairly light gauge ( 16 ) it has a rolled edge reinforcing it.
The handle is twisted solid forged steel and it's far enough away from the inside of the boss so that it doesn't interfere with pivoting the buckler in the hand. The grip gives a lot of grip control because of the twisted steel handle although using a leather glove is a must unless one has very calloused and hardened hands.
The extra size is a personal choice as some find that too wide in diameter interferes with their technique but the lighter weight may be a good trade off between a large buckler and a small shield ..... so some shield technique is an option as there is some extra coverage.
The grip could be covered with leather if one wants a smoother grip or one could just wrap it with hockey tape ( Not historicall correct hockey tape unfortunately ....    ).
Anyway, this is my personal opinion of the MT buckler ( First version, as there are other version available )
This one is a bit different and I'm not sure if the " grips " are meant to be held together for standard buckler use or used as enarmes for shield use ..... very small shield !
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...cts_id=120
And then there is a wooden version with raw hide edging that might work well:
http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...cts_id=136
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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