[Robert Hinds]

hey all!

I've been trying to research english bucklers from the Wars of the Roses, but there is very little information out there about them. If anyone could give any general info about them, post a pic or especially tell me what diameter buckler would be used by a man-at-arms or archer I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance!

[Chuck Russell]

i know my group ordered a bunch from a Canadian armourer based on the Frossart paintings.

http://www.replications.com/greys/Image%20Gal...CN2552.jpg

i wasn't the one behind the project so i can not remember what all research they used.

[Robert Hinds]

Hmm, ok.

Do you happen to know what size they were? like 9 inch or 12 inch? I know where I can get a kool buckler but i'm not sure what diameter i should get...

[Kel Rekuta]

Robert, many surviving medieval and Renaissance bucklers fall between ten to fourteen inch diameter. Practical experience with many HEMA groups supports the convenience of this range of diameter. I suggest a twelve inch diameter which requires a fourteen inch blank prior to dishing and edge roll. I have a 9-1/2" buckler which requires a lot more accuracy than the 12" buckler we tend to use at AEMMA. I've made them as wide as 15" but no one seems to like them as much as the extra width seems to get in the way.

Hope that helps!

[Robert Hinds]

Thanks kel that helps alot!

[Frances Perry]

It is difficult to specify what exactly Englishmen were using in terms of bucklers during this period due to the lack of manuscript images coming directly from England, but we can extrapolate the shape and size approximately from other European manuscript images, such as the German and Italian fight manuals. It seems, as Kel mentions, that the dimensions are fairly similar throughout Europe, and only practical usage can define the final preferred diameter for each soldier.

A cursory glance at the web brings up several descriptions of bucklers, and sources images could be found. For example, Wikipedia brings up (a image to early for WoTR, I know):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckler - Sword and buckler combat, plate from the Tacuinum Sanitatis illustrated in Lombardy, ca. 1390.


A very good essay (in 4 parts) by John Clements provides a large variety of Buckler images, some earlier than WoTR period, some later, but you can get the general idea of size from them:
http://www.thearma.org/essays/SwordandBuckler.htm

You may also wish to look through this list of fight manuscripts of the 15th century for suitable images of bucklers:
http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/phpBB3/viewforu...2e37b98522

Hope this helps to start you off?

[Robert Hinds]

Thanks for that frances, it seems most of the earlier bucklers are 9 inches or maybe even less, some seem barely larger than a fist, and the later ones larger, such as in the depiction of spanish sword and buckler men. Those seem to be 12-17 inches or so...

I think what i'll do is buy a 9 inch and a 12 inch and test them out in combat, then which ever one I dont like or doesn't fit with my kit i'll let my friend barrow for when we spar.

Thanks for your responses.