Great vid.. so the handle allows for movement. Deflecting and creating openings. Like a revolving door. This could very well be considered a Vikings shield. Which when used in tandem with a arming sword or Viking sword and axe, was very effective. A historic targe would have a strap for the forearm. Like a small Spartan shield. This is used like the buckler and Viking shield. Both of which were very light. This shield looks great. Definitely wouldn't mind having one.
Great topic and great vid. Before the Firearm, the shield & sword combo was the most effective combat system for thousands of years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Thanks for posting.
As a practitioner of Historical European Martial Arts, specifically following the tradition of the Northern Italian Fencing Schools. If you want a strapped shield (think Captain America) I recommend the Rotella. They’re round shields of similar size to this one, made from steel. Historically they ranged from 20-16 gauge in thickness, some modern mall ninja companies make some as thick as 12 gauge but those are overly heavy for their intended use
This shield and a Cold Steel Roman Gladius Machete would be a brutal hand to hand combo. The double edge and the sharp point on the Gladius machete would make it highly effective if you had engage multiple attackers.
Dude, thinking outside the proverbial box yet again; Straight forward verbiage, nothing fancy yet you don’t degrade yourself and your viewers by resorting to a bunch of 4-letter words 👍🏻 I really love the smart & clever delivery Sir, keep it going - I’m recommending you to everyone I can, great for teaching new AND old preppers to look beyond the usual stuff. Respect ✊🏻
I've been considering getting one and replacing the handle with a hardwood board for securing to my forearm. Also spraying a heavy coat of truck bed liner on the front for added durability. Excellent video, I hope you post more.
First thing I would do, if I was considering it for Survival is buy 2, and shoot 1. Maybe experiment with some Kevlar cloth, and acrylic. (I happen to have some for other projects. For instance, i wrapped the Holster Stock for my Chinese Contract Inglis High Power to reinforce it, and prevent cracking. Wonderful stuff.) It doesn't have to be "Bulletproof" that's an impossible standard, but if you're preparing for the worst case scenario, you have to consider the possibility that it might get shot at. There's hard cover like a building, then there's soft cover, like a smoke screen. A smoke screen won't stop bullets, but it can make you harder to hit if they can't see what they're aiming at. This thing might make it into the "Better than nothing" category if they pull a gun on you, and you cover your head, it might make it harder for them to get a lethal head-shot. Even if it just grazes you, or the 9mm tactical hollowpoint expands, and slows down enough to leave a ragged scar on your cheek, it's better than it going through your skull, and grey matter without slowing down significantly. (And expanding somewhere in the grey-matter.) The Survivalist mentality isn't stopping it. If that was the plan, we'd stop the shit before it hits the fan. it's making do with what you have, and the more you have, the more you'll have to work with. Definitely more "Better to have it and not need it" than "Everything you need, and nothing you don't." Opposite extremes of the Preparedness spectrum. You'd still have to carry it, but this is a small fraction of a Riot Shield.
Now, the Tactical trade-offs: It's portable compared to a Riot Shield, but it doesn't protect as much area. So, it's better for sitting in a car in case somebody tries to stab you through the window. It's only about big enough to cover your head, and both shoulders, so I wouldn't even consider it without more armor. With a Ballistic Helmet, and Vest with Trauma plate, you could hold it up at eye level. See over it, and basically deny the enemy a COBM/Head Shot Double Tap. Again, even if it's not Bulletproof, they can't see what they're aiming at, a good shooter (Worst case Scenario) is probably going for a gut, or limb shot. Okay, now you've got a bullet wound in your thigh. You're still alive, but how are your chances of survival now? It takes up a hand, so you're limited to a pistol, or other 1 handed weapon. (Knife, or pistol, but not a baseball bat.) I prefer strap shields to center boss for this reason: You can at least hold something else with your hand in the grip strap. So, an actual Targe (Not an oversized buckler) doesn't take as much of your off-hand up. Still don't want to try to use it with a pump shotgun, but at least you don't have to drop it for a tactical reload. That's the question, and it's a complicated series of questions to weigh against each other: How hard is it to carry, and what do i get for that? If you don't have a use for it, it's not worth the weight. Might be better to carry a Crowbar, which is useful as a tool, and a weapon. This isn't that good for either.
The reason why Targes, and bucklers fell out of popular use is because the weapons they're designed to protect against did too. How likely are you going to be facing a Smallsword, Spadroon, or Rapier? That's what a Buckler is designed to protect against. A targe was double-strapped to protect against broadswords, bayonets, and butt-stocks. That grip isn't stable enough to stop a fire ax. it's just going to swing around, and hit you in the forearm. Maybe throw off the edge alignment on the ax cut, but it's still going to hit you like a mace. In the event that you get attacked by an ax wielding maniac, is trading an ax cut for a mace blow really worth carrying that around? Only you can answer that question. You're a lot more likely to get attacked with wood axes, rifle butts, and bayonets than smallswords, spadroons, and rapiers. I wouldn't trust that to stop a Katana reliably, and I'd expect to get attacked by a weaboo before I encountered a Rapier in a Race Riot. A chunk of Rebar, a baseball bat (With or without barbed wire) or an E-tool. Test against the worst, and most likely tools first, and work your way down. A Kitchen knife? You don't need that to stop a kitchen knife. A kitchen knife duct taped taped to a shower curtain rod to make an apartment barricade spear? I wouldn't trust that to stop a spear, reliably. Not even a crappy one. I'd rip that right out of your hand with my goalie stick. That's basically what you're preparing for: Anything anyone can pick up, and throw at you. A brickbat? Try it. (With a good Helmet.)
@@Psiberzerker one hand defense one hand attacks the only principle with shields whether it's a sword in one hand or firearm in the other. "Knifes (aka weapons)are not meant to be seen they are meant to be felt".( Doug marcaida) Skill and experience will be the difference maker in a shtf scenario.
@@thegeminiprepper9161 Okay, skill, experience, and equipment in any fight. (Just assume you might be burgled while you're at home, or attacked in your car on the way to pick up lunch before the end of the world as we know it.) Skill isn't part of the equation in a product review, because we have to assume the worst. How much firerarms training do you have? How much hand to hand? Okay, now how much sword and shield? Your viewers? Your attacker before the world as we know it has come to an end? Right, so Skill and Training aren't part of the equation.
@@thegeminiprepper9161 For your viewers, their question might well be "Is it worth the money?" Okay, it's Cold Steel, so it's probably yeah, because they're that kind of company. The question I have to ask is what I would use it WITH? Because it's always {Weapon} and Shield. Your viewers can't start training with it, before they buy it, but the main Cold Steel product I have is a Bec du Fauchard I've pried car doors off by the hinges with. Which is unfortunately 2 handed, so I can't really carry that buckler with it. Let alone use them together.
I also would prefer it to have two straps like a Scottish targe. The main thing that makes a targe a targe, as opposed to a buckler or a round shield like a viking shield, is that it is designed such that you can hold something like a dagger in your shield hand, and use it as an off-hand weapon. In modern context it means I could have a secondary weapon while still using the shield. Especially with non-lethal weapons for self defense (pepper spray, tasers, or even a flashlight for blinding) having two sounds like a big advantage, in case one fails to neutralize the threat. Or you can carry a lethal and a non lethal weapon together, so you can make a split-second decision which to use.
Those cold steel bucklers will take tremendous abuse. I've been practicing sword and buckler fencing for years with those. They take unlimited punishment against 2 to 4 pound steel training swords. Punching with the dome center boss hits like a ton of bricks. In a demo I've seen heavy duty fencing masks cave in against a buckler punch.
I have one, like it a lot. Got it painted looks great. In practice, I use it in drills. At some point I might have to get another one for abusive testing. Good on you starting a channel, keep it up.
You're welcome to your opinion and what you're saying is true as far as having a Target on your forearm that doesn't allow you to hold things.But have you ever really tried fight with a shield or Buckler? They are effective against Edge weapons and impact weapons. And I also want to highlight that the shield itself can be used to smash (as a weapon) as far as having a full side shields in modern times it wouldn't make sense but a small buckler made out of a hard metal or plastic or bulletproof Buckler would be ideal
It seems Cold Steel's messed up; they have the same weight on both their Targe and their Buckler, and the Targe is over twice the size - so 4 lbs 11 oz sounds reasonable. Other retailers also list 4+ pounds.
This is good for striking, cutting weapons but will not stop bullets or arrows and crossbow bolts but in hand to hand, the shield and it's application is much better with the shield and secondary weapons you have at hand. Practice your art and be prepared.
It would absolutely stop a crossbow bolt, silly. Just not a bullet. (I think one was tested with a .22LR and it stopped it, but that's hardly much of a caliber!)
Great vid.. so the handle allows for movement. Deflecting and creating openings. Like a revolving door. This could very well be considered a Vikings shield. Which when used in tandem with a arming sword or Viking sword and axe, was very effective. A historic targe would have a strap for the forearm. Like a small Spartan shield. This is used like the buckler and Viking shield. Both of which were very light. This shield looks great. Definitely wouldn't mind having one.
Great topic and great vid.
Before the Firearm, the shield & sword combo was the most effective combat system for thousands of years.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Thanks for posting.
As a practitioner of Historical European Martial Arts, specifically following the tradition of the Northern Italian Fencing Schools.
If you want a strapped shield (think Captain America) I recommend the Rotella. They’re round shields of similar size to this one, made from steel. Historically they ranged from 20-16 gauge in thickness, some modern mall ninja companies make some as thick as 12 gauge but those are overly heavy for their intended use
This shield and a Cold Steel Roman Gladius Machete would be a brutal hand to hand combo. The double edge and the sharp point on the Gladius machete would make it highly effective if you had engage multiple attackers.
Dude, thinking outside the proverbial box yet again;
Straight forward verbiage, nothing fancy yet you don’t degrade yourself and your viewers by resorting to a bunch of 4-letter words 👍🏻
I really love the smart & clever delivery Sir, keep it going - I’m recommending you to everyone I can, great for teaching new AND old preppers to look beyond the usual stuff.
Respect ✊🏻
I've been considering getting one and replacing the handle with a hardwood board for securing to my forearm. Also spraying a heavy coat of truck bed liner on the front for added durability. Excellent video, I hope you post more.
First thing I would do, if I was considering it for Survival is buy 2, and shoot 1. Maybe experiment with some Kevlar cloth, and acrylic. (I happen to have some for other projects. For instance, i wrapped the Holster Stock for my Chinese Contract Inglis High Power to reinforce it, and prevent cracking. Wonderful stuff.) It doesn't have to be "Bulletproof" that's an impossible standard, but if you're preparing for the worst case scenario, you have to consider the possibility that it might get shot at. There's hard cover like a building, then there's soft cover, like a smoke screen. A smoke screen won't stop bullets, but it can make you harder to hit if they can't see what they're aiming at. This thing might make it into the "Better than nothing" category if they pull a gun on you, and you cover your head, it might make it harder for them to get a lethal head-shot. Even if it just grazes you, or the 9mm tactical hollowpoint expands, and slows down enough to leave a ragged scar on your cheek, it's better than it going through your skull, and grey matter without slowing down significantly. (And expanding somewhere in the grey-matter.) The Survivalist mentality isn't stopping it. If that was the plan, we'd stop the shit before it hits the fan. it's making do with what you have, and the more you have, the more you'll have to work with. Definitely more "Better to have it and not need it" than "Everything you need, and nothing you don't." Opposite extremes of the Preparedness spectrum. You'd still have to carry it, but this is a small fraction of a Riot Shield.
Now, the Tactical trade-offs: It's portable compared to a Riot Shield, but it doesn't protect as much area. So, it's better for sitting in a car in case somebody tries to stab you through the window. It's only about big enough to cover your head, and both shoulders, so I wouldn't even consider it without more armor. With a Ballistic Helmet, and Vest with Trauma plate, you could hold it up at eye level. See over it, and basically deny the enemy a COBM/Head Shot Double Tap. Again, even if it's not Bulletproof, they can't see what they're aiming at, a good shooter (Worst case Scenario) is probably going for a gut, or limb shot. Okay, now you've got a bullet wound in your thigh. You're still alive, but how are your chances of survival now? It takes up a hand, so you're limited to a pistol, or other 1 handed weapon. (Knife, or pistol, but not a baseball bat.) I prefer strap shields to center boss for this reason: You can at least hold something else with your hand in the grip strap. So, an actual Targe (Not an oversized buckler) doesn't take as much of your off-hand up. Still don't want to try to use it with a pump shotgun, but at least you don't have to drop it for a tactical reload. That's the question, and it's a complicated series of questions to weigh against each other: How hard is it to carry, and what do i get for that? If you don't have a use for it, it's not worth the weight. Might be better to carry a Crowbar, which is useful as a tool, and a weapon. This isn't that good for either.
The reason why Targes, and bucklers fell out of popular use is because the weapons they're designed to protect against did too. How likely are you going to be facing a Smallsword, Spadroon, or Rapier? That's what a Buckler is designed to protect against. A targe was double-strapped to protect against broadswords, bayonets, and butt-stocks. That grip isn't stable enough to stop a fire ax. it's just going to swing around, and hit you in the forearm. Maybe throw off the edge alignment on the ax cut, but it's still going to hit you like a mace. In the event that you get attacked by an ax wielding maniac, is trading an ax cut for a mace blow really worth carrying that around? Only you can answer that question. You're a lot more likely to get attacked with wood axes, rifle butts, and bayonets than smallswords, spadroons, and rapiers. I wouldn't trust that to stop a Katana reliably, and I'd expect to get attacked by a weaboo before I encountered a Rapier in a Race Riot. A chunk of Rebar, a baseball bat (With or without barbed wire) or an E-tool. Test against the worst, and most likely tools first, and work your way down. A Kitchen knife? You don't need that to stop a kitchen knife. A kitchen knife duct taped taped to a shower curtain rod to make an apartment barricade spear? I wouldn't trust that to stop a spear, reliably. Not even a crappy one. I'd rip that right out of your hand with my goalie stick. That's basically what you're preparing for: Anything anyone can pick up, and throw at you. A brickbat? Try it. (With a good Helmet.)
@@Psiberzerker one hand defense one hand attacks the only principle with shields whether it's a sword in one hand or firearm in the other. "Knifes (aka weapons)are not meant to be seen they are meant to be felt".( Doug marcaida) Skill and experience will be the difference maker in a shtf scenario.
@@thegeminiprepper9161 Okay, skill, experience, and equipment in any fight. (Just assume you might be burgled while you're at home, or attacked in your car on the way to pick up lunch before the end of the world as we know it.) Skill isn't part of the equation in a product review, because we have to assume the worst. How much firerarms training do you have? How much hand to hand? Okay, now how much sword and shield? Your viewers? Your attacker before the world as we know it has come to an end? Right, so Skill and Training aren't part of the equation.
@@thegeminiprepper9161 For your viewers, their question might well be "Is it worth the money?" Okay, it's Cold Steel, so it's probably yeah, because they're that kind of company. The question I have to ask is what I would use it WITH? Because it's always {Weapon} and Shield. Your viewers can't start training with it, before they buy it, but the main Cold Steel product I have is a Bec du Fauchard I've pried car doors off by the hinges with. Which is unfortunately 2 handed, so I can't really carry that buckler with it. Let alone use them together.
I also would prefer it to have two straps like a Scottish targe. The main thing that makes a targe a targe, as opposed to a buckler or a round shield like a viking shield, is that it is designed such that you can hold something like a dagger in your shield hand, and use it as an off-hand weapon.
In modern context it means I could have a secondary weapon while still using the shield.
Especially with non-lethal weapons for self defense (pepper spray, tasers, or even a flashlight for blinding) having two sounds like a big advantage, in case one fails to neutralize the threat.
Or you can carry a lethal and a non lethal weapon together, so you can make a split-second decision which to use.
It's a punch shield. It's designed to also shield bash with.
Those cold steel bucklers will take tremendous abuse. I've been practicing sword and buckler fencing for years with those. They take unlimited punishment against 2 to 4 pound steel training swords. Punching with the dome center boss hits like a ton of bricks. In a demo I've seen heavy duty fencing masks cave in against a buckler punch.
Pair that with cold steel short assegai.
I have one, like it a lot. Got it painted looks great. In practice, I use it in drills. At some point I might have to get another one for abusive testing. Good on you starting a channel, keep it up.
I think a targe is a shield that straps too your forearm and frees up the hand to hold things.
You're welcome to your opinion and what you're saying is true as far as having a Target on your forearm that doesn't allow you to hold things.But have you ever really tried fight with a shield or Buckler? They are effective against Edge weapons and impact weapons. And I also want to highlight that the shield itself can be used to smash (as a weapon) as far as having a full side shields in modern times it wouldn't make sense but a small buckler made out of a hard metal or plastic or bulletproof Buckler would be ideal
I'm considering one of these with a Gladius.
Cold steel website says it is 2 lbs. 2.7 oz. But for some reason Amazon description says 4 lb 11oz
It seems Cold Steel's messed up; they have the same weight on both their Targe and their Buckler, and the Targe is over twice the size - so 4 lbs 11 oz sounds reasonable. Other retailers also list 4+ pounds.
I’ll be getting one
This is good for striking, cutting weapons but will not stop bullets or arrows and crossbow bolts but in hand to hand, the shield and it's application is much better with the shield and secondary weapons you have at hand. Practice your art and be prepared.
It would absolutely stop a crossbow bolt, silly. Just not a bullet. (I think one was tested with a .22LR and it stopped it, but that's hardly much of a caliber!)
@@TemenosL crossbow bolts absolutely destroy these shields
Bla bla bla
Lol