watching Indian sword masters using bucklers, they always tout the ability to hold a dagger in the same hand as the buckler. They note that your opponent tends to forget about the dagger even if they see it because it is mostly hidden by the buckler.
Expanding on your Roman tangent, the Romans tell us that ancient Iberian tribes widely used a small shield or buckler called a caetra. This makes sense since the Iberian tribes were reported to have fought largely as light infantry with swords, javelins, slings, etc. and were adept in skirmishing and guerrilla warfare. A large shield probably would have hindered mobility and a smaller shield possibly had some advantages in individual close combat.
@@adambielen8996 i was about to comment on that cause a hoplon was quite heavy and burdensome to the extend hoplitodromy or hoplites dromos was an olympic competitive run event while carrying a hoplon because it was also trained to soldiers for charges. And we have some accounts if i recall right about specific campain where peltastai (pelta using light infantry skirmishers) were used as part of guerilla warfare to dive and foul up ships anchored near shore. Can not imagine them carry hoplons and try that.
@@adambielen8996 Absolutely! By all accounts the ancient Thracians probably fought in a similar manner as the Iberians. However every reconstruction of a pelta shield that I’ve seen is made of wicker with a strapped grip whereas the caetra is make of wood and had a center grip. Both have their advantages but I’ve personally found center grip shields to be more versatile.
@@Honeybadger_525 the Pelta was made that way. I was mostly referring to the size of the shield. The strap grip was due to Peltasts carrying multiple javelins in their shield hand, something that is much harder to do with a boss grip.
Also if you're relatively well armored but operating with an open-face helmet, it can provide additional protection to the face on approach without compromising your ability to breathe. Edit: It is my favorite shield. It's very travel-friendly.
@@ligh7foo7 You don't need to see through the buckler on approach, you just need to see far enough ahead of yourself to make the approach, which can be accomplished by angling the top edge to your brow and the bottom edge further away from the face. It's not like the location of the enemy is a mystery when you're moving in formation.
I think people underestimate how many attack lines a buckler can close at arms length, and on top of that, it's light and fast so its active coverage is really spectacular.
I always assumed 'light and fast' was the main reason people used bucklers. No good having a massive wooden shield if you can't raise it in time to block an attack. Or after an hour of fighting you can barely lift your big shield anymore because your arm is too tired.
@@ruan13o contrary to what you might think using a big shield is actually less tiring than a buckler. you see a large shield would generally be holding close to your body, which isn't that tiring, a larger shield you could also brace against you knee, some had straps to put some of the weight on the shoulder and something like a scutum you could even rest on the ground if need be and it'd still cover most of you. to use a buckler effectively you have to be holding it a fair bit away from you for extended periods of time, which is actually not an easy thing to do (like just try how long you can hold a water bottle with your arm stretched out and you'll see what i'm talking about) it also needs you to be moving it quickly a lot, which is also very tiring. where a buckler shines is portability, adding one to your luggage doesn't encumber you a lot, and you can wear it on your person in almost any situation, like indoors, while sitting at a table or even while resting, even if you went places were entering armed was prohibited you could generally still bring a buckler.
In medieval Ireland small round shields similar to a buckler were the standard shield in Gaelic warfare. Irish light infantry called Kerns (from the Irish Ceithernach) generally didn't wear armour, they would fight with a small round shield and at least 3 weapons, usually a set of javelins or darts, and usually two or three other weapons, a sword, hand axe, two handed axe, spear, or a Scian (a large knife).
@@CtrlAltRetreat no, some would wear boiled leather caps, but for the most part they didn't, they also didn't wear shoes as since Ireland is an extremely wet and marshy environment the "boots" of the time had very little grip, it was felt that they got better grip when moving and fighting in their bare feet. They were light infantry so relied on speed. They would throw their javelins at the enemy to weaken their lines and then charge in, if the enemy didn't break they would pull back and the heavy infantry would move in. Ireland at the time was mostly bog and forest so heavy armour could be quite cumbersome in these environments so light infantry were preferred for raiding. They were some of the first guerilla warfare experts in Europe, hired by the English throughout the hundred years war, wars of the roses, Italian wars and many others. Albert Dürer painted a group of Kerns and Gallowglasses in the early 16th century.
I will say this. I have been watching your channel for years. Your conversational English has gotten so good. I watched a video of yours recently from 7 years ago. Your English has gotten better in that time!
One of my favourite depictions of buckler carry and use was having a pronounced handle that allowed a side-sword, saber or rapier to be sheathed through the buckler handle and into the scabbard, allowing one to carry it as easily as the sword itself.
I think it does add to the effectiveness of a mace, the one problem I see with maces is that they can be grabbed a lot easier than a bladed weapon, but if you have a buckler you can use it offensively as well. For instance you can simply use it as fist weapon and punch with it, or you can use the rim to smash the other chaps knuckles to make him let go.
Were people actually grabbing maces though? the shaft isn't very long and it comes with great force, if it hits your hand you probably wont hold a weapon again.... i doubt a broken hand will mend correctly.. Matt eastern demonstrated how to keep the mace in motion, so it's not like it comes to a stand still if you miss with it. I could be wrong, since i've heard of people grabbing spear shafts but it seems very risky attempting to grab a mace shaft.
@@rpgpuffer361 I agree grabbing a mace swung at full force would be a very bad idea! I was more thinking along the lines of once it has been swung or when it has been stopped on a piece of armour or as it clashes with another weapon.
I've used a bucker with a spear before, because there was no other shield I could use at the time. It's perfectly serviceable, and rather intuitive. I used both hands for my spear and kept the buckler on my left hand. It's doable, and comfortable provides the buckler handle and spear shift are not too big. I liked the added protection, especially against blows coming up across the spear. It felt like I had a handguard on my spear, a bit like the handguard of a poleaxe
Otherr thing to support the self-defense angle: In a lot of the artwork the bucklers are quite fancy in design as opposed to being just raw wood or metal. So if it was something you were going to wear around all day, it might be something you want to be fashionable and not just practical
For sure, I'm betting they were far more often an accessory than seeing actual use. I doubt most of the people wearing swords day to day expected to actually have to use them, and it was likely the same with their bucklers.
Interesting you mentioned leather bucklers. Reminds me of the small hide shields used by some Native American tribes such as the Apaches, who would use them alongside war clubs and tomahawks.
I love the Kite shield - my favourite one since its so versatile how to hold, riding , protection and that's tthe iconic "knight" shield, together with a one hand fast sword.
Bucklers or buckler type shields were used across the world. The ancient Chinese during the Han Dynasty used the Gou-Rang shield that resembled a metal buckler with a spike in the middle and two long hooks protruding from the top and bottom. It was supposedly used by irregular troops, light troops, body guards, for dueling, etc. Skallagrim has a review of LK Chen's version of the Gou-Rang in one of his videos.
Hey I just whant to say thank you. A few years ago I came in contact with hema with skala and you. Some time later I learned about matt. Now I am looking for my first sword to purchase ever. Thanks to you guys.
Yes, it is a good shield. When used correctly and in accordance with proper techniques with an arming sword, it's quite effective. I have done some mixed sparring with buckler vs. other sword types and it is surprisingly deadly. Much better than I would have thought from such a tiny shield. But if it works, it works.
Since you can hide it beneath a cloak it's the best type of shield for "cloak and dagger" action on a closed environment. With a short sword or a long dagger,the best for urban fights.
To my understanding, bucklers are one of the few shields that we actually have treatises on, which in itself gives them an appeal. I know some people have tried to experimentally extrapolate i33 sword and buckler to the large early-medieval boss-gripped round shields, which I think is pretty interesting to consider; mechanically speaking.
I've done some experimenting and sparring with the i33 treatises and I have to say that it is brutally effective. The shield works very well to protect the hands and ward off blows. It has it's limitations of course, as all weapons and techniques do, but I can certainly see where it would be a very popular daily carry self-defense/ armed guard/ bodyguard type of thing. It's easy to carry around all day doing your normal chores, but effective if you actually need to defend yourself from attack. And it's fairly simple to learn how to use.
@@tjsogmc Having done that do you have any thoughts on people attempting to extrapolate a lot of i33 to larger forms of boss-gripped shields? There's some obvious geometry changes if you use a larger shield, and I imagine you wouldn't want to be as active with a heavier shield
@@tommeakin1732 I encourage experimentation in that area to see if it works, certainly. It's always a good idea to try things out for yourself through study and sparring. My experience has been that scaling up or down in weapon or shield size doesn’t necessarily translate into the same techniques or results. For example: the nodachi is a scaled-up version of the katana. It is natural to think, therefore, that the nodachi is a larger two-handed katana that uses the same technique. But you would be wrong, dead wrong. The nodachi is actually a ONE-HANDED sword that uses VERY different techniques. It is also my experience that a larger weapon doesn’t mean that it’s slower, in fact quite the opposite is true. Larger weapons aren't as "active" as smaller ones, but they are still fast, mobile, and hit like a sledgehammer. I have a crap TH-cam channel that I mostly use to store videos that I share on other forums. I have several videos of mixed weapon sparring that shows some buckler action. There is also a video montage of a workshop that I went to in Paris on the dan dao (the Chinese version of the nodachi). It was eye-opening to say the least. I learned at that workshop that everything I thought I knew about large Asian swords was completely wrong. You might want to check it out and maybe it will give you some ideas.
A couple years ago, Icy Mike of the Hard2Hurt channel tested a modern, hard plastic training buckler. He rated it pretty well as a modern self-defense implement and thought it could be useful for modern police work (he's a former police officer, himself).
On the basis that people who relied on it for their lives used it, it must have been a good shield surely?! At least for their specific needs/context...
It's a tool like any other. If you personally prefer something - it isn't always what's available, and certainly not what you always use... That doesn't mean that alternative's aren't good, either. I highly doubt anyone who needed a shield to stay alive ONLY ever used one kind.
@@user-c4b9b It was the most commonly carried for civilian self defense because it was effective enough to make a significant difference in a fight while not getting in the way too much during the 99+% of one's life in which one doesn't have to use it, and is just carrying it around.
Few years ago when I saw buckler strapped to belt in video game or on book's cover i thought the characters are carring one extra kettle helmet How surprising discover that was then... There will be time to try it on hema sparring some day
I think it's certainly the preferred option for general protection as you're going about your day-to-day business, paired with a short sword. Effective, but unobtrusive enough that you're not knocking things over in the shop. Next best thing to concealed carry.
Agreed. A good defensive weapon for everyday personal protection. However, the downside would be for use in battle, where it's limited coverage would leave the soldier or knight vulnerable to crossbow bolts, and attacks from mounted knights on horseback compared to the protection offered by a heater and kite shield. I think it would be best used with an arming sword and or mace rather than a heavier longsword or rapier.
I actually really like bucklers too because they were used in the early Spanish Tercio formations. But, I had no idea that that's the way they were used. Thank you so much for making content like this!
buckler is my favourite shield by far, as you say for self defence and dueling! For me it's more like a weapon, as I use it to punch and block enemy's vision, weapon and movement... maybe in battle i would prefer something bigger to defend one of my sides or hold the formation.
The buckler is probably not one of my most favorite Shields but my parties made some pretty good use of it in DSA (The Black Eye). It offered some extra protection that came with a shield without being too heavy or too cumbersome. This worked quite well with rapiers, swords and sabers.
I think when push comes to shove, the Buckler would have been a good bashing weapon as a counter strike. Looking at that edge as you wave it around, would also do some damage in a swift strike. Versatility without being cumbersome - I would carry one lol. Great video as always! Thank you for the knowledge.
Great weapon. Allows you to charge at alarming speeds while screaming bloody murder while holding a haunted claymore. Best shield to jump over the walls of Scottish castles.
Highlanders carried a targe which was not only [usually] bigger than a buckler but was [usually] not bossed and centre gripped but strapped. They famously carried a dirk in their off/shield hand - couldn't do that with a centre grip buckler. i.pinimg.com/736x/82/0b/ea/820bea8356d4ee4fe598f2be23fd4f7a.jpg
Ooo thanks for making this video! I would imagine that one advantage of the buckler for a non- or lightly-armored person was its speed. Because of its size and weight, it would be much more agile, and it’s like much easier to intercept an attack if you’re essentially just blocking it with your hand (covered by the buckler of course). Also, you could still use it to hit an in armored opponent with. The metal rim would still be very effective-a set of brass knuckles almost-against an opponent’s face. On campaign, it would definitely be lighter, and I would think it could double as an effective plate or bowl, or maybe even a pan to cook things on (though probably bad for the buckler)-things which a larger or wooden shield would be too unwieldy or in effective at. I would pair a buckler with a rapier, especially since the buckler makes a good substitute for a Maine gauche, especially in terms of weight, while offering more protection. I’m not aware of the fighting styles, but I imagine the buckler could be used to pin an opponent’s weapon against their body. Lots to think about. Loved this video. Keep up the great work!
When I played a bard in AD&D ages ago, a buckler was the only “shield” I was allowed. Apparently a bard can still use the tumble skill with a buckler equipped. My character either used long sword and a main-gauche or a long sword and buckler. I’d go with long sword and buckler, myself.
In terms of wearing it, I have heard, though I can't recall where, that the buckler often had a cord loop around the handle which could then be passed over the top of your sword pommel, so the buckler actually hangs from the cross of your sword. I don't have the source, but I've tried it and it works well.
I used my bukler a lot in my medieval reenactment group. It was ideal for forest skirmishes. The smaller size meant I could get through the underbrush easily where a big shield would slow me down.
Brilliant, I'm researching for a novel I'm planning and my protagonist was going to be armed with a mace and buckler so this video is brilliant, thanks Metatron
For those of you interested in making shields on the cheap, it's fairly easy to make a modular shield with screws(okay, we're throwing complete historical accuracy out the window). I can take out a few screws from my dark ages shield and just screw it onto my buckler. If the holes wear out, I'll just use lag bolts. Other than that, I have little to add, other than that it's the easiest shield to wear in any situation, and there's plenty of source material.
As a sidenote, some of the larger, more conical bucklers (possibly with spikes)... I've seen a manuscript, I believe Carolingian, definitely French, with larger conical or domed boss gripped shields, usually held close to the body. It's a possible evolution. I've tried buckler and spear quite alot, and I find it works best with the buckler in the leading hand. I don't find it comfortable or highly effective. I would say that almost any (single handed) weapon could be used well with buckler, although I'd prefer more reach than the mace in the description.. A good stout weighted cane, I would prefer - and honestly, I prefer a good protective offhand dagger for either blade control or offensive potential. I've done alot of boxing, so leading with the left and being aggressive comes naturally with a centre grip shield. I'd put buckler as a solid #2 just because of ease of carry, as a personal thing. I've gone to too many events with large round shields, and they're frankly a nuisance outside of combat. Still my #1. Also, bucklers are great if you have a messed up left shoulder.
@@AggelosKyriou haha, you could put it like that... I just find it easy to switch one boss between several shields. Two of the shields are truly modular, in that they can each be combined in three ways... Okay, my work means I have all the free wood and stuff like that I want, so once I got one boss, I figured I'd just find ways of making it work for every shield I wanted.
Yeah, I would love to have the buckler. My family is from western El Slavador and eastern Guatemala area. I like to imagine myself as some Spanish chap in the late 16th century armed with a typical Toledo sword and a buckler. Kinda like your scenerio with the streets of Florence.
What if you made a hat that was like a WWI helmet, but could also be used as a buckler, like the chinstrap could be shortened for a handle or something? That was just a weird thought I had when he mentioned protection from projectiles.
Thing is you would then lose your head protection for a shield when you could have just worn it on you belt and still had a helmet. Plus the grip would get in the way of your head.
Another thought about bucklers on the battlefield is that they could be small enough that if your main shield got chopped to pieces having a backup would be handy. For use in self-defense on the street there is a quote in Shakespeare where an old man laments about all the young men using rapiers as opposed to swords and bucklers so in England by the late 1500's it had already gone out of style.
In that particular case ( using rapier instead of buckler) the buckler seems to have almost one for one been replaced by the "main gauche" dagger that often accompanied the rapier. It was used as an active defense implement much as the buckler was
It makes sense that shields will drop off as soon as you get swords with particularly developed guards (particularly in the context of self-defence). It also seems that in that in 1500's England there may have been a period of very rapid development of complex handguards as indicated by a few examples of surprisingly developed early basket-hilts (the first, I believe) that seemingly pop up out of nowhere. Also, it's probably wise to say that the term "rapier" has been used for varying things over time, at least to my understanding. People in the 1500's that might use that term are not thinking of what modern people think of when we say rapier; as the rapier, to modern people is a weapon associated with later periods
Yeah, Rule of Cool has always existed. I mean, why carry a bullock dagger instead of a rondel dagger or poignard or whatever? Because dick jokes are hilarious, and it’s cool to have fun.
As I have been training with bucklers for the last two years I would definitely call it my favorite shield. The only time I face problems with it is in line-formations. That's where other types of shield are truly needed.
I absolutely love the buckler. In my buhurt fights it is my favorite shield to use as it doesn’t obstruct vision and is great for punching as well as grappling which was my main takedown method in the melee. As for weapon pairings I would most often use a mace as I don’t have to be conscious about my alignment when striking and, again, allows the room to grapple. My first buckler was pretty cheap and only about 12 inches in diameter and I did okay with it but there is only so much damage it could take before it would break. I’ve had it repaired three times now. I borrowed my captain’s buckler for a majority of my fights, it must have been around 18 inches in diameter and a good deal thicker as I could block heavy axe blows very well with it. It also had a strap to attach to my forearm since it was so wide. While it may not be wise to do in every circumstance I could see the potential for the type of fighting I do. My gauntlets are heavily armored so I can’t maneuver the shield around very well so it would be static all the time anyway. It allowed me to punch even more effectively. Is it my favorite shield of all time? No but it is my second, that honor goes to the heater shield.
I like it for how you described it, it makes a lot more sense now. My only experience was with video games and they'd usually be paired with rapiers or longswords, which I guess would make sense in the aspect of dueling. I can't imagine something as heavy as a rapier being popular on a battlefield
It's the only one I own & use, but I'm not sure it's my favorite, as you do have to use it actively & when you're knackered after a long fight lifting a steel buckler fast enough to block a blow sometimes isn't possible. But in the right hands it can work wonders.
HEMA: It's had to get a stable block with a buckler for it's shape. So a lot of techniques which want to control the enemies weapon, parry with the main weapon, take the enemy weapon over with you buckler and strike with the now free weapon.
Buckler is S tier in my eyes because it promotes actually parrying and glancing instead of just all out blocking, blocking which leaves your vision slightly scuffed and less able to counter after wards.
I'm going back and forth between buckler and targe as my favourite shield. I would definitely always wield it with a sword although you did convince me there to at least carry a blunt weapon along every once in a while. If I'd take the targe I'd go full highlander getup (not the movie!!!!!) and combine it with the basket hilted broadsword. With the buckler I'm not sure yet. I think, especially if we're being periodically accurate, the type of weapon I'd wield with a buckler will highly depend on what armour I can get my hands on. Anyway, great video! I think the buckler is hugely underrated and heavily misrepresented in popular media.
As an active buhurt/armored Combat practioner, the buckler is favored by many for its excellent grappling ability. It is significantly harder to grapple an opponent when your large weapon or shield gets in your way. Super easy to slip a buckler under someone's arm to establish a grip while it still affords decent protection as you mentioned. My go to weapons in the melee is always a single handed falchion with a small buckler.
... buckler is awesome for everyday carry. My second favourite shield. And I like the crazy spiked Talhoffer ones, though I suspect they are considerably less practical than one like yours and would catch on stuff. I'm boring, I'd wear it with an arming sword. Like, A466. Or an even stabbier one with an even slimmer, more reinforced point. Favourite: skjóldr. 3rd place: fancy renaissance hand pavise lavishly painted with a mighty ram. Or, Venus. Or some intricate pattern that makes your opponent have a seizure. ;-D
my favorite shields are realy BIG shields from the slightly fantastical Wall Shield then to Tower Shield and then the Kite Shield as for what ied use with a buckler? ied use a duel disk, i have infact done this in a D&D campaign, the character was a wizard that specilises in summoning but he also had a large array of spells to increase his defense including a spell called Force Buckler
I think a langmesser and a small-ish buckler would make for a great self-defense package. I really like the idea of a slightly choppy blade as an all-rounder for civilian everyday wear, and a little extra defense from the buckler would be handy. Plus, maybe you could use the nagel to hang your buckler?
I've used smaller pavises before (a hand pavise, about the size of a scutum) but I'm making a buckler now but with a more viking look. Like a tiny viking shield.
You occasionally see Indian basket-hilts on axes and maces from the subcontinent. Not an answer to your question, but someone else thought it was a good idea.
A theory perhaps but, if you have a stick and you put a heavy weight on one end, It will hit hard. Putting a counter weight (for example a guard) the weight might be more distributed along the weapon and give a less heavy blow perhaps? And since you want a mace dealing a lot of force damage, it might be therefor better having a lot of weight on one side. Just a theory. (Also you don't realy want to bind with another weapon with a mace, since you can't harm the opponent then.)
To your questions @Metatron 1st one: In a situation of a duel, as you describe, or in a gladiatorial fight, it is better, further more pounching someone with it, second combat option. But if we are talking about battlefields it would really depend the context. There are moments were it can be useful, like the macedonian phalanx pikemen. 2nd one: at first I choosen a sword, but I decided to reconsider and maybe a mace or a spear. Last option would be a dagger.
Interesting reference to buckler shields in the the war with Mexico reviewed : It is a destiny of raising up the fallen races, and administering wise and equal laws, wherever our dominion extends, not of trampling under the hoofs of the war-horse the prostrate red man, black man, or dark browed Mexican. If the Anglo Saxons have any other destiny than that, let them beware before they run upon the thick bosses of those bucklers of the Almighty, which have already drank up the blood of the proudest victors! -from the “war with Mexico reviewed, Abiel Livermore, American Peace Society 1850”
I do show fights on medieval fairs (I'm the amateur of the group) and decided to get myself a buckler because I really liked the aesthetic. While I still like the aesthetic, I found that, at least in for me, a buckler is much more difficult to use than your standard strapped-to-the-arm shield. First because it is very exhausting to hold it in your extended arm (which you want to do to cover as much of your body as possible) and secondly because you want to block actively.
I finally know what a buckler is after playing RPGs for years. The games would often not show a picture of it and I used to think it was like a special bracelet or something lol
Weighs very little and has low stat requirements. It's a fantastic little shield and with it's parry having increased active frames you can easily take down noobs spamming R1 and even some Ashes of War
Exactly. People would say, what about spell protection, or 100 negation for those chonky melee hits, I say: git your rolls good sctub because I aint a tortoise to walk with a shield weighting 50% of my weapon loadweight.
I think that, given the chance that you are not Boromir, a shield that does not make you look ridiculous when you go to buy bread, but that you can also use to protect the off hand is key to fashion
Yes, I noticed when you switched maces. My top 3 shields are the viking round shield, the buckler, and the celtic shields similar to early scuta. For the algorithm!
A smaller shield like a buckler is also less cumbersome to wield, meaning a faster draw, a more nimble defense with more ability to peek around at the enemy while still confounding them. It is also more easily used as a blunt weapon in itself (with or without a spike). Add to that, it was easier to carry on marches, especially through tough terrain. All that said, the buckler seems to my amateur eye to be a solid choice of defensive weapon. I have read that they were the choice of men-at-arms in England and France who could wear them over a hand gripping a dirk or dagger while leaving the other arm free to wield an axe, mace, sword, or hammer. This combo offered the men-at-arms the ability to spin and dodge more deftly in combat, swinging and stabbing with both arms, all the while holding a decent (or at least complicated to penetrate) defensive stance. I would think that a fight between a dismounted, heavily armored knight and one such man-at-arms, free less-encumbered combat would be a nightmare for the knight (a nightmare? Ugh. I'm sorry). I would wear it with a padded, leather glove though, otherwise it would be had to keep a grip on when hammered upon by a heavy weapon. I love your channel, Metatron. Thank you for another great episode! Bravo!
I practice nitto kenjutsu and having another piece of metal blocking your attacks while the main weapon is threatening you is really overwhelming, mostly if you only have one sword. I think Bucler would be a great choice and would protect a lot more than you could think at first sight, and it´s also very wearable. Definitely one of my favorite shields.
I feel like bucklers are what the pistol became: Easy to wear in a civilian setting, a great back-up if your main weapon is spent or impractical and great for duelling.
I first came across these in Dungeons & Dragons and they seemed really odd to me. And let's be honest, the smaller bucklers do look really puny. But when you think about it, they make a lot of sense. You just have to actively move them around to parry, a bit like a (very sturdy) iron gauntlet.
Can you please do a video on the design on the roman scutum Im currently saving to make one and have had trouble with basic research Only finding some things that im not entirely sure about
I like the buckler, I also like the parrying horns. I think the buckler you have is a little large for day to day carrying for me. I'd want it a little smaller. I think my favorite shield is the lantern shield, I know it's far from the most practical, but I love the look of it. I also like some of the weird spiky...I wanna say Talhoffer ones, that flare out wildly. But the classic heater or the kite shield are probably what I'd want in battle, though I also like the hourglass shape of the celtic/greek style (I can't remember the technical name).
watching Indian sword masters using bucklers, they always tout the ability to hold a dagger in the same hand as the buckler. They note that your opponent tends to forget about the dagger even if they see it because it is mostly hidden by the buckler.
The scotts would hold a dirk in the target hand in later centuries
Expanding on your Roman tangent, the Romans tell us that ancient Iberian tribes widely used a small shield or buckler called a caetra. This makes sense since the Iberian tribes were reported to have fought largely as light infantry with swords, javelins, slings, etc. and were adept in skirmishing and guerrilla warfare. A large shield probably would have hindered mobility and a smaller shield possibly had some advantages in individual close combat.
Makes sense, the Thracians who had a similar style of war also preferred smaller shield (the Pelta) over the large Greek hoplon.
@@adambielen8996 i was about to comment on that cause a hoplon was quite heavy and burdensome to the extend hoplitodromy or hoplites dromos was an olympic competitive run event while carrying a hoplon because it was also trained to soldiers for charges. And we have some accounts if i recall right about specific campain where peltastai (pelta using light infantry skirmishers) were used as part of guerilla warfare to dive and foul up ships anchored near shore. Can not imagine them carry hoplons and try that.
@@adambielen8996 Absolutely! By all accounts the ancient Thracians probably fought in a similar manner as the Iberians. However every reconstruction of a pelta shield that I’ve seen is made of wicker with a strapped grip whereas the caetra is make of wood and had a center grip. Both have their advantages but I’ve personally found center grip shields to be more versatile.
@@Honeybadger_525 the Pelta was made that way. I was mostly referring to the size of the shield. The strap grip was due to Peltasts carrying multiple javelins in their shield hand, something that is much harder to do with a boss grip.
@@galadballcrusher8182 Yeah, guerrilla warfare and skirmishing with a hoplon sounds like it would be exhausting and more that a little awkward.
Also if you're relatively well armored but operating with an open-face helmet, it can provide additional protection to the face on approach without compromising your ability to breathe.
Edit: It is my favorite shield. It's very travel-friendly.
just make a couple of see thru holes and you're sorted.
@@ligh7foo7 You don't need to see through the buckler on approach, you just need to see far enough ahead of yourself to make the approach, which can be accomplished by angling the top edge to your brow and the bottom edge further away from the face. It's not like the location of the enemy is a mystery when you're moving in formation.
I think people underestimate how many attack lines a buckler can close at arms length, and on top of that, it's light and fast so its active coverage is really spectacular.
I always assumed 'light and fast' was the main reason people used bucklers. No good having a massive wooden shield if you can't raise it in time to block an attack. Or after an hour of fighting you can barely lift your big shield anymore because your arm is too tired.
@@ruan13o contrary to what you might think using a big shield is actually less tiring than a buckler.
you see a large shield would generally be holding close to your body, which isn't that tiring, a larger shield you could also brace against you knee, some had straps to put some of the weight on the shoulder and something like a scutum you could even rest on the ground if need be and it'd still cover most of you.
to use a buckler effectively you have to be holding it a fair bit away from you for extended periods of time, which is actually not an easy thing to do (like just try how long you can hold a water bottle with your arm stretched out and you'll see what i'm talking about) it also needs you to be moving it quickly a lot, which is also very tiring.
where a buckler shines is portability, adding one to your luggage doesn't encumber you a lot, and you can wear it on your person in almost any situation, like indoors, while sitting at a table or even while resting, even if you went places were entering armed was prohibited you could generally still bring a buckler.
In medieval Ireland small round shields similar to a buckler were the standard shield in Gaelic warfare. Irish light infantry called Kerns (from the Irish Ceithernach) generally didn't wear armour, they would fight with a small round shield and at least 3 weapons, usually a set of javelins or darts, and usually two or three other weapons, a sword, hand axe, two handed axe, spear, or a Scian (a large knife).
Yes, I am thinking the small shield was easy to hold while trying to throw javelins.
sounds like a skirmish loadout. Probably not my top choice if there were archers or even slingers around. did they say least wear helms?
@@CtrlAltRetreat no, some would wear boiled leather caps, but for the most part they didn't, they also didn't wear shoes as since Ireland is an extremely wet and marshy environment the "boots" of the time had very little grip, it was felt that they got better grip when moving and fighting in their bare feet. They were light infantry so relied on speed. They would throw their javelins at the enemy to weaken their lines and then charge in, if the enemy didn't break they would pull back and the heavy infantry would move in. Ireland at the time was mostly bog and forest so heavy armour could be quite cumbersome in these environments so light infantry were preferred for raiding. They were some of the first guerilla warfare experts in Europe, hired by the English throughout the hundred years war, wars of the roses, Italian wars and many others. Albert Dürer painted a group of Kerns and Gallowglasses in the early 16th century.
I will say this. I have been watching your channel for years. Your conversational English has gotten so good. I watched a video of yours recently from 7 years ago. Your English has gotten better in that time!
One of my favourite depictions of buckler carry and use was having a pronounced handle that allowed a side-sword, saber or rapier to be sheathed through the buckler handle and into the scabbard, allowing one to carry it as easily as the sword itself.
I think it does add to the effectiveness of a mace, the one problem I see with maces is that they can be grabbed a lot easier than a bladed weapon, but if you have a buckler you can use it offensively as well. For instance you can simply use it as fist weapon and punch with it, or you can use the rim to smash the other chaps knuckles to make him let go.
Were people actually grabbing maces though? the shaft isn't very long and it comes with great force, if it hits your hand you probably wont hold a weapon again.... i doubt a broken hand will mend correctly.. Matt eastern demonstrated how to keep the mace in motion, so it's not like it comes to a stand still if you miss with it. I could be wrong, since i've heard of people grabbing spear shafts but it seems very risky attempting to grab a mace shaft.
If you try to grab a mace you'll shatter your bones my friend. Liked your comment though, I definitely agree 👍
@@rpgpuffer361 I agree grabbing a mace swung at full force would be a very bad idea! I was more thinking along the lines of once it has been swung or when it has been stopped on a piece of armour or as it clashes with another weapon.
Who's willing to grab a fucking club full-forcing into your person with their arm, bare or armored?
I my country in lebanon we still have a kind of a sword and buckler dance, its kind of a folkloric dance displayed usually in wedd8ngs and events
The buckler is infact my favorite shield, especially when paired with my favorite one-handed weapon, the Warhammer
I've used a bucker with a spear before, because there was no other shield I could use at the time.
It's perfectly serviceable, and rather intuitive. I used both hands for my spear and kept the buckler on my left hand. It's doable, and comfortable provides the buckler handle and spear shift are not too big. I liked the added protection, especially against blows coming up across the spear.
It felt like I had a handguard on my spear, a bit like the handguard of a poleaxe
Funnily enough I just started attending a trial course in Italian-style sidesword and buckler fighting. Thanks for the timely information!
Sword and buckler fencing is my very favorite school of HEMA swordplay, and I think it is the most elegant overall.
When I see a buckler, always reminds me of Rodeleros, age of sail, galleons, morion, cuirass, Conquistadors , and Spain.
Otherr thing to support the self-defense angle: In a lot of the artwork the bucklers are quite fancy in design as opposed to being just raw wood or metal.
So if it was something you were going to wear around all day, it might be something you want to be fashionable and not just practical
Are we any different today with our EDC knives or concealed carry guns?
For sure, I'm betting they were far more often an accessory than seeing actual use. I doubt most of the people wearing swords day to day expected to actually have to use them, and it was likely the same with their bucklers.
I love a buckler for HMB, it lets you wrestle better than a shield does, and the strikes with the edge are absolutely vicious.
Interesting you mentioned leather bucklers. Reminds me of the small hide shields used by some Native American tribes such as the Apaches, who would use them alongside war clubs and tomahawks.
A buckler with a rapier sounds very nice for me. I love the swiftness and versatility of both a rapier with a buckler
I love the Kite shield - my favourite one since its so versatile how to hold, riding , protection and that's tthe iconic "knight" shield, together with a one hand fast sword.
Another great video. Step aside order of the blade, the order of the buckler is here.
Bucklers or buckler type shields were used across the world. The ancient Chinese during the Han Dynasty used the Gou-Rang shield that resembled a metal buckler with a spike in the middle and two long hooks protruding from the top and bottom. It was supposedly used by irregular troops, light troops, body guards, for dueling, etc. Skallagrim has a review of LK Chen's version of the Gou-Rang in one of his videos.
Hey I just whant to say thank you. A few years ago I came in contact with hema with skala and you. Some time later I learned about matt. Now I am looking for my first sword to purchase ever. Thanks to you guys.
My pleasure!
Love it definitely need a bigger one I want a tear drop one as ones I’ve seen in some manuals.
Yes, it is a good shield. When used correctly and in accordance with proper techniques with an arming sword, it's quite effective. I have done some mixed sparring with buckler vs. other sword types and it is surprisingly deadly. Much better than I would have thought from such a tiny shield. But if it works, it works.
Since you can hide it beneath a cloak it's the best type of shield for "cloak and dagger" action on a closed environment.
With a short sword or a long dagger,the best for urban fights.
To my understanding, bucklers are one of the few shields that we actually have treatises on, which in itself gives them an appeal. I know some people have tried to experimentally extrapolate i33 sword and buckler to the large early-medieval boss-gripped round shields, which I think is pretty interesting to consider; mechanically speaking.
I've done some experimenting and sparring with the i33 treatises and I have to say that it is brutally effective. The shield works very well to protect the hands and ward off blows. It has it's limitations of course, as all weapons and techniques do, but I can certainly see where it would be a very popular daily carry self-defense/ armed guard/ bodyguard type of thing. It's easy to carry around all day doing your normal chores, but effective if you actually need to defend yourself from attack. And it's fairly simple to learn how to use.
@@tjsogmc Having done that do you have any thoughts on people attempting to extrapolate a lot of i33 to larger forms of boss-gripped shields? There's some obvious geometry changes if you use a larger shield, and I imagine you wouldn't want to be as active with a heavier shield
@@tommeakin1732 I encourage experimentation in that area to see if it works, certainly. It's always a good idea to try things out for yourself through study and sparring.
My experience has been that scaling up or down in weapon or shield size doesn’t necessarily translate into the same techniques or results. For example: the nodachi is a scaled-up version of the katana. It is natural to think, therefore, that the nodachi is a larger two-handed katana that uses the same technique. But you would be wrong, dead wrong. The nodachi is actually a ONE-HANDED sword that uses VERY different techniques.
It is also my experience that a larger weapon doesn’t mean that it’s slower, in fact quite the opposite is true. Larger weapons aren't as "active" as smaller ones, but they are still fast, mobile, and hit like a sledgehammer.
I have a crap TH-cam channel that I mostly use to store videos that I share on other forums. I have several videos of mixed weapon sparring that shows some buckler action. There is also a video montage of a workshop that I went to in Paris on the dan dao (the Chinese version of the nodachi). It was eye-opening to say the least. I learned at that workshop that everything I thought I knew about large Asian swords was completely wrong. You might want to check it out and maybe it will give you some ideas.
What is i33?
A couple years ago, Icy Mike of the Hard2Hurt channel tested a modern, hard plastic training buckler. He rated it pretty well as a modern self-defense implement and thought it could be useful for modern police work (he's a former police officer, himself).
On the basis that people who relied on it for their lives used it, it must have been a good shield surely?! At least for their specific needs/context...
It's a tool like any other. If you personally prefer something - it isn't always what's available, and certainly not what you always use... That doesn't mean that alternative's aren't good, either. I highly doubt anyone who needed a shield to stay alive ONLY ever used one kind.
@@user-c4b9b It was the most commonly carried for civilian self defense because it was effective enough to make a significant difference in a fight while not getting in the way too much during the 99+% of one's life in which one doesn't have to use it, and is just carrying it around.
@@cattraknoff exactly. benefit to cost ratio is really good.
That’s exactly what I thought, reading the title. I’d imagine that war gear evolved as a result of success and survival in the field.
@@nagamata the Battlefield (whether military or civilian) is a pretty Darwinian environment; if it doesn't work, you're dead... ☠️
It is indeed my favorite shield.
I like the "brawling" quality it has when used actively.
I own a buckler, have had it for years, and I would use it with a war hammer or hatchet.
Few years ago when I saw buckler strapped to belt in video game or on book's cover i thought the characters are carring one extra kettle helmet
How surprising discover that was then... There will be time to try it on hema sparring some day
I think it's certainly the preferred option for general protection as you're going about your day-to-day business, paired with a short sword. Effective, but unobtrusive enough that you're not knocking things over in the shop. Next best thing to concealed carry.
Agreed. A good defensive weapon for everyday personal protection. However, the downside would be for use in battle, where it's limited coverage would leave the soldier or knight vulnerable to crossbow bolts, and attacks from mounted knights on horseback compared to the protection offered by a heater and kite shield. I think it would be best used with an arming sword and or mace rather than a heavier longsword or rapier.
I love this video!
Since I first saw a buckler mentioned in one of your former videos I just thought:"Wow, what a cool kind of shield!". 😎👍
I actually really like bucklers too because they were used in the early Spanish Tercio formations. But, I had no idea that that's the way they were used. Thank you so much for making content like this!
TX says well done ✔️ as always 👏 . Cannot get enough of this channel
I’m glad to hear! Much more content to come!
buckler is my favourite shield by far, as you say for self defence and dueling! For me it's more like a weapon, as I use it to punch and block enemy's vision, weapon and movement... maybe in battle i would prefer something bigger to defend one of my sides or hold the formation.
The buckler is probably not one of my most favorite Shields but my parties made some pretty good use of it in DSA (The Black Eye). It offered some extra protection that came with a shield without being too heavy or too cumbersome.
This worked quite well with rapiers, swords and sabers.
I think when push comes to shove, the Buckler would have been a good bashing weapon as a counter strike. Looking at that edge as you wave it around, would also do some damage in a swift strike. Versatility without being cumbersome - I would carry one lol. Great video as always! Thank you for the knowledge.
Great weapon. Allows you to charge at alarming speeds while screaming bloody murder while holding a haunted claymore. Best shield to jump over the walls of Scottish castles.
"GUTSANDGLORYLADS!"
Sounds like team fortress 2 reference :)
I love Scotland and its wonderful people!! 🏴
Scotland is NOT a real country! You are an englishman in a DRESS!
Highlanders carried a targe which was not only [usually] bigger than a buckler but was [usually] not bossed and centre gripped but strapped.
They famously carried a dirk in their off/shield hand - couldn't do that with a centre grip buckler.
i.pinimg.com/736x/82/0b/ea/820bea8356d4ee4fe598f2be23fd4f7a.jpg
I love the buckler. I used to teach it in my former group. I will be using it with an axe next week so that is going to be fun.
Ooo thanks for making this video! I would imagine that one advantage of the buckler for a non- or lightly-armored person was its speed. Because of its size and weight, it would be much more agile, and it’s like much easier to intercept an attack if you’re essentially just blocking it with your hand (covered by the buckler of course). Also, you could still use it to hit an in armored opponent with. The metal rim would still be very effective-a set of brass knuckles almost-against an opponent’s face.
On campaign, it would definitely be lighter, and I would think it could double as an effective plate or bowl, or maybe even a pan to cook things on (though probably bad for the buckler)-things which a larger or wooden shield would be too unwieldy or in effective at.
I would pair a buckler with a rapier, especially since the buckler makes a good substitute for a Maine gauche, especially in terms of weight, while offering more protection.
I’m not aware of the fighting styles, but I imagine the buckler could be used to pin an opponent’s weapon against their body.
Lots to think about. Loved this video. Keep up the great work!
When I played a bard in AD&D ages ago, a buckler was the only “shield” I was allowed. Apparently a bard can still use the tumble skill with a buckler equipped. My character either used long sword and a main-gauche or a long sword and buckler. I’d go with long sword and buckler, myself.
In terms of wearing it, I have heard, though I can't recall where, that the buckler often had a cord loop around the handle which could then be passed over the top of your sword pommel, so the buckler actually hangs from the cross of your sword. I don't have the source, but I've tried it and it works well.
I used my bukler a lot in my medieval reenactment group. It was ideal for forest skirmishes. The smaller size meant I could get through the underbrush easily where a big shield would slow me down.
Brilliant, I'm researching for a novel I'm planning and my protagonist was going to be armed with a mace and buckler so this video is brilliant, thanks Metatron
Nice, this is my favorite shield to use in Dark Souls. Cheers!
For those of you interested in making shields on the cheap, it's fairly easy to make a modular shield with screws(okay, we're throwing complete historical accuracy out the window). I can take out a few screws from my dark ages shield and just screw it onto my buckler. If the holes wear out, I'll just use lag bolts.
Other than that, I have little to add, other than that it's the easiest shield to wear in any situation, and there's plenty of source material.
As a sidenote, some of the larger, more conical bucklers (possibly with spikes)... I've seen a manuscript, I believe Carolingian, definitely French, with larger conical or domed boss gripped shields, usually held close to the body. It's a possible evolution.
I've tried buckler and spear quite alot, and I find it works best with the buckler in the leading hand. I don't find it comfortable or highly effective.
I would say that almost any (single handed) weapon could be used well with buckler, although I'd prefer more reach than the mace in the description.. A good stout weighted cane, I would prefer - and honestly, I prefer a good protective offhand dagger for either blade control or offensive potential. I've done alot of boxing, so leading with the left and being aggressive comes naturally with a centre grip shield. I'd put buckler as a solid #2 just because of ease of carry, as a personal thing. I've gone to too many events with large round shields, and they're frankly a nuisance outside of combat. Still my #1.
Also, bucklers are great if you have a messed up left shoulder.
@@brianknezevich9894 You mean a shield with several screw on parts to make it larger when necessary?
@@AggelosKyriou haha, you could put it like that... I just find it easy to switch one boss between several shields. Two of the shields are truly modular, in that they can each be combined in three ways...
Okay, my work means I have all the free wood and stuff like that I want, so once I got one boss, I figured I'd just find ways of making it work for every shield I wanted.
@@brianknezevich9894 You replace the rivets for the boss with screws/bolts then?
@@AggelosKyriou yes! Makes swapping a matter of seconds with a screw gun!
Yeah, I would love to have the buckler. My family is from western El Slavador and eastern Guatemala area.
I like to imagine myself as some Spanish chap in the late 16th century armed with a typical Toledo sword and a buckler. Kinda like your scenerio with the streets of Florence.
My favourite parry shield :D
What if you made a hat that was like a WWI helmet, but could also be used as a buckler, like the chinstrap could be shortened for a handle or something? That was just a weird thought I had when he mentioned protection from projectiles.
Thing is you would then lose your head protection for a shield when you could have just worn it on you belt and still had a helmet. Plus the grip would get in the way of your head.
another awesome video metatron! i have being learning a lot with you
I’m glad to hear Marco, it’s great to have you here
@@metatronyt, and thank you for teaching us more about history, weapons, and armor. I’ve become a better history enthusiast because of these videos.
Another thought about bucklers on the battlefield is that they could be small enough that if your main shield got chopped to pieces having a backup would be handy.
For use in self-defense on the street there is a quote in Shakespeare where an old man laments about all the young men using rapiers as opposed to swords and bucklers so in England by the late 1500's it had already gone out of style.
In that particular case ( using rapier instead of buckler) the buckler seems to have almost one for one been replaced by the "main gauche" dagger that often accompanied the rapier. It was used as an active defense implement much as the buckler was
It makes sense that shields will drop off as soon as you get swords with particularly developed guards (particularly in the context of self-defence). It also seems that in that in 1500's England there may have been a period of very rapid development of complex handguards as indicated by a few examples of surprisingly developed early basket-hilts (the first, I believe) that seemingly pop up out of nowhere.
Also, it's probably wise to say that the term "rapier" has been used for varying things over time, at least to my understanding. People in the 1500's that might use that term are not thinking of what modern people think of when we say rapier; as the rapier, to modern people is a weapon associated with later periods
Great everyday sheild
Bucklers look cool so they get style points
medieval hipsters using things because they are cool? 😂
Yeah, Rule of Cool has always existed.
I mean, why carry a bullock dagger instead of a rondel dagger or poignard or whatever? Because dick jokes are hilarious, and it’s cool to have fun.
@@mitcharcher7528 i was pleasantly surprised when i read Aristophanes and he was making dick and fart jokes 😅
As I have been training with bucklers for the last two years I would definitely call it my favorite shield. The only time I face problems with it is in line-formations. That's where other types of shield are truly needed.
They could be used to make up a quick batch of stir fry since there were lots of fowl and pork available in Medieval Europe. Tasty
I absolutely love the buckler. In my buhurt fights it is my favorite shield to use as it doesn’t obstruct vision and is great for punching as well as grappling which was my main takedown method in the melee. As for weapon pairings I would most often use a mace as I don’t have to be conscious about my alignment when striking and, again, allows the room to grapple. My first buckler was pretty cheap and only about 12 inches in diameter and I did okay with it but there is only so much damage it could take before it would break. I’ve had it repaired three times now. I borrowed my captain’s buckler for a majority of my fights, it must have been around 18 inches in diameter and a good deal thicker as I could block heavy axe blows very well with it. It also had a strap to attach to my forearm since it was so wide. While it may not be wise to do in every circumstance I could see the potential for the type of fighting I do. My gauntlets are heavily armored so I can’t maneuver the shield around very well so it would be static all the time anyway. It allowed me to punch even more effectively. Is it my favorite shield of all time? No but it is my second, that honor goes to the heater shield.
I always imagined the buckler along with a mace. in my head it just makes perfect sense
I like it for how you described it, it makes a lot more sense now. My only experience was with video games and they'd usually be paired with rapiers or longswords, which I guess would make sense in the aspect of dueling. I can't imagine something as heavy as a rapier being popular on a battlefield
Buckler and baselard for personal protection.
bucler definitely in the top3, the pavese is my favourite.
It's the only one I own & use, but I'm not sure it's my favorite, as you do have to use it actively & when you're knackered after a long fight lifting a steel buckler fast enough to block a blow sometimes isn't possible. But in the right hands it can work wonders.
HEMA: It's had to get a stable block with a buckler for it's shape. So a lot of techniques which want to control the enemies weapon, parry with the main weapon, take the enemy weapon over with you buckler and strike with the now free weapon.
Is... is it not a dual-purpose dinner plate/belt buckle???
Bucklers were used on Horseback? That is crazy to me, such a fascinating detail. Thank you for mentioning this.
Bolognese Sidesword and Buckler is my favorite weapon combo.
Buckler is S tier in my eyes because it promotes actually parrying and glancing instead of just all out blocking, blocking which leaves your vision slightly scuffed and less able to counter after wards.
I'm going back and forth between buckler and targe as my favourite shield. I would definitely always wield it with a sword although you did convince me there to at least carry a blunt weapon along every once in a while. If I'd take the targe I'd go full highlander getup (not the movie!!!!!) and combine it with the basket hilted broadsword. With the buckler I'm not sure yet. I think, especially if we're being periodically accurate, the type of weapon I'd wield with a buckler will highly depend on what armour I can get my hands on. Anyway, great video! I think the buckler is hugely underrated and heavily misrepresented in popular media.
As an active buhurt/armored Combat practioner, the buckler is favored by many for its excellent grappling ability. It is significantly harder to grapple an opponent when your large weapon or shield gets in your way. Super easy to slip a buckler under someone's arm to establish a grip while it still affords decent protection as you mentioned.
My go to weapons in the melee is always a single handed falchion with a small buckler.
That is very interesting. I don't know how to use the buckler for grappling. Do you know where I can find information on this technique?
... buckler is awesome for everyday carry. My second favourite shield. And I like the crazy spiked Talhoffer ones, though I suspect they are considerably less practical than one like yours and would catch on stuff. I'm boring, I'd wear it with an arming sword. Like, A466. Or an even stabbier one with an even slimmer, more reinforced point.
Favourite: skjóldr. 3rd place: fancy renaissance hand pavise lavishly painted with a mighty ram. Or, Venus. Or some intricate pattern that makes your opponent have a seizure. ;-D
Absolutely love the buckler. To wear for civilian every day life, 9 inch so convenient!
These pointy bucklers are really awesome for Dueling because you can use it as shield or you can work with oponents blade as with dager.
my favorite shields are realy BIG shields
from the slightly fantastical Wall Shield then to Tower Shield and then the Kite Shield
as for what ied use with a buckler? ied use a duel disk, i have infact done this in a D&D campaign, the character was a wizard that specilises in summoning but he also had a large array of spells to increase his defense including a spell called Force Buckler
I think a langmesser and a small-ish buckler would make for a great self-defense package. I really like the idea of a slightly choppy blade as an all-rounder for civilian everyday wear, and a little extra defense from the buckler would be handy. Plus, maybe you could use the nagel to hang your buckler?
I've used smaller pavises before (a hand pavise, about the size of a scutum) but I'm making a buckler now but with a more viking look.
Like a tiny viking shield.
A question that i had in mind for longer than i realised but never asked...
Why no guards on maces? Or axes for that matter?
You occasionally see Indian basket-hilts on axes and maces from the subcontinent. Not an answer to your question, but someone else thought it was a good idea.
A theory perhaps but, if you have a stick and you put a heavy weight on one end, It will hit hard. Putting a counter weight (for example a guard) the weight might be more distributed along the weapon and give a less heavy blow perhaps? And since you want a mace dealing a lot of force damage, it might be therefor better having a lot of weight on one side. Just a theory. (Also you don't realy want to bind with another weapon with a mace, since you can't harm the opponent then.)
To your questions @Metatron 1st one: In a situation of a duel, as you describe, or in a gladiatorial fight, it is better, further more pounching someone with it, second combat option. But if we are talking about battlefields it would really depend the context. There are moments were it can be useful, like the macedonian phalanx pikemen.
2nd one: at first I choosen a sword, but I decided to reconsider and maybe a mace or a spear. Last option would be a dagger.
Interesting reference to buckler shields in the the war with Mexico reviewed :
It is a destiny of raising up the fallen races, and administering wise and equal laws, wherever our dominion extends, not of trampling under the hoofs of the war-horse the prostrate red man, black man, or dark browed Mexican. If the Anglo Saxons have any other destiny than that, let them beware before they run upon the thick bosses of those bucklers of the Almighty, which have already drank up the blood of the proudest victors!
-from the “war with Mexico reviewed, Abiel Livermore, American Peace Society 1850”
Definitely into my top 3, yes! Cool Video Ser Metatron :) Saluti da Zena
I do show fights on medieval fairs (I'm the amateur of the group) and decided to get myself a buckler because I really liked the aesthetic. While I still like the aesthetic, I found that, at least in for me, a buckler is much more difficult to use than your standard strapped-to-the-arm shield. First because it is very exhausting to hold it in your extended arm (which you want to do to cover as much of your body as possible) and secondly because you want to block actively.
“Swash buckler” comes from the sound the buckler would make while on the belt bc of the swashing sound it would make while walking
I finally know what a buckler is after playing RPGs for years. The games would often not show a picture of it and I used to think it was like a special bracelet or something lol
Third option for carrying a buckler would be on your head as the most stylish of hats
That would be the only option I think
Weighs very little and has low stat requirements. It's a fantastic little shield and with it's parry having increased active frames you can easily take down noobs spamming R1 and even some Ashes of War
Exactly. People would say, what about spell protection, or 100 negation for those chonky melee hits, I say: git your rolls good sctub because I aint a tortoise to walk with a shield weighting 50% of my weapon loadweight.
I think that, given the chance that you are not Boromir, a shield that does not make you look ridiculous when you go to buy bread, but that you can also use to protect the off hand is key to fashion
Yes, I noticed when you switched maces. My top 3 shields are the viking round shield, the buckler, and the celtic shields similar to early scuta. For the algorithm!
I always like the idea of being an Archer in the Middle Ages and carrying a Buckler and an ax if the battle got too close for comfort.
I love Talhoffers buckler.
It can be very useful in Elden Ring.
You have a pretty high chance to successfully parry an Attack.
My favorite shield is the one that will keep me warm in cold winters. The mighty heater shield
A smaller shield like a buckler is also less cumbersome to wield, meaning a faster draw, a more nimble defense with more ability to peek around at the enemy while still confounding them. It is also more easily used as a blunt weapon in itself (with or without a spike). Add to that, it was easier to carry on marches, especially through tough terrain. All that said, the buckler seems to my amateur eye to be a solid choice of defensive weapon. I have read that they were the choice of men-at-arms in England and France who could wear them over a hand gripping a dirk or dagger while leaving the other arm free to wield an axe, mace, sword, or hammer. This combo offered the men-at-arms the ability to spin and dodge more deftly in combat, swinging and stabbing with both arms, all the while holding a decent (or at least complicated to penetrate) defensive stance. I would think that a fight between a dismounted, heavily armored knight and one such man-at-arms, free less-encumbered combat would be a nightmare for the knight (a nightmare? Ugh. I'm sorry). I would wear it with a padded, leather glove though, otherwise it would be had to keep a grip on when hammered upon by a heavy weapon.
I love your channel, Metatron. Thank you for another great episode! Bravo!
This and viking round shield are my favourite historical shields.
I practice nitto kenjutsu and having another piece of metal blocking your attacks while the main weapon is threatening you is really overwhelming, mostly if you only have one sword. I think Bucler would be a great choice and would protect a lot more than you could think at first sight, and it´s also very wearable. Definitely one of my favorite shields.
I feel like bucklers are what the pistol became: Easy to wear in a civilian setting, a great back-up if your main weapon is spent or impractical and great for duelling.
LOL, that intro XD. Well done!
I first came across these in Dungeons & Dragons and they seemed really odd to me. And let's be honest, the smaller bucklers do look really puny. But when you think about it, they make a lot of sense. You just have to actively move them around to parry, a bit like a (very sturdy) iron gauntlet.
beginning was funny as heck
I like your films they are very intresting 👍👍👍👍
Can you please do a video on the design on the roman scutum
Im currently saving to make one and have had trouble with basic research
Only finding some things that im not entirely sure about
I like the buckler, I also like the parrying horns. I think the buckler you have is a little large for day to day carrying for me. I'd want it a little smaller. I think my favorite shield is the lantern shield, I know it's far from the most practical, but I love the look of it. I also like some of the weird spiky...I wanna say Talhoffer ones, that flare out wildly. But the classic heater or the kite shield are probably what I'd want in battle, though I also like the hourglass shape of the celtic/greek style (I can't remember the technical name).