Real men use empty off-hand to parry. Buckler is a clutch for the ones who can't even even parry the two-handed heavy blades with empty hand. Only dexofags go for bucklers over greatsword with empty hand.
you make jokes about that, but I once did something similar with a wizard. basically, he was carrying two big shields, when battle started, he would cover himself against a tree or into a corner, cover himself with the enchanted shields and cast his spells in safety from below.... I referred to him as Longgui. (Dragon Turtle) of course, I could only do that because we had a DM worth a damn, since DnD's battle mechanics are horrible. he also wore a Gambeson and had a Kusarigama as a backup weapon... including the ability to bind enemies or weapons... and pierce armour... the DM hated my guts.
Nathan Holstrom well, it all comes down to argumentation and your DM. First off, he wasn't technically holding the shields while casting the spell... as I said, he would cover behind/under them. They were enchanted pavises. Gambessons aren't medium armour... they are literally defined as 'cloth armour'. a gambesson weighs not even a fraction of a chainmail... it's fine, I've worn one once... it's like wearing a thick winter jacket... you may get a little hot in it, but otherwise you're just fine. the DM gave it a -1 to Dex checks, but I wasn't doing many of them anyway and the vulnerability to fire was just as bad as with normal robes... until I got one padded with wool. because wool doesn't burn do you remember the part I said about 'enchanted'? I had high intelligence and crafting and thus enchanted them with a variation of the featherfall spell that I could activate on touch... either to make it lighter, for carrying or heavier, for extra defence when they were standing. besides, if you know how to bend space, you can make a bag of holding out of anything... including your pocket. who said I didn't have components on myself? as I said... my pockets were VERY deep... and considering I was playing a character from a wealthy family, in more ways than one.
+ultraboy222 no, the player was overcome by the first flame and burned to ash. he wasn't fit to become the new lord of cinder. however in dark souls 3, when you link the first flame, you see your character just casually sits down instead of being consumed. as such, he was accepted and became a new lord of cinder.
bucklers are literally my favourite type of shield. I am so glad you gave them this shout-out and the recognition they deserve. by all means, they do not have the same defensive capacity as larger shields. but they have advantages of their own, and their defensive capacity ought not to be underestimated. :)
There is a buckler called a Fist Buckler. It's very light and very small. One is made by Kingston Arms. Smaller than a 9" buckler for sure. Check it out. It certainly looks like a metal fist. Propably for fisting , defense and an aggressive Active Defense. It just happens to defend. I bet if you took one to the face it might really hurt.
Every Dark Souls veteran doesn't laugh at buckler. They fear it. They honor it. They respect it. Best parry tool since Dark Souls 1 (or maybe even Demon Souls) I only wish it looked as crystal clear and new-made like yours
They always like to debate dual-wielding, but I think we're really missing out on the true art of combat by not investigating the benefits.... ....of dual-*shielding*.
Provided that one shield is smaller than the other, you fit the dual wielding profile. The dueling dual-shielded shields shield-bashing bashing bandits brightly. And with a brilliant bag of blade pommels, carried in a nimble buckler hand, you can still end a foe rightly.
I could easily imagine a warrior who found himself in desperate need of a shield-thingy just picking up a kettle hat and so the first buckler was invented
Well, D&D wasn't ever accurate about such details. The whole AC concept contradicts with how armor is supposed to work. Still a great system though, in terms of actual gameplay.
Oh I agree. Though I prefer Pathfinder nowadays. But making the buckler hand held rather than strapped to a forearm makes no mechanical change. It just makes it reflect how they were actually used.
No irritation at the clash of time periods? Greatswords and bucklers and plate armor and so forth? Most D&D/PF games take place in a weird sort of hodge podge setting of Renaissance level technology (except for gunpowder) and Medieval style everything else.
No. In the real world we have had that happen as well. Some countries having automatic machine guns, others muzzle-loading percussion cap rifles and others with stone tools all at the same time. A game that presented those all with relative realism would be completely acceptable to me. But bucklers strapped to an arm? Absurd. And don't get me started on weapon weights...
When I was teaching some of my friends basic swordplay they quickly learned to respect the buckler. The amount of defense that this tool offers is not to be underestimated. Also, it really hurts if it hits you even slowly, wear padding if you spar.
You're right. They do have "armor" value though. As in, they add to your armor stat. But that makes sense, since a shield is used for defense and blocking stuff.
I feel like that's the case in most western RPGs. Usually if you are a warrior, you can either use a sword and shield, or a 2 handed weapon like a battle axe or greatsword.
Cypher System may be one of the only tabletop pen-and-paper RPG's to get this right. Armour makes you harder to hurt (since you have to strike into gaps etc), shields make you harder to connect with (since they ease active defence).
+crazyguywithasword sometime, when you are un able to unscrew the pomel, you have to throw the sword(pomel first of course) to be able to end them rightly, leaving you vulnerable.
Keep doing what you are doing. You make very interesting videos that are also entertaining to watch. Your channel is really cool. Thank you for all the hard work that you put into these videos.
I have trained with a buckler for years and have encouraged many others to use one. The great advantage of the buckler is that you have to move. You have to get your footwork right. It comes down to the simple principle of "Move or die". You can move the buckler faster then a everyday shield and when you move "around" the buckler, openings appear for strikes at an opponent. It really encourages greater mobility and therefore defence. Excellent for one on one combat. Yes it suffers in a melee combat or against archers. However, the improved footwork for defence and attack that the buckler can provide will serve very well when fighting with an early to middle medieval shield. Really enjoyed this vid too.
i love ALL history but before finding Skalls channel my favourite period was 1689 and onward now i love history a LOT further back too THANKS SKALL!!!! you have given me a massive interest in military history before the age of black-powder. and yes to answer you question i do have a better understanding of the buckler.
im hoping you can answer this for me, is availability the only reason people didn't use metal gauntlets in place of bucklers? it seems it would have the same function with maybe even more use
actually it would be harder to deflect blows with gauntlets, at least using the same motions, with gauntlets i think you would more or less have to backhand all enemy attacks, the other thing is that if your in a bar & are suddenly attacked (or some more likely scenario where your taken by surprise) you can grab your buckler allot faster then you can put on armored gloves.... & then there's price... a buckler would be simpler to make = cheaper.
Gauntlets tend to send the impact shock directly into your joints and knuckles. A buckler will more easily deflect and absorb more of the force and shock, and with practice you can manipulate and deflect as deftly with a buckler as you naturally could with a heavy gauntlet, which would limit your hand's natural mobility somewhat in its own right.
Hey Skall, would you think that a sword design like the energy swords in the Halo Franchise would be practical in real life, with the handle of the sword being like in a punch dagger?
+Vel Koz Not particularly. Unless you were to include some form of hand protection, we have a potential problem with getting the fingers/ knuckles crushed and or cut on target. But, I'm not very familiar with the weapon, so this is just theory.
I like your videos and have been subscribed for a long time but you holding the buckler forward like that was probably one of the best visual aids you've ever given to explain something. It's honestly blew my mind for a second.
Great video. I've always been a fan of the sword and buckler combo. I tend to favor civilian weapons and defense styles over more military focused weapons. Loved seeing the info you had to share with us. Thank you.
Yeah, no. Katana's were trash and that's why only one group of people used them.the Roman gladius is about a thousand times better and more well designed,and much much much better for fighting.
In medieval combat recreation and solo sparring I was surprised how effective bucklers could be. You really have to be active with a buckler but the added speed of movement you have is nice.
Other outside-the-box advantages of bucklers, particularly for travel, trade, exploration and general adventure: 1. Every kilogram you carry could have been food, water, or trade goods. 2. Many dangerous creatures are not human (i.e. dog, wolf, puma, snake). With a buckler you can punch them right in the nose. 3. Your buckler could also be your frying grill, boiling pan, and dinner plate. (see #1) 4. Your buckler hand can still lead your horse or hound, or carry a bucket or lantern -- in which case the light reflects to where you want instead of night-blinding you. 5. You could do a dive-roll with a smaller buckler to change combat ranges. 6. With a buckler, you still have climbing options and can maneuver through ship rigging and dense brush. 7. Sometimes, the best tactic is to not be seen. Trees are good cover like that, and your buckler hides with you. 8. Your buckler doesn't make the guards/police think you are looking for a fight. (see #3) 9. Inertia also matters. Your buckler can be applied quickly to any facing/quarter in a complicated situation. 10. You can shoot a bow while still holding your buckler. 11. (because "this one goes to 11") ...also works as a sun shade and rain hat! I could do a whole "13th Warrior" or "Sinbad" style movie of all the ways to make this stuff fun :)
I share with you a quote, taken out of context: "doesn't want something dangling around all the time, wants to be able to sit down with out problems" - Skallagrim make of it what you will.
You said you say there are pros and cons a lot but that's why I enjoy your videos so much as it means you're being unbiased and allowing people to create there own opinions. Hey from england by the way
It's basically a boxing glove that your opponent can't cut thru, only around. Therefore, you can control where your opponent will have to go without restricting your own path of attack like a full size shield would. You can also hide your sword point behind it and block your own eyes from your opponent, keeping them from seeing where you're looking and preempting your strikes. This "puny little shield" is quite the unassuming pain in the ass in a fight, and that's why I like it ^^
Yep, I always said that the buckler is a defensive weapon, just the same as any parrying dagger or sword breaker. But you can find some people that will say _nah, it isn't a weapon, is a shield, and shields are used only for protection!_ . Yes, its main function is to defend with it... until you encounter an opponent that is particularly good at striking, and bash with a shield, that's when you'll no longer call that a *protecting tool* anymore ;P Specialy with a spiked buckler, a germanic Dueling shield or a Hungarian shield. Also the Nordic fighting style with shields (take a look to Roland Warzecha channell)
Here's the problem, the way you're talking about it, it's like the only two things you're thinking about are: (a) hitting your opponent, (b) blocking or deflecting hits from your opponent. But there's also (c): controlling your opponent's weapons and body, which is really frickin' important. Skall talks about this briefly at 9:03 in this video-using the buckler to push your opponent's sword and buckler away (or pin them against their body) so you can attack. If you think about it this way, the fact that the buckler protects your left hand and arm means that it opens up a lot of possibilities for using them-not just for punching or striking, but for pushing the opponent's sword and arms into awkward positions.
Yes, that's exactly why that i compared it to a sword breaker or parring dagger. There're also some bucklers with spikes or some kind of protuberances (indian bluckler) in whitch a blade could get stuck.
I first saw this video when it was posted over 6 years ago. Since then I've had many adventures with a character whose nickname became Buckler due to his constant use and growing collection of these amazing little shields.
I fell in love with the buckler as soon As I got myself a good quality one and I must say that I was quite amazed by its versatility compared to the other shields I used to fence with
I'd totally like to hear about it as well, or more specifically, about right handed vs left handed fight and how is it different (if at all) to right handed vs right handed.
It's just the same as in any martial art. The Lefty have more training fighting against Right-Handed, cus is more RH in the world. If a Lefty never fought against other Lefty, then the one with more trainning against leftys should have the advantage in the fight.
I must say i got hooked to your channel, i became interested in medieval Weaponry and martial Arts only a short while ago, and i'm glad i found your channel, lots of interesting things to learn, and i see swords that i've never seen nor heard before. Great content and i'm enjoying it. Subbed.
I have been learning sidesword and buckler and feel that the difference between the shield and buckler is that the former is for active warding defense and the latter is for a very aggressive defense. Very often the buckler isnt so much blocking a blow as impacting and manipulating your opponents weapon. Practice is VERY loud when bucklers are slammed into the opponent's sword hand (elaborate hand guards are a must). The goal is to use it to crowd your opponent, upset thier balance, or intercept ther attack before they can get any real speed behind the blow.
Just a quick question: when in a sparrng with swords/barefists, should i focus on the arms/weapon of the attacker, or focus os his body and use the peripheral vision to react at his attacks?
I would love to see video where you show you whole armory. This is so far the best channel about medieval/white weapons/armor/etc. stuff. Keep it up, Good Work !
If the opponent has a sword, it'll be a hell of a lot harder for him to attack you if you're in close and destroying his head or torso. There's a reason many martial arts tell you to close the distance with opponents with better reach and Muay Thai is based on elbow strikes and knee strikes while controlling the opponent's head. Muay Thai has been used effectively against armed opponents quite a lot. You'd also be surprised at how quickly you'd be able to fell an armed opponent with a clinch and knee strike. If they have a sword, that's one arm that won't be able to stop a rapid barrage of knees to the face. As far getting in close, the longer the weapon, the less effective the backstep movement will be to evade an attack, so you'll really have to practice keeping an eye on the weapon and moving inward while evading. Unfortunately, real life isn't like Monster Hunter or Dark Souls, so you can't just i-frame through. The universe really needs to patch this flaw in physics. If they're using a dagger, through, you'd be best off with taking control of the wrist and breaking it. This takes a fuck-ton of practice, though.
Yeah Skall is great! Check out scholagladiatoria if you're into this stuff, he covers the same things with a bit more detail on the martial arts aspect
My first HEMA class was a Sword and Buckler lesson. I'll tell you, it definitely helped me understand why it was used but I think I ended up with the heaviest buckler in the club... my left arm hurt like hell for the next week, and I was just doing drills and slow work!
The portable nature of the buckler is valuable. I would pick it for long-term self defense. A bullet-proof buckler could be very handy! How about a see-through acryllic, a couple inches thick?
Fantastic video yet again. I practice daily on my breaks at work and carry a buckler both in and out of work for a couple hours daily. Convenient, light enough & handy. Can see why they were popular!
All this time I thought the bulge on bucklers was to deflect weapons more efficiently, but the ones shown here just have it for hand space, correct? Intriguing.
Well, there are bucklers with no boss / dome and a raised grip to provide space for the hand, but they often have large rivets or other protrusions on the surface.
Helps to get the hand in-line with the disc of the shield, too. Dunno if it helps with blocking, but I'd have to assume you get better energy transfer to the edge when you struck with the shield.
man that's actually pretty cool that covering your sword grip with the buckler was pretty eye-opening to me sword fighting is so intricrate..really cool channel n_n
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”
But he does have a flail, at least one made of fabric. More of a toy that one of his viewers sent in, but perhaps we'll see him talking about it someday.
I'm reminded of the time Scott Brown paid us a visit in Hungary a few yonks ago. It was very educational, we learnt a lot about how to defend aggressively (well, pro-actively). The obscuring-of-your-sword-hand aspect Skall mentions at the end is actually pretty darn important and can give you quite a few options to be a right sneaky bastard in your duels.
Ok I haven't watched the video yet. But I just wanted to throw my thoughts in before seeing what Skallagrim says on the subject. Firstly its important to stress the buckler isn't a shield in the true sense of the word. It's a deflection tool. It requires a completely different approach to using a shield. The idea is you use the metal rim to deflect blows and open your opponent up to a counter strike. It also doubles as a punching and backhand striking secondary weapon. I personally don't consider the buckler belongs in the same category as a shield. But then again you could argue that about many types of shield. Nether the less the buckler acts more as a fighting aid than a shield when compared to anything other than perhaps a round light shield. From what I have seen of Skall's fighting style I would have thought the buckler would be something he likes.
Sweet, finished watching and I did pick up a couple of things I didn't know about. The hanging loop for one. Again I would still say this is a deflection aid and not a shield. Nor would I think that the tiny bucklers were used in warfare. I suspect they were for spectator sport and fencing. Mainly due to the fact that unlike a true shield, they would only be of limited effectiveness against some weapons you would come up against on a battlefield.
I know small shields were used, I'm not sure on the tiny ones but as you pointed out in the use of a hand guard it is conceivable someone might find them of limited use. If it were me I sure as hell would not pick a 10" pot lid over a full size shield on the eve of a battle. I would imagine that many soldiers would feel the same way. Light shields are a different matter though. The Scandinavians used small round shields to great effect throughout history. I would be interested in hearing more about the use of bucklers in battlefield warfare if you do a follow up video on the subject :)
"Why if it isn't one of the Worlds finest minstrels: Arthur 'Two-Bucklers' Jackson" "Hello" "May I just sidetrack for one moment. This -- what shall I call it -- nickname of yours..." "Ah yes." "'Two Bucklers'. How did you come by it?" "Well, I don't use it myself, but some of my friends call me 'Two Bucklers'." "And do you in fact have two bucklers?" "No, I've only got one. I've had one for some time, but a few years ago I said I was thinking of getting another, and since then some people have called me 'Two Bucklers'." "In spite of the fact that you only have one." "Yes." "And are you still intending to purchase this second buckler?" "No!" "...To bring you in line with your epithet?" "No." "I see, I see. Well to return to your new concerto for lute." "Ah yes." "Did you write this concerto about your buckler?" "No!" "Have you written any of your recent works about your buckler?" "No, no, not at all. It's just an ordinary bit of metal with a bar to hang on to and a boss to curl my fingers under." "I see, I see. And you're thinking of buying this second buckler to write about!" "No, no. Look. This buckler business -- it doesn't really matter. The bucklers aren't important. A few friends call me 'Two Bucklers' and that's all there is to it. I wish you'd ask me about the music. Everybody talks about the bucklers. They've got it out of proportion -- I'm a wandr'in Bard. I'm going to get rid of the bloody shield. I'm fed up with it!" "Then you'll be Arthur 'No Bucklers' Jackson, eh?"
The one you used as an example for non-round bucklers is common in Eastern Europe; it was also worn on the upper arm by sliding the arm through the long gap, for cavalry purposes; passive protection as well. It is often seen in illustrations and iconography of the period.
It's cool that you brought up the cone of fire. Believe it or not, this also applies in hand to hand. Old school boxers and other like-minded combat arts held their hands out for those deflections. Of old school boxing, it was coined "fencing with fists."
TL;DW Shields are more protective but big and cumbersome, bare hands provide no protection but provides you the most flexibility, bucklers meet you half way in regards to mobility and protection. They're for when you want to control your opponents blade when you're striking or trying to defend from their strike, but a full scale shield is too slow and tiring to work with and trying to control a blade with your hands alone will probably end up less than ideal.
Yes and no. Bucklers became popular in late medieval period when armor became full head to toe plate armor. Though the buckler was very popular for civilians, who didn't wear armor. You'll have to do some research because i don't know much about it, there's probably an element of truth in what you said i imagine.
As it was said before, yes and no. The bucker probably was the most common "shield" in whole medieval period in Europe, specially in the civilian situations, but it was used in battle, mainly as "secondary weapon". For example, if you are a billman and you loses your bill, you still have your sword & buckler to figth. It is true that with the "plate armor" (specially the harness) the shields are unusefull... But only for warriors who had a full plate harness or similar. In Castille, Spain, in the XV century, the common peon (that means foot soldier) used a full pavise for protection and a spear or war dart as basic weapons. So, the "rich warriors" (as knigths) who can afford a harness didn't used shield almost, but the common soldier used it a lot (the most common armour were the gambeson and the brigandine, not as protective as the harness). And if they had a "two handed weapon" (as a bill, a halberd or a crossbow, for example), they had almost always a bucker because it is useful and comfortable.
The I.33, the oldest fencing manual, was written around 1300 and deals exclusively with sword and buckler.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Armouries_Ms._I.33Also, there was a class of roman gladiators that used bucklers.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThraexSo the buckler seems to be a pretty old weapon. But since I.33 and gladiators both give only information about use in duels and not in war, your idea might be true for soldiers and battlefields.
Well even with plate armour around, shields were still quite important. Only rich people could afford a full suit of plate armour. Even with a breastplate, an arrow could still hit you. What was more important towards the reduction of shield usage was that firearms were introduced. Larger shields become as protection from missles more or less useless. Buckler were cheaper and lighter and were also still usefull in a fight.
If that *is* the case, then I think something else I heard about bucklers would be completely false; the term "Swashbuckler" was originally coined to describe young men from wealthy families who went around duelling each other in search of fame and glory. They didn't wear armor (that was starting to fall out of style at the time), and the noise of the bucklers clanking against their "Espada Ropera" (dress swords, or rapiers) was the calling card of their open challenge against each other. I don't know if this is true or not, but it is interesting, in my opinion.
I remember James Burke showed an interesting method of utilizing a strapped-to-the-wrist buckler to supplement an underhand-gripped dagger, making you very difficult to disarm.
At full extension, it seems to help aid visual disruption, almost like flashing a mirror in front of an opponent's face. Pretty helpful in a duel, thanks for the share.
Basic psychology. If your opponent think you will parry he will try stupid things to punish the parry attempts. The secret is to never actually parry with it but instead throw fake parries when you are far from him. That should confuse him enough to make you win.
Very interesting. I always thought it was the poor man's shield, which in a sense it was be because like you said it was easier to carry around. But, I never thought about the pros of them over larger shields that much.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
the buckler gives more parry frames and start up frames compared to medium shields
First Dark Souls huh?
Poor Gwyn
thats why i use the parrying dagger
But it also has more recovery frames at the end so if you fuck up the timing...............
Real men use empty off-hand to parry. Buckler is a clutch for the ones who can't even even parry the two-handed heavy blades with empty hand. Only dexofags go for bucklers over greatsword with empty hand.
"You wouldn't carry two bucklers"
But what if you need to parry two people at the same time? What now, pommel man?
One pommel is more than enough for 2 attackers. Or 20, for that matter.
***** Of course, why didn't I think of that? Why use a buckler when you can throw a pommel at them?
DeZiiRe Dashie large thick fully metallic armguard?
My HEMA instructor told me of a man who once entered and won a competition with only 2 bucklers. He literally bashed the competition.
It it bad I just imagined a pommel that was a hidden grenade?
My D&D character dual-wields bucklers.
He's not very popular.
That's because he shields his true emotions too much.
+Osmorosvo this is comedy gold.
you make jokes about that, but I once did something similar with a wizard.
basically, he was carrying two big shields, when battle started, he would cover himself against a tree or into a corner, cover himself with the enchanted shields and cast his spells in safety from below....
I referred to him as Longgui. (Dragon Turtle)
of course, I could only do that because we had a DM worth a damn, since DnD's battle mechanics are horrible.
he also wore a Gambeson and had a Kusarigama as a backup weapon... including the ability to bind enemies or weapons... and pierce armour...
the DM hated my guts.
Nathan Holstrom
well, it all comes down to argumentation and your DM.
First off, he wasn't technically holding the shields while casting the spell... as I said, he would cover behind/under them. They were enchanted pavises.
Gambessons aren't medium armour... they are literally defined as 'cloth armour'. a gambesson weighs not even a fraction of a chainmail... it's fine, I've worn one once... it's like wearing a thick winter jacket... you may get a little hot in it, but otherwise you're just fine.
the DM gave it a -1 to Dex checks, but I wasn't doing many of them anyway and the vulnerability to fire was just as bad as with normal robes... until I got one padded with wool.
because wool doesn't burn
do you remember the part I said about 'enchanted'?
I had high intelligence and crafting and thus enchanted them with a variation of the featherfall spell that I could activate on touch... either to make it lighter, for carrying or heavier, for extra defence when they were standing.
besides, if you know how to bend space, you can make a bag of holding out of anything... including your pocket.
who said I didn't have components on myself?
as I said... my pockets were VERY deep... and considering I was playing a character from a wealthy family, in more ways than one.
James Fisher "Are you wanna die?"
Wait! Shields don't just vanish &/or stick to my back? What next? Shields have weight?
Super Hydlide.
Only when In Your inv. Sheilds equiped don't use any carry weight.
@@uneducatedisnotstupidlol1504
Reminds me to when i used the steed stone in skyrim
Hello Max
@@Casedilla73 Sup.
if it wasnt for the buckler the Lord of Cinder would still be alive
Gwyn did nothing wrong.
Praise the sun \[T]/
\[T]/ PRAISE THE SUN \[T]/
+ultraboy222 no, the player was overcome by the first flame and burned to ash. he wasn't fit to become the new lord of cinder. however in dark souls 3, when you link the first flame, you see your character just casually sits down instead of being consumed. as such, he was accepted and became a new lord of cinder.
the bluckler, Lord Gwyn's worst enemy
By using a buckler to obscure ones intentions, one could easily unscrew their pommel and throw it at their opponent for a killing blow.
Gary McWhorter how the Fuck do you unscrew with one hand
@@winstonsallet9541 rightly
With one hand?
@@winstonsallet9541 use your mouth. Duh!
no no no you dont unscrew it, you just have a bag full of extra pommels on your belt ready to throw rightly
"So many people dont really see the point of the buckler"
Thats because its round Skall.
Ok, i leave now...
But some bucklers do have points. :D :D :D
Z7Games Haha
Siloseea Irenicus
Thats a good *point* you bring here.
That was disgusting! XD
Bucklers are supposed to stop points.
Throwing a buckler is actually the upgraded strategy to throwing pummels. And this is how the olympic discipline disc throwing was invented.
hu ha
Perseus *did* accidentally kill a king with a discus. Hit him in the head.
@@joshuahadams why did you emphasize "did"
Also how frisbees were invented.
bucklers are literally my favourite type of shield. I am so glad you gave them this shout-out and the recognition they deserve. by all means, they do not have the same defensive capacity as larger shields. but they have advantages of their own, and their defensive capacity ought not to be underestimated. :)
My definition: if a shield is small enough to reasonably wear on your belt, it's a buckler.
Noah Weisbrod you're not wrong
And center grip
A belt buckler, one could say
@@vangoghsseveredear heh
You mean like the belt buckle ……
The buckler is also known as a punch shield in some larp groups, for some obvious reasons.
Best place to stop a blow is where it starts lol
There is a buckler called a Fist Buckler. It's very light and very small. One is made by Kingston Arms.
Smaller than a 9" buckler for sure.
Check it out. It certainly looks like a metal fist. Propably for fisting , defense and an aggressive Active Defense. It just happens to defend. I bet if you took one to the face it might really hurt.
Every Dark Souls veteran doesn't laugh at buckler. They fear it. They honor it. They respect it.
Best parry tool since Dark Souls 1 (or maybe even Demon Souls)
I only wish it looked as crystal clear and new-made like yours
more people use the caestus, they also use claws just for idiots who don't know claws can parry
Parrying dagger>buckler
Yep, buckler realy cool in ds2, but in ds3 buckler balanced with other parry item)
Dark Hand or bust
The buckler? Why use the Buckler when you can have the Target Shield?
They always like to debate dual-wielding, but I think we're really missing out on the true art of combat by not investigating the benefits....
....of dual-*shielding*.
No pommel, doesnt sound like a good idea
Thank you Stroheim
Just need to have two black panther shields
Just put a pommel on your shield duh
Provided that one shield is smaller than the other, you fit the dual wielding profile. The dueling dual-shielded shields shield-bashing bashing bandits brightly.
And with a brilliant bag of blade pommels, carried in a nimble buckler hand, you can still end a foe rightly.
3:33 You know you're badass when you show up to the battlefield in your pajamas
archaic meme
Celts
If the handle was detachable you could transform that into a helmet lol.
If you're hungry it'd make a good plate
That would explain the design of British helmets in the world wars.
You can also play frisbee with your dog
Then you can also throw hot soup at the enemy!
I could easily imagine a warrior who found himself in desperate need of a shield-thingy just picking up a kettle hat and so the first buckler was invented
you know the large shield can protect him when you can barely hear his voice
7:30 😃😃😃
0:21 Lazy or genius? He literally makes shields like a boss.
This is the best pun ever!
Kipah non-historian:buckler is USELESS!!!!
Dark Souls fan:this shield do actually exist!!??
Kipah r
I made one out of a wok. :)
It drives me batty that D&D thinks a buckler is strapped to the forearm.
+1 to AC. Same as a light shield.
Well, D&D wasn't ever accurate about such details. The whole AC concept contradicts with how armor is supposed to work. Still a great system though, in terms of actual gameplay.
Oh I agree. Though I prefer Pathfinder nowadays. But making the buckler hand held rather than strapped to a forearm makes no mechanical change. It just makes it reflect how they were actually used.
No irritation at the clash of time periods? Greatswords and bucklers and plate armor and so forth? Most D&D/PF games take place in a weird sort of hodge podge setting of Renaissance level technology (except for gunpowder) and Medieval style everything else.
No. In the real world we have had that happen as well. Some countries having automatic machine guns, others muzzle-loading percussion cap rifles and others with stone tools all at the same time. A game that presented those all with relative realism would be completely acceptable to me. But bucklers strapped to an arm? Absurd. And don't get me started on weapon weights...
"Many people dont see the point in bucklers"
Well its round skall.. it doesnt have a point
Ha... ha.... ha...
Oh my fucking god... Are you a dad by any chance?
HimTortons no... im 16 years old... but my dad makes jokes like this alot.. thats probably why
Sam G Nice dad joke.
One day your future children will fall victim to your dad jokes.
Being round is actually having infinite many points though.
When I was teaching some of my friends basic swordplay they quickly learned to respect the buckler. The amount of defense that this tool offers is not to be underestimated. Also, it really hurts if it hits you even slowly, wear padding if you spar.
i buckled under the weight of information
here take my pommel
buckle up
That horse is bucklering the trend.
how do you actually throw a pommel to yourself
An actually funny joke in a youtube comment section? Take my upvote!
"Shields aren't armor, as depicted in most RPGs etc."
That reminded me of the fact that in WoW, shields are actually under their own category. Neat :P
You're right. They do have "armor" value though. As in, they add to your armor stat. But that makes sense, since a shield is used for defense and blocking stuff.
I feel like that's the case in most western RPGs. Usually if you are a warrior, you can either use a sword and shield, or a 2 handed weapon like a battle axe or greatsword.
Cypher System may be one of the only tabletop pen-and-paper RPG's to get this right. Armour makes you harder to hurt (since you have to strike into gaps etc), shields make you harder to connect with (since they ease active defence).
I feel bad for all those people who haven't played a souls game and are trying to answer all the meme comments with legit information. xD
so every buckler is a shiled, but not every shield is a buckler?
Yeah it's like the squares and rectangles scenario
Yes.
All apples are fruits, but not all fruits are apples.
All rapiers are swords, but not all swords are rapiers.
All pommels are throwable, but not all throwables are pommels.
and that is sin
+crazyguywithasword
sometime, when you are un able to unscrew the pomel, you have to throw the sword(pomel first of course) to be able to end them rightly, leaving you vulnerable.
Keep doing what you are doing. You make very interesting videos that are also entertaining to watch. Your channel is really cool. Thank you for all the hard work that you put into these videos.
Thanks for the positive feedback.
Honestly I dig the look of a basket hilt sword with a buckler, may not very historical accurate but I think they compliment each other well
Are there bucklers with a pommel to throw?
So they were tactical before it was cool
the real question is, can a buckler deflect a flying pommel?
I think you just throw the buckler like a frisbee.
Hmm, a frisbee that doubles as a buckler? Guess that would make it. . . a fuckler.
(Even the crickets fall silent and the tumbleweeds take pity)
The crickets and tumbleweeds part is seriously funny.
The basket hilt scottish swords are some of the best in history, so fuctional, practical and beautiful.
I'm just here to try and find some funny Dark Souls comments.
Git gud
Cloud Striker He said funny.
BluWaffles Well! What is it?
There ya go haha
* Tries to find DS jokes *
* Dies *
I have trained with a buckler for years and have encouraged many others to use one. The great advantage of the buckler is that you have to move. You have to get your footwork right. It comes down to the simple principle of "Move or die". You can move the buckler faster then a everyday shield and when you move "around" the buckler, openings appear for strikes at an opponent. It really encourages greater mobility and therefore defence. Excellent for one on one combat. Yes it suffers in a melee combat or against archers. However, the improved footwork for defence and attack that the buckler can provide will serve very well when fighting with an early to middle medieval shield. Really enjoyed this vid too.
i love ALL history but before finding Skalls channel my favourite period was 1689 and onward
now i love history a LOT further back too
THANKS SKALL!!!! you have given me a massive interest in military history before the age of black-powder.
and yes to answer you question i do have a better understanding of the buckler.
Excellent. :)
im hoping you can answer this for me, is availability the only reason people didn't use metal gauntlets in place of bucklers? it seems it would have the same function with maybe even more use
actually it would be harder to deflect blows with gauntlets, at least using the same motions, with gauntlets i think you would more or less have to backhand all enemy attacks, the other thing is that if your in a bar & are suddenly attacked (or some more likely scenario where your taken by surprise) you can grab your buckler allot faster then you can put on armored gloves.... & then there's price... a buckler would be simpler to make = cheaper.
Gauntlets tend to send the impact shock directly into your joints and knuckles. A buckler will more easily deflect and absorb more of the force and shock, and with practice you can manipulate and deflect as deftly with a buckler as you naturally could with a heavy gauntlet, which would limit your hand's natural mobility somewhat in its own right.
Would you call a buckler carried on your belt, a beltbuckler?
Jeff Liggett you won.
yes
medieval person: yes
modern person: ??
But of course!
Skall, is that a Taser poking into frame at the bottom?
That can't be historically accurate.
Microphone. Totally historically accurate.
Hey Skall, would you think that a sword design like the energy swords in the Halo Franchise would be practical in real life, with the handle of the sword being like in a punch dagger?
Skallagrim no it's not accurate
+Vel Koz Not particularly. Unless you were to include some form of hand protection, we have a potential problem with getting the fingers/ knuckles crushed and or cut on target. But, I'm not very familiar with the weapon, so this is just theory.
What about a Samurai-kanabo versus a buckler, could the buckler deflect the kanabo?
I like your videos and have been subscribed for a long time but you holding the buckler forward like that was probably one of the best visual aids you've ever given to explain something. It's honestly blew my mind for a second.
Great video. I've always been a fan of the sword and buckler combo. I tend to favor civilian weapons and defense styles over more military focused weapons. Loved seeing the info you had to share with us. Thank you.
"Hey dude, do you like small shields?"
"Nah dude but I love Bucklers"
"Dude..."
However in the case of a katana, no shield is strong or manoeuvrable enough to avoid its slicing blows
Maybe a good tower shield has a chance to survive it. Katana vs random shield would be a nice vid. I like to see that.
Zura Janai Katsura da No, the godly power of the katana would slice through like butter
For a moment i thought this was a serious comment, but then i see it's yet another fanatic of katanas.
It's okay. One day the weebs will realise the Katana is actually pretty shit.
Yeah, no. Katana's were trash and that's why only one group of people used them.the Roman gladius is about a thousand times better and more well designed,and much much much better for fighting.
i have a question, how fast is the L2 with that medium buckler?
Dark souls reference huh...I love you
In medieval combat recreation and solo sparring I was surprised how effective bucklers could be. You really have to be active with a buckler but the added speed of movement you have is nice.
Other outside-the-box advantages of bucklers, particularly for travel, trade, exploration and general adventure:
1. Every kilogram you carry could have been food, water, or trade goods.
2. Many dangerous creatures are not human (i.e. dog, wolf, puma, snake). With a buckler you can punch them right in the nose.
3. Your buckler could also be your frying grill, boiling pan, and dinner plate. (see #1)
4. Your buckler hand can still lead your horse or hound, or carry a bucket or lantern -- in which case the light reflects to where you want instead of night-blinding you.
5. You could do a dive-roll with a smaller buckler to change combat ranges.
6. With a buckler, you still have climbing options and can maneuver through ship rigging and dense brush.
7. Sometimes, the best tactic is to not be seen. Trees are good cover like that, and your buckler hides with you.
8. Your buckler doesn't make the guards/police think you are looking for a fight. (see #3)
9. Inertia also matters. Your buckler can be applied quickly to any facing/quarter in a complicated situation.
10. You can shoot a bow while still holding your buckler.
11. (because "this one goes to 11") ...also works as a sun shade and rain hat!
I could do a whole "13th Warrior" or "Sinbad" style movie of all the ways to make this stuff fun :)
I share with you a quote, taken out of context:
"doesn't want something dangling around all the time, wants to be able to sit down with out problems" - Skallagrim
make of it what you will.
You said you say there are pros and cons a lot but that's why I enjoy your videos so much as it means you're being unbiased and allowing people to create there own opinions.
Hey from england by the way
It's basically a boxing glove that your opponent can't cut thru, only around. Therefore, you can control where your opponent will have to go without restricting your own path of attack like a full size shield would.
You can also hide your sword point behind it and block your own eyes from your opponent, keeping them from seeing where you're looking and preempting your strikes.
This "puny little shield" is quite the unassuming pain in the ass in a fight, and that's why I like it ^^
I really like this intro Skal, completely captures the attention in just a few seconds; really effective.
Yep, I always said that the buckler is a defensive weapon, just the same as any parrying dagger or sword breaker.
But you can find some people that will say _nah, it isn't a weapon, is a shield, and shields are used only for protection!_ . Yes, its main function is to defend with it... until you encounter an opponent that is particularly good at striking, and bash with a shield, that's when you'll no longer call that a *protecting tool* anymore ;P Specialy with a spiked buckler, a germanic Dueling shield or a Hungarian shield.
Also the Nordic fighting style with shields (take a look to Roland Warzecha channell)
The ones that said bucklers or medium shield are only to defend with, probably nerver used one of those shield or any shield at all.
Here's the problem, the way you're talking about it, it's like the only two things you're thinking about are: (a) hitting your opponent, (b) blocking or deflecting hits from your opponent. But there's also (c): controlling your opponent's weapons and body, which is really frickin' important. Skall talks about this briefly at 9:03 in this video-using the buckler to push your opponent's sword and buckler away (or pin them against their body) so you can attack.
If you think about it this way, the fact that the buckler protects your left hand and arm means that it opens up a lot of possibilities for using them-not just for punching or striking, but for pushing the opponent's sword and arms into awkward positions.
Yes, that's exactly why that i compared it to a sword breaker or parring dagger. There're also some bucklers with spikes or some kind of protuberances (indian bluckler) in whitch a blade could get stuck.
That wall paper in your background is actually pretty awesome. I usually hate wall paper but that reminds me of a tapestry.
I allways thought buckler was a hat used as a plan b shield
The small buckler is used to protect the back of the hand while using 2 handed weapons. You see it in many competitions and it looks really effective
Souls fans know why buckler is amazing
I first saw this video when it was posted over 6 years ago. Since then I've had many adventures with a character whose nickname became Buckler due to his constant use and growing collection of these amazing little shields.
Skall you're forgetting the most important thing... The buckler has more parry frames than a larger shield.
Hahaha Iwas going to write this. Then, in order to improve it we could use a Hornet Ring as well.
I fell in love with the buckler as soon As I got myself a good quality one and I must say that I was quite amazed by its versatility compared to the other shields I used to fence with
Will you talk about left handed sword fight?
I'd totally like to hear about it as well, or more specifically, about right handed vs left handed fight and how is it different (if at all) to right handed vs right handed.
being a left-hander, I'm interested in that topic too.
It's just the same as in any martial art. The Lefty have more training fighting against Right-Handed, cus is more RH in the world.
If a Lefty never fought against other Lefty, then the one with more trainning against leftys should have the advantage in the fight.
One thing is clear: it's shitty if you're also using a shield
*Insert Inigo Montoya dueling left-handed joke here*
I must say i got hooked to your channel, i became interested in medieval Weaponry and martial Arts only a short while ago, and i'm glad i found your channel, lots of interesting things to learn, and i see swords that i've never seen nor heard before. Great content and i'm enjoying it. Subbed.
P...p...uny? But Skall! It has the best parry frames of all the shields!
I have been learning sidesword and buckler and feel that the difference between the shield and buckler is that the former is for active warding defense and the latter is for a very aggressive defense. Very often the buckler isnt so much blocking a blow as impacting and manipulating your opponents weapon. Practice is VERY loud when bucklers are slammed into the opponent's sword hand (elaborate hand guards are a must). The goal is to use it to crowd your opponent, upset thier balance, or intercept ther attack before they can get any real speed behind the blow.
Just a quick question: when in a sparrng with swords/barefists, should i focus on the arms/weapon of the attacker, or focus os his body and use the peripheral vision to react at his attacks?
The latter.
I would love to see video where you show you whole armory. This is so far the best channel about medieval/white weapons/armor/etc. stuff. Keep it up, Good Work !
Thanks! :)
If the opponent has a sword, it'll be a hell of a lot harder for him to attack you if you're in close and destroying his head or torso. There's a reason many martial arts tell you to close the distance with opponents with better reach and Muay Thai is based on elbow strikes and knee strikes while controlling the opponent's head. Muay Thai has been used effectively against armed opponents quite a lot.
You'd also be surprised at how quickly you'd be able to fell an armed opponent with a clinch and knee strike. If they have a sword, that's one arm that won't be able to stop a rapid barrage of knees to the face.
As far getting in close, the longer the weapon, the less effective the backstep movement will be to evade an attack, so you'll really have to practice keeping an eye on the weapon and moving inward while evading. Unfortunately, real life isn't like Monster Hunter or Dark Souls, so you can't just i-frame through. The universe really needs to patch this flaw in physics.
If they're using a dagger, through, you'd be best off with taking control of the wrist and breaking it. This takes a fuck-ton of practice, though.
Yeah Skall is great! Check out scholagladiatoria if you're into this stuff, he covers the same things with a bit more detail on the martial arts aspect
Never even considered the buckler when designing armour and weaponry. Disregared it so hard. I feel so much better informed, thanks!
bigger shield: better for warfare
buckler: convenient, and there are certain things you can do with it that are more difficult with a larger shield
My first HEMA class was a Sword and Buckler lesson.
I'll tell you, it definitely helped me understand why it was used but I think I ended up with the heaviest buckler in the club... my left arm hurt like hell for the next week, and I was just doing drills and slow work!
0:24 "Some lazy black Smith"? Skallagrim, that's racist.
You're either trying to be funny or this ain't it.
Black Smith wrothe The black book of Mormon
Nah, just redundant.
@@ryan-ishere4553 edgy
@Hal Jordan It's not racist.
The portable nature of the buckler is valuable. I would pick it for long-term self defense. A bullet-proof buckler could be very handy! How about a see-through acryllic, a couple inches thick?
Using a hornet will ring will improve your riposte after you parry, works very well with buckler.
I've watching your videos to better inform myself for the fantasy novel I'm writing. They have even more useful than I could have imagined, thank you!
Don't forget you can set up parries, and face tank parries :D
I don't think you want to face tank anything, especially not in real life.
I'd rather tank parries than parry tanks.
Timothy McLean You'd miss on awesomeness.
Yeah, that's it, drink your Sunny D *point down gesture*
Unlike many videos I come across you are very good at keeping things succinct. Greatly appreciated!
I'm fairly new to this channel but so far the content is amazing, keep up the great work.
Fantastic video yet again. I practice daily on my breaks at work and carry a buckler both in and out of work for a couple hours daily. Convenient, light enough & handy. Can see why they were popular!
All this time I thought the bulge on bucklers was to deflect weapons more efficiently, but the ones shown here just have it for hand space, correct? Intriguing.
well it needs to be there (for most of them) but it also helps with that
Well, there are bucklers with no boss / dome and a raised grip to provide space for the hand, but they often have large rivets or other protrusions on the surface.
Helps to get the hand in-line with the disc of the shield, too.
Dunno if it helps with blocking, but I'd have to assume you get better energy transfer to the edge when you struck with the shield.
Dunderbolted it's both actually
Dunderbolted I thought it was there for the purpose of bashing.
man that's actually pretty cool
that covering your sword grip with the buckler was pretty eye-opening to me
sword fighting is so intricrate..really cool channel n_n
My first idea was that so you could "easily" deflect meele hits without hurting your hands
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”
Just curious, have you done a video on the feasibility or practicality of flails?
Thanks for clearing that up, just that i am looking into re-enactment and was looking at possible kit choices.
Lindybeige made 3 videos about flails.
But he does have a flail, at least one made of fabric. More of a toy that one of his viewers sent in, but perhaps we'll see him talking about it someday.
There are some good videos about flails from Lyndibeige and Scholagladiatoria
Long story short: Use a hammer or mace instead.
I'm reminded of the time Scott Brown paid us a visit in Hungary a few yonks ago. It was very educational, we learnt a lot about how to defend aggressively (well, pro-actively). The obscuring-of-your-sword-hand aspect Skall mentions at the end is actually pretty darn important and can give you quite a few options to be a right sneaky bastard in your duels.
Ok I haven't watched the video yet. But I just wanted to throw my thoughts in before seeing what Skallagrim says on the subject.
Firstly its important to stress the buckler isn't a shield in the true sense of the word. It's a deflection tool. It requires a completely different approach to using a shield. The idea is you use the metal rim to deflect blows and open your opponent up to a counter strike. It also doubles as a punching and backhand striking secondary weapon.
I personally don't consider the buckler belongs in the same category as a shield. But then again you could argue that about many types of shield. Nether the less the buckler acts more as a fighting aid than a shield when compared to anything other than perhaps a round light shield. From what I have seen of Skall's fighting style I would have thought the buckler would be something he likes.
Full plated fighters use bucklers almost like a Power Fist. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Never the less*
Sweet, finished watching and I did pick up a couple of things I didn't know about. The hanging loop for one. Again I would still say this is a deflection aid and not a shield. Nor would I think that the tiny bucklers were used in warfare. I suspect they were for spectator sport and fencing. Mainly due to the fact that unlike a true shield, they would only be of limited effectiveness against some weapons you would come up against on a battlefield.
There is in fact evidence of the use of bucklers on battlefields. Definitely not as common as full-sized shields but they were used.
I know small shields were used, I'm not sure on the tiny ones but as you pointed out in the use of a hand guard it is conceivable someone might find them of limited use. If it were me I sure as hell would not pick a 10" pot lid over a full size shield on the eve of a battle. I would imagine that many soldiers would feel the same way. Light shields are a different matter though. The Scandinavians used small round shields to great effect throughout history. I would be interested in hearing more about the use of bucklers in battlefield warfare if you do a follow up video on the subject :)
Completely unrelated but I found it interesting how the sound shifted so much when you raised the shield up. Found it neat.
"Why if it isn't one of the Worlds finest minstrels: Arthur 'Two-Bucklers' Jackson"
"Hello"
"May I just sidetrack for one moment. This -- what shall I call it -- nickname of yours..."
"Ah yes."
"'Two Bucklers'. How did you come by it?"
"Well, I don't use it myself, but some of my friends call me 'Two Bucklers'."
"And do you in fact have two bucklers?"
"No, I've only got one. I've had one for some time, but a few years ago I said I was thinking of getting another, and since then some people have called me 'Two Bucklers'."
"In spite of the fact that you only have one."
"Yes."
"And are you still intending to purchase this second buckler?"
"No!"
"...To bring you in line with your epithet?"
"No."
"I see, I see. Well to return to your new concerto for lute."
"Ah yes."
"Did you write this concerto about your buckler?"
"No!"
"Have you written any of your recent works about your buckler?"
"No, no, not at all. It's just an ordinary bit of metal with a bar to hang on to and a boss to curl my fingers under."
"I see, I see. And you're thinking of buying this second buckler to write about!"
"No, no. Look. This buckler business -- it doesn't really matter. The bucklers aren't important. A few friends call me 'Two Bucklers' and that's all there is to it. I wish you'd ask me about the music. Everybody talks about the bucklers. They've got it out of proportion -- I'm a wandr'in Bard. I'm going to get rid of the bloody shield. I'm fed up with it!"
"Then you'll be Arthur 'No Bucklers' Jackson, eh?"
I underestimated Bucklers. Thanks for the insights. Very nice tool.
You dont fuck with the Baby Shield...
Unless you are an English Longbowman or Mongolian Horse Archer
The one you used as an example for non-round bucklers is common in Eastern Europe; it was also worn on the upper arm by sliding the arm through the long gap, for cavalry purposes; passive protection as well. It is often seen in illustrations and iconography of the period.
Did anyone get a dark souls flashback
Yes, look at the comments. It's full of DkS references. ^^
Yes! Parries!
It's cool that you brought up the cone of fire. Believe it or not, this also applies in hand to hand. Old school boxers and other like-minded combat arts held their hands out for those deflections.
Of old school boxing, it was coined "fencing with fists."
Everything is buckler, if you are brave enough.
"Why did you duct tape a plate to your arm?"
"COME AND FACE ME MORTAL"
In certain carribean islands like dominca people will use any item as a buckler in a machete fight... like a medim size stove pot or a banjo
TL;DW Shields are more protective but big and cumbersome, bare hands provide no protection but provides you the most flexibility, bucklers meet you half way in regards to mobility and protection. They're for when you want to control your opponents blade when you're striking or trying to defend from their strike, but a full scale shield is too slow and tiring to work with and trying to control a blade with your hands alone will probably end up less than ideal.
I heard somewhere that shields actually got smaller (buckler size) as the more protective plate armor got more common. Is there any truth to that?
Yes and no. Bucklers became popular in late medieval period when armor became full head to toe plate armor. Though the buckler was very popular for civilians, who didn't wear armor.
You'll have to do some research because i don't know much about it, there's probably an element of truth in what you said i imagine.
As it was said before, yes and no. The bucker probably was the most common "shield" in whole medieval period in Europe, specially in the civilian situations, but it was used in battle, mainly as "secondary weapon". For example, if you are a billman and you loses your bill, you still have your sword & buckler to figth.
It is true that with the "plate armor" (specially the harness) the shields are unusefull... But only for warriors who had a full plate harness or similar. In Castille, Spain, in the XV century, the common peon (that means foot soldier) used a full pavise for protection and a spear or war dart as basic weapons. So, the "rich warriors" (as knigths) who can afford a harness didn't used shield almost, but the common soldier used it a lot (the most common armour were the gambeson and the brigandine, not as protective as the harness). And if they had a "two handed weapon" (as a bill, a halberd or a crossbow, for example), they had almost always a bucker because it is useful and comfortable.
The I.33, the oldest fencing manual, was written around 1300 and deals exclusively with sword and buckler.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Armouries_Ms._I.33Also, there was a class of roman gladiators that used bucklers.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThraexSo the buckler seems to be a pretty old weapon. But since I.33 and gladiators both give only information about use in duels and not in war, your idea might be true for soldiers and battlefields.
Well even with plate armour around, shields were still quite important. Only rich people could afford a full suit of plate armour. Even with a breastplate, an arrow could still hit you. What was more important towards the reduction of shield usage was that firearms were introduced. Larger shields become as protection from missles more or less useless. Buckler were cheaper and lighter and were also still usefull in a fight.
If that *is* the case, then I think something else I heard about bucklers would be completely false; the term "Swashbuckler" was originally coined to describe young men from wealthy families who went around duelling each other in search of fame and glory. They didn't wear armor (that was starting to fall out of style at the time), and the noise of the bucklers clanking against their "Espada Ropera" (dress swords, or rapiers) was the calling card of their open challenge against each other. I don't know if this is true or not, but it is interesting, in my opinion.
I remember James Burke showed an interesting method of utilizing a strapped-to-the-wrist buckler to supplement an underhand-gripped dagger, making you very difficult to disarm.
Can you talk about sword breakers and their effectiveness and practicality?
At full extension, it seems to help aid visual disruption, almost like flashing a mirror in front of an opponent's face. Pretty helpful in a duel, thanks for the share.
"Many people don't see the point of a buckler" well it's round duh
Rule of thumb from rpg's
-bucklerthe size of torso
I kinda like the Buckler now...
BUT IT HAS NO POMMEL AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE A WEAPON?!
I'd love to see more in-depth analysis of buckler parrying and striking techniques!
Never thought it was puny, just funny looking when worn by someone with full plate armor.
Learned a few things. Good overview of bucklers.
Who even uses the buckler? Your opponent will know you're going for the parry so stick to a small leather shield.
Basic psychology. If your opponent think you will parry he will try stupid things to punish the parry attempts. The secret is to never actually parry with it but instead throw fake parries when you are far from him. That should confuse him enough to make you win.
so a zulu shield then?
Zulu didn't have a small leather shield, it was pretty fucking big.
puffnisse they had different sizes, including a small one who was also used in sparring-ish stick fights
Steel Patterns Oh, I didn't know that.
Very interesting. I always thought it was the poor man's shield, which in a sense it was be because like you said it was easier to carry around. But, I never thought about the pros of them over larger shields that much.
ah, i love bucklers!
you are first, gongrats
f8 me m8 1v1 duel wield bucklers
Came here to find out the differenc between shield and buckler in Psalm 91. Great explanation. Thank you.x
Estoc and a buckler? seriously skall i thought the meta was beneath you
The Estoc meta is long dead mate
Weapons with very similar move sets such as rapiers still plague the land
DesertedOnion Not really. Didnt see a single rapier user. Everybody jumped over on the Katana sprint and bleed builds wagon
Psychoangel I seem to see a lot rapiers buffed with darkmoon blade and pale pine resin
DesertedOnion Then the users got more rare or actually know how to use that thing instead of "tape your finger on the R1 button" technique
I've always seen them as awesome. It basically allow you to perry with the same speed as your hand
Just the way I see it