Buckler/Target question?

[Sal Bertucci]

So, in the Italian manuals you see 2 types of small shields, bucklers and targets. Bucklers are fairly small and round, while targets are fairly small, rectangular, and wavy. To me it would seem that both are used in the same ways, considering they are both small off-handed shields. However, every manual I see them in considers them two different weapon types.

Why do you think that is? Is anyone familiar enough with either to point out the subtle differences?

Sal Bertucci

[Doug Marnick]

Sal,

Cool topic. With our dedication to longsword, I like any refreshing discussion of shield use.

I can't vouch for the validity, but from a 1986 book there is some information:
http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/Kent/shieweap/shgenex3.html

And I don't want to reprint without permission, but if you type in myarmoury shield into Google, the first hit is a link that may be of some use.

Can you give an example of which manuals triggered this thought about their different uses?

Doug Marnick
NYC

[Steven Reich]

[...]However, every manual I see them in considers them two different weapon types.

Actually, Manciolino treats the Brocchiero Largo (i.e. broad buckler) and the Targa together with the same techniques. However, the rest of the Bolognese manuals separate them (even though the techniques for one seem to work fine for the other). I sometimes wonder if the Bolognese didn't do this just to have a wider variety of weapons covered.

However, the other treatises (e.g. Di Grassi, Altoni, Docciolini, et al.) differentiate between them and what information they give about the two generally tells us that the Targa covers more than does the Buckler. Additionally, the straight sides and the groves work somewhat better against thrusts.

Steve

[Sal Bertucci]

Thanks for the help guys!

As for what originally prompted the question: I was piddling around with Cut&Thrust w/ buckler against two opponents recently. It was fun and tiring, but afterward I got on a mental tangent on if I had had a target or rotella things would have played differently. Then I thought back to DiGrassi, and the others who always seemed to treat them differently, and just wondered why.