The eighteen dollar targe

[Alan H]

I wanted a targe to carry in the clan parade along with my budget claymore, but I'm not gonna drop $120 on a replica...gorgeous though they may be. And so, in my usual thrifty (read: CHEAP) style, I did the following...

18 - inch plywood circle from Orchard Supply Hardware: $8
Two boxes, 25 per box.... furniture upholstery nails from Orchard Supply: $1.19 each...so call it $2.50

One box, round head brass "brads" with about 150 brads in the box from Orchard supply: $1.50

One cheap "brass" Ha! replacement door handle from OSH: $2.50

24 inches of faux leather material, on sale for $6.00/yard from Joannes Fabric: $4.50

I had some extra wide, poly strapping that I used for the arm strap. I had the brown paint for the back of the plywood. I scrounged some cheap sheet brass I had lying around to make something like a center boss on the targe. Total cost: $18.50

I sanded off/rounded off one sharp edge of the plywood so it wouldn't stress the cloth too much. Then I used about 40 of the furniture nails to stretch the faux leather fabric over the top of the plywood. I trimmed the fabric into a circle about 4 inches larger than the shield, all 'round and then folded it over so that I was nailing through at least 3 thicknesses of cloth.

I shined up the brass and cut a disk out of it, using the bottom of a Dr. Pepper can as a form. I nailed it down in the center with a symmetrical set of the furniture nails. That serves as a boss...

If I'd actually gotten the blasted thing in the CENTER, it'd look a lot better...*sigh*.

I used a couple of random pots and buckets I had lying around to chalk some concentric circles on the fabric and then I spent about two hours driving brass brads into the plywood and fabric in a symmetrical design.

Oh, before I started, I painted the back of the targe brown...

After all the brads were in, I turned the thing over and screwed the "brass" handle in a likely place and then nailed the poly strap on the back in another appropriate place.

OK, it's not the real thing but from 30 feet away nobody can tell, and it'll look good enough hanging on the clan tent, and geting toted in the parade! Maybe we'll get pics of it at Ben Lomond.

[Bob C]

Woodsheal made himself a really nice one, using real leather on the front and deerhide (hair still on) on the back. I've been thinking about making one, too, ever since I saw the plywood circles in the lumber store.

Never considered fake leather. You've got me thinking...

[Livingston]

Let's seen the pics, Alan!


I've been thinking about making one for the last 6 months or so. My wife works in an upholstery shop so I can get all the brass upholstery nails I need. I have some brown upholstery leather I got left over from one of my dads jobs. Just trying to figure out how to make the 10" spike and do the transition from the center boss & make it removable.

[Bob C]

Just trying to figure out how to make the 10" spike and do the transition from the center boss & make it removable.

A re-enactor, whom I trust, tells me that there is no historical basis for those spikes.

They look pretty cool in clan tents, though!

[Panache]

Alan,

I have thought about that myself when I've seen the wood disks at Home Depot. Never had the gumption to actually try and make one though.

Good on You!

[Graham]

Thanks for the tips, I want to make a targe also to hang on the wall next to my cheap imitation claymore I'll see if I can do as good a job as you!

[GreenDragon]

pics?

[Woodsheal]

Yep, they're quite cheap and easy to make! I've made two....

Spring for a few more dollars for actual leather, however, and you'll have a finished product much closer to the real thing. You want a heavier leather such as cowhide for the front face, and thinner for the backside; deerskin is good. On my second targe I used unborn calfskin with the hair still on.





I made the armstraps adjustable with brass buckles, and added slings for carrying the targe on one's back when not in use. You can see two methods of construction: the front leather overlapping the back piece, or vice-verse....

[Alan H]

Woodsheal, those are gorgeous! Whoooaaaahhhhh. It helps that you got the boss actually in the center of your shield

*groooaaannn*

How much did the leather cost you?

[Colin]

Woodsheal,
those are fantastic looking. I am going to have to make one of those for myself to go with the basket hilt broadswoards I am planning on getting one of these days.

Did you use a similar process to Alan's? If not, how did it differ?

Alan, have you seen this one before http://www.imperialweapons.com/armour/macnaughton.html