Targe project finished

**jmercier** · 19th October 08, 06:14 AM

I finished a project I started a week ago, a historically accurate reproduction of a Scottish targe from around the time of the battle of Culloden (1746)

forged out everything for it except for the brass nails, but back then they'd have just bought brass nails from someone else who makes them anyways too. Forged the shield boss and the buckle for the back from brass bar and sheet stock. The only real historically inaccurate thing I did was that I used a T nut (which I didn't forge and thread myself) under the center boss rather than a lump of soft lead... the lead is historically accurate for the center spike to screw into, but I'd rather not deal with toxic metals =)

Stats, 20 inches in diameter, 7.5 lbs total weight, deer hide back, 5oz leather front, around 700 brass nails, 1/2 inch oak core. 9 inch spike, design is my own based on components from various historical targes in museums. The handle on the back is leather wrapped around a forged out metal handle, and handle and straps are held on without screw just like historic examples. This was my first time doing any leather work of any sort, so it's not the best, but I think it came out well.

and the back

I've got a bunch of deer hide left to make more, because I had to purchase a whole hide just for this one project. I'm going to be adding a step-by-step of my creation of the targe with pictures to my website sometime in the near future. I took over 75 pictures of the progress along the way.

**Panache** · 19th October 08, 06:49 AM

Just wonderful!

Cheers

Jamie

**McMurdo** · 19th October 08, 06:53 AM

The finished product looks wonderful, good for you, please update us when the step by step is up on your site.

**Woodsheal** · 19th October 08, 07:28 AM

Nice job, Justin! I've made a couple of targes and they're loads of fun.

The only thing I would have done different on yours is make the radiating lines on the front uniform, instead of doubles and singles (minor quibble!).

As for the straps and handles on the back: I initially affixed mine with nails like you've done, but with usage (at reenactments) they all worked loose, so I ended up up replacing the nails with period-looking, dome-headed brass wood screws.

A sling is useful, too, if you're going to actually carry it....