A Targe on the cheap for Panache

**Panache** · 24th April 10, 12:18 PM

I have been intrigued by some of the wonderful targes that people have shared here on XMTS. Inspired by Alan H and with a bit of advice from woodsheal I took the plunge and gave it a try.

One problem I had was that my budget for this project was rather limited and I really didn't want to use vinyl. A visit to Tandy leather was discouraging as I would have had to buy a whole hide and the cost of that would have exceeded twice my budget. After some thought I decided that the way to go would be to make a targe out of several pieces of leather instead of a single one. Making a trip to the thrift store I purchased a pair of ladies leather pants, a ladies suede skirt, and a thick leather black belt for about $15. A search through my workshop supplies yielded a big piece of scrap brown leather (riddled with some holes and nasty stains that I had to cut around), a brass base to a candlestick holder, a reasonable sized piece of nice plywood, and four small Japanese brass ornaments that a friend gave me years ago.

All that was left was a trip to the hardware store (actually several) for tacks, nails, and a few fittings and I was ready to go!

Here are a few pictures

Plywood circle cut out 18" diameter) leather pieces cut out, boss and Japanese ornaments laid out

It doesn't look like much I know but I pressed ahead and got to work.

I was very happy with the end results

Front

Back

The spike is nothing more than a sharpened lamp finial (I have a rounded one for when I just need to carry it around). I thought about making a strap for this shield and then realized that one of the sporran straps I had whipped up previously could serve double duty.

Here it is with the entire outfit

What is amusing to me is that my leather doublet from Ravenswood Leather was designed to match my Freelander Sporran and now I have a matching targe. A "Freelander Highlander" perhaps?

With the hardware the whole project came to about $50. I have an itch to make a more traditional one out of a single piece of hide but I think this one will do nicely for now.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

**Mael Coluim** · 24th April 10, 12:27 PM

Nicely done, Jamie! Your frugality had a handsome reward!

**BoldHighlander** · 24th April 10, 01:31 PM

Very nice job Jamie

**Scotcop** · 24th April 10, 01:46 PM

Wow, for being so cheap, it looks MUCH better than the expensive ones I have seen....GREAT JOB!!!!

and BTW IMHO "traditional" doesn't always mean simple and ugly, just look at hose, sporrans, and sgian dubhs.......craftsmen back then were much more skilled and took more pride in their work from what i have seen, so I would not be surprised if some targes looked similar to yours.

**Marshal Moroni** · 24th April 10, 02:56 PM

Panache,

This is a great looking Targe. I think it's one of the more attractive ones I've ever seen.

Well Done!

Cheers,

Marshal Moroni

**robthehiker** · 24th April 10, 03:09 PM

The ingenuity and skill of people here never ceases to amaze me. Well done.

**ccga3359** · 24th April 10, 03:26 PM

Why didn't you just use the hide of the Greater Arctic Acryli-beast?

**BEEDEE** · 24th April 10, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Kilted Abuser of Rubber Chickens

Why didn't you just use the hide of the Greater Arctic Acryli-beast?

Or better still, tan the skin of a rubber chicken!

Brian

**AFS1970** · 24th April 10, 03:39 PM

Very nice work. Funny you mention doing a single color one, I think the two colors is one of the best features to the one you made.

Was the leather glued down in addition to being nailed?

**Panache** · 26th April 10, 08:55 AM

Thanks for all the postive words everybody. This was one project where the end result turned out far nicer than I had hoped it would. probably beginner's luck, but I'll take it all the same!

Originally Posted by AFS1970

...Was the leather glued down in addition to being nailed?

No all those pieces are just tacked down. Ideally you should wet the leather and slightly stretch it over the wood when tacking it down (so when the leather dries you get a nice tight fit). This wasn't possible with the pieces (especially since the black leather ones are actually all double width)

One of my friends in the Nor Cal Rabble mentioned he might have a large enough piece of scrap leather lying around that I might have tomake another targe. So I might be at it again and I will see if wetting the leather really works.

By the by, I wasn't happy with how short the spike was so I bought a slightly longer bolt and a brass fitting and maanged to extend it out another 3/4". Which of course is far better for skewering...rubber chickens

Cheers

Jamie :ootd: