FINALLY got around to making my targe.

**Nighthawk** · 28th October 10, 09:25 PM

I have a friend who's brother used to a lot of leather work and got bored with. I ended up getting his left over leather... which had sat in a basement for 3 years and was so dry that it was nearly useless! I spent 3 days and half a bottle of oil restoring the leather to a point where it was supple again. Only thing I think of to use it on was a targe, which I have been meaning to make for some time anyway. So here it is!

It got some combat use blocking flying Beanie Babies!

**Bugbear** · 28th October 10, 10:14 PM

Whack!

**Nighthawk** · 29th October 10, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Whack!

Block!! Retort!

**BLHS209** · 29th October 10, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

Block!! Retort!

Counter - Thrust!

Neat looking and was surprised to see the fur on the "back". I was thinking it would be just hide / leather.

Chris Shepherd

**artificer** · 29th October 10, 06:40 PM

Good on you!

The fur backing is very (as I understand it) authentic. To help the leather lay flat you should have wetted it down. Oil only goes so far with veg tan (which I'm assuming this was). Give it a good casing, then temporarily attach it to the back. After it dries, you can remove it, dye it, and then re-attach the flat leather.

It looks quite nice, and I love your shade of green. It certainly seems strong enough to defend against a hail of beenie babies.

**Nighthawk** · 29th October 10, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

Good on you!

The fur backing is very (as I understand it) authentic. To help the leather lay flat you should have wetted it down. Oil only goes so far with veg tan (which I'm assuming this was). Give it a good casing, then temporarily attach it to the back. After it dries, you can remove it, dye it, and then re-attach the flat leather.

It looks quite nice, and I love your shade of green. It certainly seems strong enough to defend against a hail of beenie babies.

Yeah, I did that... Notice that there is a crack in the face. That happened after I cased it and laid it out.

As to the fur, I have a goat hide that I plan to use on my next one. I have seen so many examples with fur on the back that it seemed most correct- and I like the look! And yes- it most certainly worked against the beanies!! At least Jo was impressed...

**artificer** · 29th October 10, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

Yeah, I did that... Notice that there is a crack in the face. That happened after I cased it and laid it out.

As to the fur, I have a goat hide that I plan to use on my next one. I have seen so many examples with fur on the back that it seemed most correct- and I like the look! And yes- it most certainly worked against the beanies!! At least Jo was impressed...

Woah! the leather cracked after you cased it!? That must have been some mummy-dry leather!

In any case, it looks the biz, and I look forward to the next one.

**Nighthawk** · 29th October 10, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

Woah! the leather cracked after you cased it!? That must have been some mummy-dry leather!

In any case, it looks the biz, and I look forward to the next one.

Man, I can't even tell you! I was amazed I was able to do anything with it. I had to case it just to get it to unroll. Thanks for the compliment. I put a lot of work into just getting the leather usable. Tandy has a great sale going right now for shoulder leather- a whole shoulder for $15! You bet your rear I'm taking advantage of that!! I think it's just a Colorado thing, though- we have a new location opening.