Historical Targe - Leather or no?

[Devlyn]

I have searched for information about whether a targe has to have leather on the outside or not. I know that it was common, but it was also common for Scots to go with what was quick, cheap and easy. I just wondered if anyone knows for sure one way or the other.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Unlike all of the other arms carried by Highlanders, which were mostly the product of Lowland manufacture, targes were almost exclusively made and used in the Highlands. Historically they date from the 17th and 18th centuries, and are circular in shape. They are made from two thin layers of oak or pine, the grain set cross-ways, much like modern plywood. Generally they are about 20 inches in diameter, and are covered with cowhide and usually richly decorated with brass or iron tacks on the front. The backs are usually covered in deer skin or goat skin, and have a hand grip and a loop for the arm to pass through. They also have a long strap which allows them to be slung over the shoulder and carried on the back when not in use. Some, but not all, have removable spikes that project from the central boss of the targe. The overall decoration was a matter of the artistry of the individual making the targe as no "factories" seem to have existed in the Highlands for this purpose.

The earliest targe known to have survived dates from 1623 although most date from the period of 1680-1750.

Lord Archibald Campbell goes into some detail about targes in his book, HIGHLAND DRESS, ARMS & ORNAMENT if you need more information on the subject.

[hylander]

If you are thinking of making one and want to call it a targe, IMHO, yes, it would have a leather cover. Originally targes were actually multiple layers of different materials (there is a great illustration of the different layers by Angus McBride in the Osprey book "Highland Clansman 1689-1746). As far as your quick, easy and cheap idea I am not sure where that came from, especially pertaining to martial arms.

Quick? - I doubt if you took to the trouble to make a shield you would be throwing it together 5 minutes before a battle.

Easy? - I think if anyone takes the trouble to make something, whether in the 17th century or the 21st century easy don't enter into it. Easy is not doing it at all, stealing it from someone, picking one up after a battle or buying one.

Cheap - Rather a modern concept and is totally relative. Again if you are thinking of a highlander of the 17th century many materials used in making a targe are at hand, either in nature or through barter with specialized craftsmen, if not totally left to the specialized craftsman all together.

Then there is the question of whether or not each highlander made all his own stuff, or even if he actually own all pieces of hardware we now consider requisite. For example even the number of swords and targes collected after the Battle of Culloden were minimal compared to the number of muskets picked up by the British.

I digress. I always live by "never say never", but if you want to make a targe and not be met with confused and quizzical expressions of disbelief and doubt then leather it is. Conversely, have you ever seen something labled a targe that was not covered in leather?

I hope you decide to make one and show us the results, leather covered or not!

Cheers!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Then there is the question of whether or not each highlander made all his own stuff, or even if he actually own all pieces of hardware we now consider requisite. For example even the number of swords and targes collected after the Battle of Culloden were minimal compared to the number of muskets picked up by the British.

This is a very good point-- generally the Highlanders made only a few of the items associated with them at the time of the '45 Jacobite Rising. There was no blade making industry in either Scotland or England at this time, and blades were generally imported from Germany for the "schottiche" market. True, these were usually hilted in Scotland, but most were assembled in Glasgow, with only a few made up in Stirling or Inverness. The same is true of dirks, although there is an indication that imported blades were hilted in the Highlands (as opposed to blacksmithed blades, which would have been forged and hilted locally).

During the '45 very few Highlanders possessed targes, for the obvious reason that firearms were on the ascendancy on the battlefield. A targe could deflect a sword, but it couldn't stop a musket ball. Prince Charles's army was so short of targes that many had to be made in Perth and Edinburgh to outfit his men. While it has been impossible (as far as I am aware) to identify the makers of these targes, or even the targes they made, like most "military contract items" they were probably not overly decorated.

At Culloden, once the Highlanders ran out of powder they discarded their muskets and fought on with swords. When finally routed they fled with their swords, hence only those taken from the dead and dying were recovered from the field. Certainly 138 such swords (or at least their blades) were used to make a garden fence at Twickenham House, the London residence of the Duke of Cumberland, and remained in place for more than a century, before being finally removed and sold in the 1890s.

[Erikm]

When you make your targes,were do you get your leather for the back straps?
Trying to find some wide leather,but seem to can't find it anywere.

like this http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/t...ighlight=targe

Super nice targe by the way

[Farlander]

When you make your targes,were do you get your leather for the back straps?
Trying to find some wide leather,but seem to can't find it anywere....

You can try your local horse tack shop, but as you say, the straps are a little wider than what you might typically find. A leather belt from a thrift store might do the job. If all else fails, check out Tandy Leather.

[Erikm]

Having trouble puting the cowhide on the front, anyone have a tutorial on this?
It goes on fine but the sides seem to bunch up, not making for a perfect circle

Could use a good tutorial for putting the leather on with pics if you have it?

[Carolina Kiltman]

Having trouble puting the cowhide on the front, anyone have a tutorial on this?
It goes on fine but the sides seem to bunch up, not making for a perfect circle

Could use a good tutorial for putting the leather on with pics if you have it?

I am NOT an expert leather worker, but from what little I have done, I rather think the leather should be wet, then it can be stretched over the wooden part of the targe, this would also tend to eliminate the bunching. Perhaps some the more experienced on this forum could set up the tutorial.

Good luck with your project.

[Erikm]

I cant seem to get the backing right! on my other one I used pleather,and folded it down on the back. But it just did not turn out right.

[csbdr]

I like the look of the leather better, although that pleather one was really well made. Leather looks more at home.