Henry Stafford whose side was he on??

[janner]

A buckler can be put together pretty easily with the boss being something a local smith could knock out of an afternoon. So I don't think procurement would have been the major challenge.

In my opinion, the buckler actually places a swordsman at a disadvantage if they cannot use it correctly. In simple terms, it's primary purpose is to act as a large guard. It can also be used offensively, as well as to deflect blows and bind the opponents blade, but our surviving treaties show that it always works in concert with the blade. It is/was, I believe, used very differently from a small shield, such as a targe, although both offer little protection against ranged weapons.

Just my thoughts on this :-)

[Arlequín]

Your thoughts are always welcome and make good reading though. 

Sure, like any weapon, there is a high degree of skill or expertise involved in getting the best out it. Needless to say though, if I have a sword in one hand and an oversized knuckle duster in the other, I am at an advantage compared to the guy who doesn't have one... unless he is using a dagger instead maybe. As the odds are that the other guy is unlikely to possess any more skill than I with anything, then effective use doesn't come into it.

Of course if the other guy does know what he's doing, whether it is with sword, buckler, or dagger and especially with all of them, then I'm in real trouble.

Agreed they are fairly easy to make and some were just solid iron with no wood at all. Whether half a day or a full day to make though, the smith has to be paid for his time and materials, which pretty much sets the price for the item.

[janner]

Indeed, although in my experience smiths will do a great deal for a spot of ale