Shields
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
Shields are broad pieces of armor made of rigid material and strapped to the arm or carried in the hand for protection against hurled or thrusted weapons.
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Targe
The targe, or target, was the traditional Scottish round shield (square versions existed but were rare). The shield was generally made of wood and covered in leather, but later versions combined steel with wood. The targe was almost always embossed or decorated with brass studs and bosses. Rarely more than 20 inches in diameter, its primary function was to parry an opponent’s attack rather than completely shield the body. The targe was used most often in conjunction with a broadsword or other one-handed weapon. It was very similar in use and function to a buckler.
Buckler
- See main article Buckler
The buckler was a small shield which saw wide popularity in Europe beginning in the late 16th century. Normally not much wider than the fist holding it, the buckler was used primarily to parry an opponent's attack rather than cover the wielder's body. As the size of weapons began to decrease and sword play became more in vogue (as a result of the development of firearms), the buckler became the ideal shield choice. The times of barbarians with six-foot swords past, the small, light buckler was extremely effective in a fast-moving fight. While most bucklers were round, some were rectangular or square.
Heater
The heater is the classic medieval shield used from the 12th through the 18th centuries. Made of both wood and metal, the shield was extremely practical. The heater design descended directly from the Norman kite shield design and was essentially a shorter version of the kite shield (the heater was rarely longer than shoulder to waist). Virtually all coats of arms and heraldic emblems with a shield on them use the heater design. Some variations of the heater existed, usually in the top of the shield (flat top versus a peaked top).
Kite Shield
The Kite Shield’s name derives from its resemblance to a kite. It has also been referred to as a tear shield, however the proper terms for a kite shield is a Norman Shield. It was the characteristic shield of the Normans, used between the 11th and 15th centuries. Made of wood, metal, or a combination of both, the kite shield afforded the wielder excellent protection. It was especially popular among mounted knights because it covered them from shoulder well below the knee when held at the ready-position when mounted on the forearm, the elbow bent at a 90 degree angle.
Pavise
The Pavise also referred to as a Wall Shield, was a European full-body shield used predominately by archers, especially during sieges. During battle, archers and crossbowmen were vulnerable while reloading and taking aim. For crossbowmen especially, trying to manage a shield and the involved reloading process was difficult during training, let alone when enemy arrows were flying back at them. The pavis, or wall shield, provided them a great deal of protection during the crucial reloading period. The pavis could be carried by a squire or another archer (referred to as the pavisor) and held in place, or propped up to stand on its own by use of a kickstand-like strut at the base of the shield. Because the shield was so large and cumbersome it was rarely used in close combat.
Tower Shield
The Tower Shield is described as a very tall shield, greater in length than breadth, which covered the body from shoulder to knee when carried with the arm bent. The tower shield probably got its name from the fact it is tall like a tower. While large, the tower shield was smaller than a pavis or wall shield. Many variations of the tower shield had an arc-shaped top to protect the head without restricting the wielder’s field of vision. The Roman's Scutum is a perfect example of a tower shield.
