Buckler

The buckler is a small round shield used in Europe from the late Middle Ages to the early modern period. Typical diameter is about 20 to 30 centimeters, though sizes varied. It is held in one hand by a central grip, sometimes with a leather forearm strap, allowing swift parries and rapid movements. The shield has a raised central boss to protect the hand and may be convex to deflect blows. Construction commonly features a wooden core faced with leather, rawhide, or metal, and often a metal rim or boss.

Its primary role was as a parrying shield used in conjunction with one-handed swords such as the arming sword, sidesword, or rapier, depending on period and region. The buckler’s small size prioritized speed and maneuverability over heavy protection. In martial treatises and artwork, practitioners describe techniques that deflect blows with the buckler and trap or redirect an opponent’s blade while the sword makes the counterattack. The technique varied across Italian, German, Swiss, and English schools.

The buckler declined with the rise of firearms and changes in armor during the early modern era, but it persisted in some regions and later gained renewed interest in historical European martial arts and stage combat. Etymology traces the term to Old French bouclier, meaning shield. In modern times, bucklers are studied by martial artists and reenactors, and appear as antique items or stage props.