Guige strap on Highland Targe?

[gordy]

Sources on the internet have little evidence of a guige strap on a highland targe, I'm wondering what if the members here have any thoughts or references.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guige


Thanks!
gordy

 

[Mike S.]

Most extant examples with the straps still intact do have the two parallel straps for the arm to slip through (the Dirk is normally held by the left hand itself while using the Targe, leaving the right hand free for the Broadsword etc.).

The carry strap depicted in this illustration is something that is occasionally suggested by period paintings and illustrations, but not a consistent detail to be found on the same, surviving Targes.

 

[renarts]

Gordy,
There is very little evidence to support the use of a guige strap on a targe. Enarmes or center bosses with a hand grip seem to be the most popular method of handling/controlling the targe. I think the techniques of the use of the targe and a guige strap are counter productive to each other. That is not to say, some clever highlander didn't fashion one to his targe, it just does not show up in the majority of the primary documentation. I checked all my references and nothing shows there. Byzantine flame throwers attached to shields, lanterns, exploding tournament shields, I got docs for. Guige fitted targes....nada.

 

[Mike S.]

There are many extant examples of historic Highland Targes that lack the center boss, and certainly the infamous "spike" projection, or any sign of there having been one originally. In fact, most period illustrations show the targe being used in the conventional manner of other shields, and not wielded like a Madu, Buckler or similarly handled shield. The greater simplicity of construction locally, in a region where industry was not at the fore front, is one major contributor to this have no doubt.

Although only one of many good sources, George Cameron Stone describes the Targe as a "shield with two loops in the back, in which the arm is placed" in his esteemed reference bible A GLOSSARY OF THE CONSTRUCTION, DECORATION AND USE OF ARMS AND ARMOUR In All Countries And In All Times. The most common method was to grip the second strap with the hand, together with the dirk held downward in the same hand.

My background is in Scottish Regimental, Clan, and Piping related pursuits, and as such I have a multitude of references covering this topic. I've quoted the above source simply because it is likely to be on the shelves of more casual military historians than the far more specific, albeit obscure, ones in my personal library.

In short, you may go with either construction and still be accurate, however one should not dismiss the more commonly found pattern in the process.

 

[Paul Kernan]

While visiting Culloden in 2000, I picked up a 'catalogue' book from the National Trust of Scotland on the artifacts of the Battle Culloden. It claims to have the only targe sporting its original spike. In addition, it does explain that although there is evidence of strapping all are missing the leather parts.

 

[gordy]

Thanks for all the input,

So ya or nay on the guige (shoulder strap), NOT talking about hand straps/buckler) ?

If no, on the guige strap, how would a Culloden highlander carry a targe when not on the arm?

 

[renarts]

I would say no on the guige. If it were a case of not carrying it on the arm and he still wanted to sling it somewhere, I'd sling one of the enarmes (arm straps) over the hilt of the sword. I do this with my buckler when participating in War of the Roses re-enactments. I've also used a small leather thong to wrap it through the belt. Its easily taken off the belt and handled that way. You could also run the sword baldric through the enarmes and that would allow you to "sling it" across your back while bog trotting through the heather.

There is an article written by Joe Lindsey who reproduces period style targes and I thought was interesting after Mike's description:

"It is thought by some that the clansman would put his left hand completely through the handle and grip his dirk in this hand in order to use it on his foe. This is very unlikely as it would render the targe virtually useless for defence. This misunderstanding stems from a painting by David Morier, which he painted shortly after Culloden. The painting contains various doubtful details relating to the use of targes, and unfortunately these have been copied down the years.

It is much more likely that the clansman would have simply held his dirk and the targe handle both in his left hand, in order to instantly access the dirk should he lose or break his sword."

Lindsay's site has some interesting photos of targes and has a nice photo of the back side of one. http://www.targemaker.co.uk/

Just as an aside. Mike, if you haven't read it yet I suggest Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters
Sir William Hope, Donald McBane, Mark Rector, Paul Wagner
Its a treatise on and reprinting of period scottish fencing manuals and techniques.
As you're into the Scottish military pursuits, you might get a kick out of this.

 

[gordy]

Intersting info Mike, thanks - I just may go with the enarmes threaded through the baldric as an option -

I had also read, that highlanders would line the back of the targe with a piece British red coat as a trophy, I will try and find a link -

Ah, it's in the wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targe
"The back of the targe was commonly covered in deerskin, and a very few had some packing of straw etc. behind this. Some targes, usually those actually used in battle, had their backs covered in a piece of red cloth taken from the uniform of a government soldier (a "Redcoat") that the owner had killed in battle. Although all the old targes show signs of handles and arm straps, of various designs including centre-grips [1], there is very little evidence to indicate that there was any guige strap for carrying the targe over the shoulder."

 

[Mike S.]

The targe does appear to have been slung while on the march, however I think it likely that a temporary solution was to utilize a cord etc. slung around the torso, rather than a fixed, built in strap for the purpose. That is how I would depict this with your figure.

This would be the bone of contention here with the facsimile shield in the original Wiki linked page.

 

[gordy]

The targe does appear to have been slung while on the march, however I think it likely that a temporary solution was to utilize a cord etc. slung around the torso, rather than a fixed, built in strap for the purpose. That is how I would depict this with your figure.

This would be the bone of contention here with the facsimile shield in the original Wiki linked page.

I like that idea Mike, i'm going to go with that, thanks!