Kilt Accessories: You Want A Targe With That?

[Dale Seago]

Obviously a targe would generally go best with a feileadh mor/"great kilt", not a modern tailored kilt; But I've always loved the looks of them, and I remember years ago looking wistfully at the photos in Culloden: The Swords And The Sorrows. I wouldn't walk around with one of those strapped on, any more than I'd walk around at a Scottish event with a baldric and baskethilt broadsword. (I did do that once years ago, and found it a total pain in the ****.)

But I could certainly take pride in one displayed at my clan's tent at the Games, or simply hanging on my wall at home; and I'm sure reenactors would delight in a well-made one too. I was recently doing a Google Images search with the keywords "scottish targe" and found a number of very pretty ones, such as from this New Zealand vendor:

http://www.scotscorner.co.nz/highland_targe.shtml

Those "look right". But there's also the caveat, "Please note: These targes are designed for display purposes only and are not suitable for use in reenactment demonstrations."

Well, heck. Just as I'd want a sgian dubh to be actually functional as a utility knife, I don't think I'd want a targe that couldn't be used just as the period ones were.

But I may have found a good targe maker:

http://targesbydouglas.wordpress.com/

He seems to have done his research regarding historical construction, and I notice that his targes are made with "high quality half-inch to five-eights inch hardwood plywood". This sounds like a modern/updated analogue to the originals' use of "two layers of one-fourth inch oak or pine boards glued up at 90 degrees to each other, and further strengthened by dowels passing through both layers", and he'd have no need to do that unless he was thinking about their possible use in reenactment demos. And his work is mouthwateringly gorgeous:



Is anyone here familiar with Douglas' work? And are there comparable targe makers out there that anyone is aware of?

[MizzouScotsman]

I just made my own....lol. It's not hard to do and you can make the design however you want. It's rather inexpensive to make as well.

[ShaunMaxwell]

I recently purchased this one from Bold Blades:

photobucket.com/user/esmaxwell/media/DSC_1095_zps7cc50e56.jpg.html][/URL]

It was kind of in the middle if the pack price-wise... Not as expensive as those custom beauties, but not bad for something commercially made.

This photo shows more detail...



Here are links to a couple of other sites to check out:

http://www.scottishsword.com/Shields/TheShields.htm

http://www.scottishtargemaker.co.uk/

[ShaunMaxwell]

And there's always MacKenzie Frain...

http://www.mackenziefrain.com/index....gory_id=108791

[ShaunMaxwell]

http://www.highland-targe.com/targe-gallery.html

[Tobus]

Shaun, I really like how that turned out! Are you still considering a tartan background for it?

That targe looks great. I'm still considering doing a similar mounting, but have given up on the idea of making my own targe. Just don't have the time. And it wouldn't look near as good as one like yours.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Shaun, I really like how that turned out! Are you still considering a tartan background for it?

That targe looks great. I'm still considering doing a similar mounting, but have given up on the idea of making my own targe. Just don't have the time. And it wouldn't look near as good as one like yours.

Thanks, Tobus. Currently, I've draped a tartan scarf behind the targe, which hangs down on either side of the targe to and inch or two below the end of the swords. I'm still trying to decide what to do to give it a bit more visual interest with tartan... I'm thinking of (eventually) purchasing a bronze piece to hang centered above the targe, and have some tartan draping below it and behind the targe and swords, but it gets little problematic given the mounting of the various elements (as I'd rather not poke a bunch of holes in the tartan...).

Here's the the bronze piece:



What do you think? Would that be too much of a good thing?

P.S. While you may not have the time to make your own targe, you definitely have the skills (remember that I've seen some of your leatherwork and the designs for some targes you put together)! I on the other hand, not so much!

[Tobus]

I'm thinking of (eventually) purchasing a bronze piece to hang centered above the targe, and have some tartan draping below it and behind the targe and swords, but it gets little problematic given the mounting of the various elements (as I'd rather not poke a bunch of holes in the tartan...).

What do you think? Would that be too much of a good thing?

In my mind's eye, that would look great. How large is that bronze piece?

As for poking holes in the tartan, just buy enough tartan to do it, and make it a dedicated piece for this display. If you're thinking that you want to keep the cloth "whole" so it can be used for something else later, you'll be kidding yourself. Once you get it up on the wall the way you want it, you'll never want to take it down! But I'd bet you could mount it well enough without having to damage the cloth, by either using small tacks that can dodge between the fibers (much like a kilt pin), or maybe even magnet clamps. I guess it all depends on how heavy the bronze piece is and how the tartan will be arranged behind it.

P.S. While you may not have the time to make your own targe, you definitely have the skills (remember that I've seen some of your leatherwork and the designs for some targes you put together)! I on the other hand, not so much!

Making a targe seems pretty simple, from my research, and doesn't require much in the way of specialised skill. Some rudimentary tools and work space, maybe. Of course, any tooling on the leather would require skill (which my wife possesses as a saddlemaker). My skill pretty much stops at assembly work and basic stamping.

My holdup just seems to be time. We're in the middle of a major home renovation, adding another room onto the house, and I'm still trying to redo the garage to convert it to her new leather workshop. Plus a zillion other projects that seem to not be getting done. And I'm back to practising the mandolin for 2 hours a day, getting ready for my world tour, so that's eating up a lot of time.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Tobus:

The dimensions of the bronze are 12" h x 9" w.

And you're almost certainly right about the tartan...

Bring your mandolin to Salado... It can be the first stop on your world tour. Before long, you'll have Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder as your opening act!

Cheers,

SM

[Mike M.]

And there's always MacKenzie Frain...

http://www.mackenziefrain.com/index....gory_id=108791

I've got one of his 'Fighting Targe's. It's a generic design, but I thought the build quality was high. My only gripe would be that the arm strap doesn't have an adjustment...you would have to cut it and lace it back together if it didn't fit properly.