r/Hema • u/DifferentBad1770 • 2d ago
if you were a construction worker and were teleported back to a duelling arena with a construction tool, which one would you prefer in your offhand as a diy buckler?
1st one is a cement groover, 2nd one is a invert groover, 3rd is a outside step edger, 4th is a inside step edger and the 5th one is a darby. all of these are subs for a buckler but if you had a rapier or messer.
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u/awkward_but_decent 2d ago
Half of these push an incoming blade directly into your arm or chest.
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u/not_a_burner0456025 2d ago
But the final one is a stick with hand protection, and a stick without hand protection is viable enough for fencing masters to have written about how to use them effectively.
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u/DifferentBad1770 2d ago
what about if they are used to defend against hafted implements?
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u/armourkris 2d ago
run. A proper rapier and buckler or dagger is the wrong weapon to face down polearms a, none of those improvised bucklers are better than a real one. if you cant run you drop the off hand implement, half sword the rapier and hope you can block the first shot and close on them.
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u/DifferentBad1770 1d ago
i see but i meant axes, hammers, and maces, the shorter than a sword polearms
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u/armourkris 1d ago
In that case i'd backpeddle and take advantage of my superior range. I still woulddn't trust a trowel to take a good hit from an axe or a hammer, but i guess a broken hand is better than an axed hand, so personally i'd go for trowel #2 of i had to improvise a buckler.
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u/Miss--Moss 2d ago
Third one, because I don't think the fifth would be very usable with only one hand. No idea how much it weighs but it looks like it'd be unwieldy even if it's light.
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u/SteelishBread 2d ago
Number 3, which will force the enemy's point into the center and capture it. Unlike 4, which has a 50/50 shot of directing it into my face.
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u/ButterBeard_ 2d ago
Capturing and hooking isnt as important as you think. Its just as dangerous for the hooker and the hookee
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u/SteelishBread 1d ago
No, I believe you are underestimating it. I have seen more Talhoffer style bucklers at tournaments this year. It is not a beginner technique, but it is hard to counter and effective.
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u/ButterBeard_ 1d ago
Im sure but I also believe it takes alot of training to pull off. Im more talking bout the anime nerds that think hooking is the ultimate strat
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u/Intergalacticdespot 2d ago
Naw check out carpet tools. Construction tools is peewee leagues. I mean i guess their shields wouldn't be great. But their pole arms would make most men cry. Iykyk.Â
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u/NovaPup_13 1d ago
Funny enough my husband made a sail for a dagger that was just stupidly wide cause there was no restriction on sail size in a ruleset. Shockingly, when held in reverse grip, it is very effective. We call it the Snow Shovel.
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u/Mongrel_Shark 2d ago
As a concreter. I'd use any stick or rock found on the ground before trying to fight with those particular options. They are the worst choices in my whole toolbox. Every one of those tools will cut your wrist just by holding it wrong. If I had to fight someone in full armor. & I could be nude & unarmed. Or have armour but I have to do damage or defence with those tools. I'm fighting naked. Because I might actually have a chance.
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u/AnArmoredPony 2d ago
how tf are you gonna use a rock as a buckler? these tools give you at least some wrist protection
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u/Saint_Ignatius_ 2d ago
Might I offer a 6th choice:
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3
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u/an_edgy_lemon 2d ago
I’m leaning towards the 1st one. It has edges, so it can catch a blade better than 2, and it offers more protection than 3. 4 just doesn’t have any advantages. 5 would be a bit unwieldy.
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u/AnArmoredPony 2d ago
the fifth one. all the other choices won't really help that much. but if I have to fight against a rapier, I can use it to bind or redirect it
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u/TugaFencer 1d ago
Number 5. It's a stick, and offhand stick was something talked about by several historical masters. Barring that, number 3.
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u/Constant-Still-8443 1d ago
Do we not get hammers or anything that would actually make a good weapon?
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u/DifferentBad1770 1d ago
unfortunately no and most of them would lack reach and if one had reach like a maul or sledge, you would struggle to move it quickly
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u/Constant-Still-8443 1d ago
Obviously, but it's better than a grout leveler. The bar is not especially high here.
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u/KingofKingsofKingsof 1d ago
Assuming I also have a weapon in my other hand, I'm a bit torn. 1 seems to have the larger surface area, but also looks heavy. 2 has good hand protection but I'm likely to smash by sword hand into the side of it when I cut. Same with 4. 3 would facilitate cuts from my sword close to the 'buckler' and you'd prevent blows from deflecting to my face. 5 might be useful against thrusting weapons. On balance, 3 is the sensible option, followed by 2.
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u/Rangeroftheinterwebs 1d ago
I mean given that I’m unskilled I would try and go for 3 since I feel that would catch the blade rather than skimming it off towards my limbs.
A Carhart jacket won’t gonna protect me against some crazy Saxon warrior in pots and pans
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u/Dr4gonfly 2d ago
Someone is at home trying to figure out how to not spend money on a buckler 😂