A buckler is a small shield that could be buckled (hence the name) to the belt and could therefore be carried in the street. It was a popular English weapon from Medieval times to the 16th century, where it became replaced by the rapier as the Gentleman’s weapon of choice in civilian duels. Increasingly the buckler became a weapon used by the lower classes, which is a shame, because George Silver calls it the most perfect fight with short weapons (i.e. not polearms).
Just as with backsword/broadsword, the main system used at TAS for fencing with sword and buckler is that of George Silver, although we actually teach a hybrid system of Silver and the world’s oldest fencing manual, I.33. Because sword and buckler was becoming less used in Silver’s time, his sword and buckler chapter is quite short, while manuscript I.33, written around 1300, contains 64 beautifully illustrated plates, showing a host of techniques beyond what Silver describes. Through decades of study of both these sources, it has become clear that there are striking similarities, but each emphasizes a different aspect of the fight. Silver focuses mostly on the fight at wide distance, only referring to a couple of plays at close distance. However, those plays are identical to two of the signature techniques of I.33, which emphasizes more of the fight in close. Used together, the two texts produce a much fuller system of combat with sword and buckler than each used alone.
Sword and buckler is a popular choice of second weapon with students as it builds on their knowledge of fencing with sword alone and allows for a more complex and nuanced fight.