There is Only One "Problem" with this Shield... (Ottoman Kalkan)

This is a remarkably versatile design... Can't decide between centergrip and strapped shield? Why not both? There are different ways to hold it, sling it over your shoulder, or even wear it on your back. It's remarkably light and comfortable to use.
What stands out the most are the extensive decorations. This is a beautiful collector's piece, and clearly plenty of attention to detail went into the craftsmanship.
** Where to find it **
www.etsy.com/ca/listing/16880...
Testing an undecorated version of this shield:
• This Destructive Shiel...
** Sources **
Original Kalkan
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
royalarmouries.org/collection...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Vietnamese rattan shield
www.mandarinmansion.com/item/...
Tibetan shield, 14th-16th century
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
** Music credits **
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission
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www.bonfire.com/store/skallswag/
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: www.bonfire.com/welcome/07bb1...
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www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259
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www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
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#skallagrim #ottoman #shield #reproduction #history #review

[@Skallagrim]

If you're interested in how it holds up, here is the follow-up video where I test an undecorated version of this shield: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp2rnGWwaKyne7M

[@jugglejunk]

On the topic of combining the use of a shield and archery, what would be your opinion in regards to using a gauntlet shield (shield with integrated gauntlet where the gauntlet part sticks outside the shield part. Like a lantern shield, but without the extra fluff), wouldn't that be a viable way to use it?

[@samwill7259]

"The scarf is made of knit" sounds like the description on a sketchy Alibaba page

[@Skallagrim]

Hah, it really does.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

TRUTH! I've seen clothing that said the fabric type was "cloth" 😂

[@Sableagle]

A guy in an arcade of shops in Syria tried to sell me a scarf that he said "Is cashmere. Is silk-cotton mix." The scarf had a label on it that said, in Arabic and English: "100% polyester."

[@belthesheep3550]

B@@Sableagle You think he knew?

[@Muljinn]

Probably hoping any punters wouldn’t check…

[@syndicalist-0]

Ottoman arms and armor can be soooo beautiful

[@cetus4449]

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the entire East differed from Western Europe in the extraordinary richness and ornamentation of the equipment used. A special place was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth where the military art of the West and the East met and was used in the service of the Polish kings. The material culture of Hungary and Poland was greatly influenced by the Persian and Turkish styles, producing their own original forms.

[@barca8341]

@@cetus4449 Not a lot of people know this but even the Polish winged hussars are inspired from Ottoman Delis.

[@3choblast3r4]

​@@cetus4449 It helped that the Hungarians offered the Turkic Cumans lands to settle if they became part of the Hungarian army. They were the biggest defense against the Mongols during the Mongol invasion. But then some Hungarian lords decided to kill the Cuman Khan and to use him as a scapegoat, hoping that killing him would appease the Mongols. This angered the Cumans who left (not so peacefully). Which then promptly led to the invasion of Hungary by the mongols who steamrolled the remaining Hungarian forces and the sacking of the Hungarian treasury. The Hungarian King then penniless begged the Cumans to return and offered them a giant chunk of Hungary to settle for their own in return for helping rebuild and defend Hungary. Which the Cumans did creating regions like Kunsag (Cumania in Latin and German). Over time they became Christians and assimilated.

[@turukatrak1721]

@Huehue-qf1ri he doesnt even know arpad and his brother was Turk , Huns were Turk as well and 4 of Hun state even today symbolized as 4 start out of 16 in Tukish presidential seal , as well as cumans there are szekells too and dissolved tatars and pechenegs , even arpad whose byzantine mentioned him as prince of Turks sent there by khazar empire(another Turkish state) - that explains why hungarian plateu called Turcia in emperor porrpygenitos maps of 10th century

[@yigit79]

@@barca8341 HUUUUUUUUUU:)

[@film57r7]

This is the proof that archer character can use shield

[@melee-dexterdexterious2878]

And while mounted on top of a skittish horse too..

[@fehmit160]

They were in mount and blade : fire and blood game. The horseback archers were using shields at the same time they shoot arrows just like he showed it.

[@heroiccombatengineer6018]

​@@fehmit160probably the only game I saw archers with shields

[@korkufilmleriscarymovies2283]

​@@fehmit160 also in warband it's same lol

[@alperc6156]

@@heroiccombatengineer6018Because those games are made by Turks 😊

[@Han-rw9ev]

After decades of ignorance, I've finally learned what the term 'wicker' really refers to. And, nice shield.

[@douglasdea637]

Only in the past year or so did I learn what a weed really is. I always thought it was a breed or type of plant.

[@bigby1530]

I want one so I can be a Balkan with a Kalkan

[@canbaykal4202]

Lmaaaoo

[@brainblox5629]

You mean ... a Janissary?

[@bigby1530]

@@brainblox5629 don't ruin the pun

[@omerfarukkaya5997]

@@brainblox5629 actually this type of shields used by akinjis or sipahis.

[@enessanadine1]

hhahahahaha

[@PasqualItizzz]

I'm not ready for this hard truth about the nature of wicker. I chose to live in denial.

[@skipmage]

You live in de-nile, You get wet.

[@batou1976]

“I reject your reality, and substitute my own!”

[@sevenproxies4255]

Think of it this way: kevlar is a form of weave too, and it can stop bullets. Yes individual strands of polyaramid fibers are very tough on their own, but their bullet stopping capabilities have a lot to do with how the individual strands are woven together too since the weave allows them to disperse the kinetic energy of a bullet over a large surface area.

[@nef36]

*Menacingly approaches with a steel cable wicker shield*

[@Marcus-ki1en]

de Nile? Perhaps you would prefer Papyrus then?

[@madmalkavian3857]

I've never seen a shield that looks so comfortable.

[@TheZinmo]

Yes, please get an undecorated one to test as hard as possible. I guess that these were meant to be somewhat destructable, like most other shields were too, but I also think they will hold up much better than most of us think.

[@petermannheim6527]

Not sure if Ottomans soldiers have really used 100 percent this Shield it looked more like a Decorative item that a Rich Merchant would have hanged in his house. They used maybe similar looking ones with studier stronger materials and less Decorative but only guessing.

[@LordKhuzdul]

@@petermannheim6527 It should be noted that these wicker shields were not intended for use in heavy melee fighting. They are cavalry shields intended more for light cavalry or cavalry archers, and intended more as protection against arrows (the thick fabric covering the front and the back is intended to reduce arrow penetration). Of course the ones intended for actual fighting would not be this decorated, but they were also somewhat disposable - they were not intended to survive past a couple of battles, so they were of rather simple construction and cheap materials.

[@ney57e]

Wickering is a broad weave description. Its durability depends on both the material and the weave. You can get lightweight shields that are lighter than wooden shields, but poorer in protection to chinese-style ones which are heavier than wooden shields, tighter in weave and can basically withstand sidearms. And then there's different types of weave from different cultures that have no connection with each other. So to answer the question of rattan shield durability is like answering if metal armor works. What kind of metal? What kind of construction? Chainmail? Lamellar? Plate?

[@nothing461]

@@petermannheim6527 those shields were used by both shock and skirmish cavalry of several countries in 17th century, so they must have proven their worth

[@petermannheim6527]

@@nothing461 I dont mean that this style of shields didnt get used i mean that i dont buy this materials. The guy didnt use the shield and the decoration wool got of. But i think he showed pictures of shields that looked like they had less decorative elements i believe they used this kind of. The guy needs a horse and bow and shield too show it really^^.

[@aspiringmarauder666]

I see Skallagrim video, I watch the whole thing. Test the shield!

[@TimmyMicBobbins]

Oooo I agree I'd love to see it tested

[@Filipnalepa]

Me too! Non-metal weapons and armor are always interesting, especially in serious test.

[@eledgy]

+1 Interested in the failure modes of wicker

[@Kneon_Knight]

@@eledgy It's surprisingly tough and rather springy.

[@kelvinsantiago7061]

Noo

[@navjyot5218]

I'd love to see practical testing of the shield

[@derekmccallum4765]

I second this. Not enough sheild test videos out there.

[@ilovemetal1100]

Testing would be a really good idea. Want to know how much a light shield can take.

[@ArkadiBolschek]

I'd love to see practical testing of a shield that isn't as beautiful as this one 😅

[@ZeroXSEED]

@@ArkadiBolschek They sell a bare version. Probably a bit cheaper and better for pratical testing.

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

@@ilovemetal1100 Kalkans were designed to be light yet great at stopping arrows and similar projectiles. They were made of wooden rods tied very tightly together with many layers of thread, meaning any arrow that hits such a shield should be stopped dead by the pressure.

[@josku5]

Hell yeah get the other shield to test! 😎👍

[@foldionepapyrus3441]

Agreed, I really want to see how it stacks up in use, the construction is something I've never seen tested at all, nor read any historical accounts I can recall and being sort of like a buckler, sort of like a strap shield etc is interesting and perhaps enables some novel uses with how easy it looks to shift use style (though that is less unique). Though for me the real question is does it actually have the toughness and stiffness of the European shields, would it perhaps be better at binding blades but generally less durable? Bend more easily do better at absorbing the impacts than deflecting them? Is it as effective at halting the arrow? And perhaps equally important is it easier to remove stuck arrows quickly? As while you'd rather have a new shield than keep a damaaged on obviously it has to be easier to fight with a shield full of holes but no arrows... So with how difficult to remove arrows have proven to be from other shield tests if the construction method here allows that bit more wiggle to pull it out or pull it through but does still effectively capture that high energy arrow...

[@mr.sandman770]

I have looked at both Persian and Ottoman miniatures from the 15th (Persian, of Aq-Qoyunlu turkomans) and 16th centuries (Ottoman), and both show the use of these shields. They show up in different forms, and in different sizes. One interesting thing about them is the level of reinforcement that existed for them. There are examples of kalkan featuring iron bars and rims added to the wicker section to defend against slashing strikes.

[@cetus4449]

This type of shield was known in a huge region of the world, from China to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and through the Ottoman Empire and Persia, to Arabia.

[@John-ir4id]

That was one thought I had. Reinforcement to keep pace with the sorts of weapons it would be expected to go up against.

[@johndododoe1411]

​@@cetus4449Many stereotypical depictions of Chinese people seem to show these worn as helmets .

[@jodycarter7308]

I wondered if they didn't put a rim around the outside, not just for defence. Strikes would improve by a little bit of taper to the bike rim, or a tooth every 9 inches or so to add a little puncture damage to the shield strike

[@lastflightofosiris]

​@@jodycarter7308there are wide variety of styles and materials including what you suggested. They have a huge collection of those in Harbiye military museum in Istanbul.

[@searaider3340]

Wow, this is the prettiest shield I ever saw.

[@Derywdon]

Fun fact, early days of this shield (which when turks live as nomads at middle asia) they use similar shields to this one in terms of shape but without soft parts (or these parts are might be removebel) and in those days they use their shields like pans to. Cause of the dent in front the oil and water flowing from the meat were collected in the middle, and they would soak bread etc. Over time, as they settled down, the food they cooked turned into the street food we call tantuni in Turkey .

[@mhsmt5mt]

As a Turk ı didn’t knew that ahahaha

[@DigitalArbiter]

That's right.

[@SkateGirlAndrea]

Having too nice pieces in your collection is a must in any collection. Yes, a test would be awesome 👌

[@sevenproxies4255]

From the username I suspect you're into skateboarding? The hobby must have a similar dilemma, with boards that have really nice graphics on them so you become reluctant to grind with them 😄

[@SkateGirlAndrea]

​@sevenproxies4255 yes for sure 👍

[@SkateGirlAndrea]

@sevenproxies4255 yes for sure 👍

[@SkateGirlAndrea]

@sevenproxies4255 yes for sure 👍

[@nuclearhominoidea]

he talks exactly like a bazaarman who wants to sell you this shield

[@ScythianGryphon]

Yes, I would like to see more videos on the topic of HOMA (historical Ottoman martial arts) :)

[@allengordon6929]

The ottomans were part of europe

[@eazy8579]

I’d really like to see a sparring test with that plain one they offered you. It looks really interesting to try with a two handed spear, or other polearms, as well as a few different swords

[@necroseus]

Holy shit, that's gorgeous! They're willing to send a blank one for testing? Absolutely I would love to see that. Tests in sparring against blunts as well as tests against sharps! That would be marvelous :)

[@czescwaszejpamiecizonierze7427]

Can't forget that the kalkan was also a shield used by the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, Hungry and Cossacks. Also I heard the stories of those shields stopping early guns, I think I even saw a video of someone testing it and it stopped an early musket round. So apparently they were very protective and easy to repair but they get damaged very easily.

[@ALTAYLI-HAN]

Kazaklar da bizim soydaşımızdır. Türkiye den selam

[@mertaydnlk8343]

​@@ALTAYLI-HANknk bunların dediği kozak kazaklardan farklı

[@ALTAYLI-HAN]

@@mertaydnlk8343 çeviri yapınca kazak diye çevirdi:D

[@mertaydnlk8343]

@@ALTAYLI-HAN yok kozak bunlar ukraynalıların ataları

[@archie1554]

​@@ALTAYLI-HANyou are obviously from Kazakhstan, so please don't speak in our name

[@yavuzkhan7369]

I didn't know a kalkan can be using with so many ways. Very tactical and practical, easy to use. It can be using with a bow and even on horseback with a bow. Actually this is pretty OP. Very impressive.

[@bdjcasar8357]

Yeah, I would love to see tests.

[@fidaee19]

I would love to see you cover more Indo-Persian, Turkish, and African arms and armor! Thank you for making this video about the Kalkan! I always wanted to learn more about the Kalkan and especially about how it’s held.

[@CreepyMF]

Another fine edition to your collection.

[@dxundownload8635]

such a gorgeous shield! defiantly get that blank and STRESS TEST IT!!

[@Haekeldrachen]

Nice one: '...a scarf made of knit.'' cracked me up pretty hard. 😂😂😂

[@weswolever7477]

Would a scarf expert be a … knit wit?

[@jodycarter7308]

Actually it's a very apt simile. Wicker is what they used to line wells. So dirt and rocks wouldn't fall in. It's also the best theory on how they moved the stonehenge rocks. Make a big wicker basket around the stones, shaped like the well, (that's where the archeologist got the idea; he was excavating a well) and roll em, if the wicker broke, they'd fix it, and keep going. They did tests with 1/10th size stones, they can be moved by one person.

[@adamstachura2589]

I would absolutely love see testing with this! Ottoman arms and armor are some of my favorite that get vert little recognition

[@CDKohmy]

I've been fascinated with wicker shields lately. In antiquity, Thracian peltasts and Persians used wicker. Caesar claims that some Gauls used wicker shields. There is a medieval manuscript that depicts a wicker heater shield. The Irish (kerns mostly) used wicker, as well as some Scottish targes.

[@Lomaro-Targimho-Galga]

Irish people call themselfs Geilige which is similar to Ingushian ancient self name Galga. Some scientists state that Irish people come from Troy just like Etruscans.

[@Lomaro-Targimho-Galga]

The word Kalkan is selfname for real Caucasians - Galgai people who are now known as Ingushians. A.k.a. Kalkans, Kalka, Halha, Galga. We are true alanians. The river Kalka in modern Ukraine and Russia is named under our name. The river Galga in Hungary also named by our self name. The Ingushians are very ancient people. We are known as people of towers like ancient Chaldeans. Troy was Ingushian. Etruscans were Ingushian as well, they spoke our language. It is us who taught the Turks to use shield. That is how the Turks started to use word Kalkan for shield.

[@Griff1011]

I love seeing you kick the shit out of stuff companies send you. Plus seeing the practical limits of proper shields is interesting.

[@Aliraldd992]

A couple of years ago we had a sword and cape course, so I had to make myself a cape. Since it was coming along nicely I added a cool baroque inlay on the cowl, crimson laces and trimmings. Now I have 2 capes, one for show and one for sparring

[@Belegond]

Tests are always interesting, so yes please!

[@SibylleLeon]

Holy smokes, that's gorgeous.

[@bladesargent4189]

I have been a fan since 2015 I love how honest you are and how genuine you are. Please show more of this shield if you could! keep up the good work!

[@magicbuns4868]

Yeah, his chill attitude is starting to endear me.

[@JustGrowingUp84]

3:06 "You could even wear another shield" - well, you could argue that certain types of mirror armor are exactly that - a cuirass with a shield on top of it. That armor was popular in the same areas that shields of this type were popular! So you can wear two shields on you. Then pick up a new shield in each hand, and you're good to go!

[@JustGrowingUp84]

Oh, and yeah, I do wanna watch some shield testing!

[@gokiburi2768]

You should definitely try shooting arrows and trusting at one with a spear. The ming dynasty ratten Shield Manual talks about how spears and arrows don't pierce through the ratten shields. I assume the one your holding was made with the same coil weave method and brushed with water or oil so it expands, making it water tight, which would also "possibly", make it less acceptable to piercing attacks. And frankly, I've been at an odds on whether the stuff in the manuls were true, so im pretty excited when you do a durability test.

[@diegolunar7022]

Maybe a firing test first, shooting a bow while using the shield just to have commentary on how it handles, if it restricts the draw or aim. Then the destructive tests

[@charliedavis3931]

Shields don't get enough love I'd love to see the plain e tested. I do love the Batman theme right after he says you can wear it like Captain America.

[@wilburwhateley3858]

I’ve been really interested in armies and cultures that valued horseback archery a lot, you end up finding a lot of similarities between them like this type of shield

[@maastomunkki]

That strap system seems actually quite awesome! I might have to make a cheap diy copy and test it out. Edit: typo

[@elcid200]

a very nice shield , who deserves to remain intact

[@ronwingrove683]

I'd love to see a test video on an undecorated shield. As other commenters have noted, shields were expected to be disposable, better they take the beating than your own weak, fragile, body. There were also wicker shields in the Scots and Irish traditions, I'm not sure what they were called in Scotland, but in Irish they are sciath (lit. "shield") and were more oval shaped and frequently covered with hide. Also, +1 on the "scarf made of knit." You should put that on a shirt.

[@nantha7357]

I love this! Would love to see more of this shield!

[@VikingWolf745]

*One Really Has To Admire Their Design & Details In Craft.* 👏

[@Braun_98]

Shields are so cool, would love more shield videos in general!

[@Jesses001]

Okay, I fully understand why you do not want to scratch that up. It is as much of a work of art as it is a functional item.

[@Inedow_The_Source_of_Racism]

Its basically flexing how rich you are at your enemies

[@killgora1]

Yes, please test. It's always great seeing such videos when you are able to make them.

[@brianhowe201]

Oh wow! I love these shields! Im glad you got around to covering them!

[@rafaelramires5883]

What a lovely shield! I´m eager to have more of it on here!

[@bvbxiong5791]

"it's not wicker, it's rattan." ah, so instead of paper, it's cardboard!

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Wicke(r)d shield! Would love to see the other one tested

[@Temple00]

The colors are just so nice on this one.

[@theghosthero6173]

Love to see some appreciation for this influencial and versatile type of shield

[@Lungorthin666]

At first glance I thought this would be in the $350-400 range, but not double! And I'm usually pretty good at eyeballing something and ballparking a price before knowing it's actual cost.

[@robertagu5533]

Same

[@nodosa994]

Test video, yes! That shield looks amazing, especially how the lighting affects the pattern in 8:12

[@imboredidid1]

Great video, amazing looking shield. Thanks for walking us through all the features.

[@NDOhioan]

It would be *amazing* to see a practical test! I've always been curious to learn more about wicker shields!

[@cal2127]

how well does it hold up to strikes? how light is it?

[@saintjacques8137]

I'd love to see you coop with an expert in the Art of War like Schwerpunkt. HEMA must talk more with military historians, especially the ones that really get the hard deal

[@cal2127]

bot comment

[@philhines]

It’s always cool to see different gear from different times and places get tested out by the likes of yourself! I hope this can turn around and happen!

[@mnnic4292]

Your narrative is precise and interesting. I appreciated and thank you for it.

[@Xzhh_]

Wow what's with all these bots lol. Good video though, that's an incredibly beautiful shield

[@cal2127]

i keep seeing the schwerpunkt bot on multiple history channels.

[@MasakanSolaris]

Dude this paired with a type of short sword would be amazing

[@neimenovani7256]

Bros videos are always good, informatonal, and the accent just nails it together

[@VieneLea]

Beautiful shield! Thanks a lot for showcasing it!

[@kmg9763]

Why are you so defensive?

[@shawnbrightly9200]

Don't block me out 😢

[@Skallagrim]

Don't worry, sword reviews get a lot more offensive.

[@AbsoluuttinenTotuus]

In Skall's defense though…

[@mr-bearman6338]

This is so beautiful!

[@hendrix24]

I would very much enjoy seeing that style of shield tested. The green is gorgeous.

[@crusader9576]

Yes please I would like to see more shields like this

[@md.rejwanullahraiyan4475]

Damn, now i want him to wear full ottoman armor and weapon set

[@SkribbleNL]

Its so pretty! love how the shield looks

[@Chogborts]

I'd love more about this kind of shield! There's so much content out there about longsword fighting and rapier/sidesword, but there's not much about shield fighting and it's techniques.

[@easternhills1329]

That's one beautiful shield! The golden on green just pops

[@ryugaminemikado5584]

Beautiful Shield, great color combination!

[@osirisatot19]

I want to see more tests, and I really don't blame you; that is a beautiful piece.

[@henryfonda4510]

As a Turk in my childhood I always thought that all other people use the same type of shield. So I used to draw some comicbook chacters with that kind of shield. Obviously he was Captain America. His shield's inner side used to look like a Turkish shield

[@jefrosiers8880]

this shield is amazing, it does definitely look like something that cavalry or mounted archers would use

[@forrestcavin1802]

Always good to see a new skallagrim vid!

[@artemisdarkslayer]

Definitely want more practical shield tests! Lets gooooo!

[@koenkooiman1490]

Would love to see a full review, of an undecorated shield. This one is way to nice indeed.

[@Thunderwolf4]

The shield is very well decorated! Would love to see a test with an undecorated version of it!!! Great vid, Skall!!✨👍✨

[@Gomai]

Good lord that’s one hell of a piece of functional art!

[@KingNedya]

I'd love to see it tested, but also I can't blame you for not wanting to test that particular shield; it is a very pretty shield!

[@FionaAnstian]

Id love to see more of these, I've always been curious about wicker shields and how they held up to use.

[@Rodclutcher]

Absolutely beautiful shield! I’m ready for a test

[@jarongreen5480]

I think that a test with a undecorated shield would be awesome! I don't see enough shield and sword demonstrations and reviews and I'd be curious to see how this one holds up.

[@goonstuck]

If im not wrong ottoman soldiers has a hybrid style of hand to hand combat with "kılıç" on one hand and a free hand to grab/punch etc... this "kalkan" they used probably untill they close the gap with their enemies, avoiding from arrows/throwings and then as you showed they probably hang it to their shoulders and fight. Pleasure to watch video, thank you for sharing 🫡

[@AndICanTalk2]

Enjoyed this. Beautiful shield.

[@overflow6004]

Great video as always

[@commander_q]

A test with the plain shield would be awesome!

[@BattlerEvil]

pls test shields more especially this one they're awesome!

[@The_Judge300]

I have always been interested to see how good these wicker shields are, so I would VERY much love to see you testing one that is not decorated.

[@W4iteFlame]

Of course we would like to see more tests

[@droolhd]

sooo pretty! oh and the shield is nice too

[@gasfrommyanusi0i594]

I like your videos a lot lately.

[@voidprince2257]

I think it's really neat! I want to see more!

[@KrygerWolf]

That shield is too pretty, I agree. Great vid.

[@paulcone2995]

It would be nice to see more sparring videos with shields used. Spears, axe, sword, etc.

[@Kaliayep]

This is a beautiful piece

[@joshuabates2200]

I'd definitely want to see the testing!

[@bassemb]

It's gorgeous!