making a leather type substitute buckler

[Wyrm]

I have been trying to make a leather buckler for shinai I.33 sparring but dont have any vegetable tanned leather and I aint having any success with shaping out a buckler boss with chemical treated leather so can anyone suggest alternative materials for making a buckler similar to leather that will not destroy a wooden sword and yet retains enough strength to be used as a buckler, probably over the top of a wooden base.

Thanks,
Wyrm.

[Fearghus Macildubh]

Well, leather and horn were used in period the way we use plastics today, so.....if you really can't get veg tanned leather, I'd go with plastic covered in fabric or chrome tanned leather. If it's not a cost issue, but a materials one and you can get mail order, http://www.woodenswords.com/WMA/index.htm
Purpleheart Armoury sells a leather buckler for 88 bucks. However, since you could buy a half hide on sale for that price, I wouldn't recommend it.
http://www.tandyleather.com/products.asp?dept=33
Tandy leather isn't the cheapest around, so if you shop around on the net, I'm sure you could find it cheaper.
But in the meantime, plastic should fit the bill.

[Christophe de Frisselle]

Pleather