I am an avid Western Martial Arts practitioner, and I am impressed. Having made several synthetic bucklers in the past, I find the weight, proportions and feel of this shield to be quite comparable to my others. I personally prefer a somewhat smaller boss, but for someone w/ a large hand & wearing a glove, it is excellent. The material is 1/2" thick & very robust. Weight is just a smidge over 2 lbs. and the oval shaped handle feels nice in the hand. Excellent for use w/ synthetic or wooden weapons. Great item for the price!