Medieval:
The Top Most Strongly Recommended Medieval Titles
General Reference Books on Medieval Arms & Armor or Medieval Warfare

Renaissance:
The Top Most Strongly Recommended Renaissance Titles
General Reference on Renaissance Fence or Swords & Arms

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Medieval

The Top Most Strongly Recommended Titles

"The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe"
Sydney Anglo. Yale University Press, New Haven and London, August 2000. ISBN 0 300 083352.   The most important work on historical fencing and European martial arts in more than 100 years. Surely the major reference work on the history of Medieval & Renaissance fencing for our generation.

"Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques"
By John Clements (Paladin Press, ISBN # 1-58160-004-6, Nov ’98)
This work by the HACA Director, offers a comprehensive look at medieval blades as fighting weapons and distills the essential fighting elements from such Medieval. The most thorough attempt ever to examine Medieval swords from the point of view of their historical function and use. Over 300 pages of information on the tools and martial skills of medieval warriors this work approaches Medieval swordsmanship as a legitimate martial art form.

"Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight"
David Edge and John Miles. Crescent Books, 1988. If you have but one book on the subject this is the one. An unequaled compilation of superb photos and detailed text on the whole range of weapons and armor of the middle ages. Though it lacks some detail on the earlier period and on combat, it is by far the best there is to offer. 

"Medieval Combat: A 15th Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat"
Hans Talhoffer. Translated by Mark Rector. Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal; (September 2000) ISBN: 1853674184. This long-awaited modern English edition of Talhofer's 15th century Fechtbuch is  finally available! Excellent resource! Includes more than 260 of Talhoffer’s famous plates from his edition of 1467.

"Swords & Hilt Weapons"
Michael D Cole, et. al.. Multimedia Books, 1989. This is by far the best ever general reference work on world swords, with many excellent photos and an informative text.

"Medieval Warfare Source Book, Vol. 1 Warfare in Western Christendom"
David Nicolle, London: Arms and Armour Press, 1995. This recent book is among the all times best on the subject with excellent illustrations. Very useful and readable. Includes rare material on Eastern European medieval warfare and on influences from the Middle East (perhaps with too much emphasis). Also contains some material considered debatable.

"The Medieval Soldier"
This beautiful British book presents a wealth of excellent photographs of historically accurate, 15th century medieval warriors. A must have for serious re-creational enthusiasts.

"European Armour circa 1066 to circa 1700"
Claude Blair. B.T. Bonanza, 1957 (Batsford, Ltd. London. 1979). A detailed basic guide to armor, technical, and among the best introductory references by the foremost 20th century authority.

"European and American Arms c. 1100-1850"
Claude Blair. New York. Crown, 1962. Another guide to armor by the foremost 20th century authority.

*Ewart Oakeshott's books: Oakeshott is the world's leading authority on the subject of European arms and armor and especially the medieval sword. He has written some of the most informative and entertaining works. Here are several of them:

"The Archaeology of Weapons"
Ewart Oakeshott. Boydell Press, 1960 (reprint 1994). This work follows up on the previous and offers greater insights and information, particularly on fighting and combat.

"The Sword in the Age of Chivalry"
Ewart Oakeshott. Boydell Press, 1964 (reprint 1994), this work is a must read for the subject, another great work by the leading scholar of the subject, and though a little too stiff, it contains great detail.

"European Weapons and Armour"
R. E. Oakeshott, Lutterworth Press, 1980. Boydell reprint 2001. Another of Oakeshott's, this is likely the best book available on arms and armor after the Middle Ages and contain a wealth of information on renaissance armors and sword forms.

"Fighting Men"
Oakeshott and Henry Treece. New York: G. Putnam's Sons, 1963. Another youth book, this ones deals specifically with methods of combat and reveals a number of interesting points.

"Dark Age Warrior"
Ewart Oakeshott. Was originally a children's book but you would not know it from the interesting details provided on this often neglected area. Another very good book.

"A Knight in Battle"
1971. 2nd Edition, 1998. Dufour Editions, Chester Springs, PA 19425. ISBN 0802313221. A very well written and entertaining description of four major but lesser known medieval battles from 1100 - 1500.

"A Knight and His Armor"
Dufour Editions, Chester Springs, PA. – NOT REVIEWED

"A Knight and His Horse"
Dufour Editions, Chester Springs, PA. – NOT REVIEWED

"A Knight and His Weapons"
Ewart Oakeshott. A very good work which focuses closely on the details and facts of the equipment. Includes some very well written and valuable material. Has a few strange comments which the author later amended in other works (but oddly, not in the recently republished edition of this 1966 work). The same can be said for both the very useful "A Knight and His Armor" 1961, and "A Knight and in Battle" - 1964.

"Records of the Medieval Sword"
Ewart Oakeshott. Boydell & Brewer. 1981.  At a pricey $100, this is the best book on medieval swords ever and contains the best photos available. Represents the culminations of Oakeshott's thoughts on medieval swords, including his notes on dozens of pieces and an appendix on making replica swords. Reprinted in paperback, April 1998.

"Swords"  
Ewart Oakeshott. The Gun Report – magazine articles. Sep ’85 through Jan ’88. Twelve fantastic pieces updating his many books. In many cases these articles were his last published word on these subjects. (Arms & Armour is set to reprint these in book form in 1999).

New Titles - Not yet added into alphabetical listing:

"Glossarium Armorum. Arma Defensiva"
Claude Blair, et al. Graz, 1970-72. 6 booklets each 35-43p. + Tabulae booklet, 100p. c.400 drwgs. English, French, German, Italian, Danish, Polish. Listing of Medieval and Renaissance Armor, Armour, Edged Weapons, Swords, Daggers, Knives, Bayonets.

"The English Civil War 1642-1651 - An Illustrated Military History"
Philip J. Haythornthwaite. A short but very well done and valuable work filled with detailed information. Very well illustrated.

"A Record of European Arms and Armour Through Seven Centuries"
Sir Guy Francis Laking. A standard English language reference in the field for many years. 5 vols. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1919.

"Five Centuries of Gunsmiths, Swordsmiths and Armourers 1400-1900"
Col. Robert Edward Gardner. Columbus, Ohio: Walter F. Heer, Publisher, 1948.

"The Story of Cutlery"
J.B. Himsworth. London: Ernest Benn Ltd., 1953.

"1000 Marks of European Blade Makers"
Zygmunt S. Lenkiewicz. Sussex, UK: Caldra House, Ltd., 1991.

"Combat Sports in the Ancient World"
Michael B. Poliakoff, Yale University, 1987. Examination of wrestling, Pankration, stick fighting and boxing in the ancient world.

"The James A. de Rothschild collection at Waddesdon manor. Arms, Armour and Base-Metalwork"
Claude Blair. Fribourg. Office du Livre for the National Trust, 1974.

"Catalogue of Arms and Armour"
Peter Finer, 1995.

"Arms and Armour. Masterpieces by European Craftsmen from the Thirteenth to the Nineteenth Century"
Bruno Thomas. Ortwin, Gambler and Schedelmann, Hans.; Thames and Hudson, 1964.

"Arms and Armour"
Howard L. Blackmore. Dutton Vista, Picture Book, NY. 1965.

"Arms and Armour in England"
James Mann, 1966. Small booklet.

"Russian Arms and Armour"
Yuri Miller. Aurora Art Publishers, Leningrad 1982. Outstanding collection of reproductions from the Armoury in the Moscow Kremlin.

"Knights of the Middle Ages: Their Armour and Coats of Arms"
John Brooke Little. Hugh Evelyn, 1966.

"Arms and Armour in Medieval Prussia"
Andrzej Nowakowski.. Oficyna Naukowa, Poland 1994. A detailed study of the arms and armour of Teutonic troops in Medieval Prussia. A discussion of the sources is followed by a weapon by weapon account of defensive arms (helmet armour and shield) and offensive arms (sword, side arm, staff weapons, butt weapons, shooting weapons, hand firearm and knightly belt).

"Mediaeval Arms And Armour"
Jennifer Pearson, Magna Books 1990.

"Collecting Arms and Armour"
S.E. Ellacott. 1964.

"The Lyle Arms & Armour Review 1980"
Tony Curtis & Margaret Anderson. Profusely illustrated throughout together with descriptions and prices fetched at auction. Lyle Galashiels, Scotland: Lyle Publications, 1977.

"The Military Collections. A Guide to the Arms Armour and Militaria in the Castle Museum, York"
1967. pp20. Booklet.

"Arms and Armour"
Ferenc Temesvary. Budapest, Corvina Kiado..., 1983. Quarto, 72 pages plus 72 plates.

"Arms and Armour, from the 9th to the 17th Century"
Paul Martin.; 1967/1968 first U.S. edition. Charles Tuttle, 298p.

"The How and Why Wonder Book of Arms and Armour"
Brenda Lewis. Illus by W.F. Phillipps. Transworld. London. 1977 4to, 48pp.

"Princely Arms And Armour"
Johannes Schobel. With preface by Claude Blair. Barrie & Jenkins, 1975.

"The Hever Castle Collection: Arms And Armour"
Dr. John F Hayward. London Sotheby's, 1983.

"Fine Arms and Armour Treasures in the Dresden Collection"
Joahnnes Schobel. M.O.A. STanton, Translator & Jurgen Karpinski, Photographs. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1975.

"Medieval Warfare"
Geoffrey Hindley. NY. or London, 1971. A very good basic book well illustrated.

"An Outline of Arms and Armour in England – from the early Middle Ages to the Civil War"
Sir James Mann. Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London, 1960. Useful booklet by the Master of the Armouries.

"Warfare in England 1066-1189"
John Beeler. 1966. - NOT REVIEWED

"The Age of Charlemagne: Warfare in Western Europe 750-1000 AD"
David Nicolle. 1984. - NOT REVIEWED

"The Circle of War in the Middle Ages".
Donald J. Kagay, and L.J. Andrew Villalon, eds. Warfare in History vol. 6. Rochester, NY: Boydell & Brewer Inc, 1999 . ISBN 172. 0-851-15645-2. A well-produced volume of disparate, but interesting essays on medieval military and naval history based on papers given at various gatherings in the US. No consistent theme except to question the assumptions of past historians and provide some fresh answers.

"Handbook of Arms and Armor, European and Oriental, including the William H. Riggs Collection"
Bashford Dean. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 1915. This printing limited to 1000 copies. 161 pages with index. 65 plates in text, many photographic.

"The New Galleries of European Arms and Armor"
Stephen V. Grancsay. NY Metropolitan Museum of Art 1956. Museum Bulletin vol 14, #9; photos of elaborate helmets, armor, swords, and a couple pistols.

"The Armour of Galiot De Genouilhac"
Stephen V. Grancsay. New York; 1937 Metropolitian Museum of Art. - NOT REVIEWED

"Arms and Armor"
Stephen V. Grancsay. The Odyssey Pres. New York, 1964. - NOT REVIEWED

"Observations on Swords"
Henry Wilkinson. London: Wilkinson & Son Soft Cover. Observations on Swords; addressed to Officers and Civilians but especially to those who prefer a good sword to a bad one. To which is added some useful information for Officers going to join their Regiments in India. By Henry Wilkinson & Son, Gun, Sword & Accoutrement Manufacturers, Army and Navy Contractors. Un-dated.

"Armour and Blade"
S. Ellacott. 1962. 200pp, many plates and text illustrations throughout.

"European Edged Weapons"
Terence Wise. England: Allmark Publications, 1974 First Edition. Small paperback, color illustrated with drawings an photographs, 95 pages.

"The Art Of Attack - being a study in the development of weapons...to the age of Gunpowder.
H. Cowper. 1906, facsimile reprint 1977.

"Weapons and Warriors"
Frederick Wilkinson. Morristown, NJ Silver Burdett 1978. - NOT REVIEWED

"Poland: Edged Weapons 16th Century-20th Century"
Kozlowski & Skoviera. 1994 An illustrated reference guide. Features daggers, sabres and swords, many makers names, navy, hallmarks and more. - NOT REVIEWED

"Small Armsmakers - A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows & Polearms"
Colonel Robert E. Gardner. New York: Bonanza Books, 1963. - NOT REVIEWED

Sotheby’s Catalog of Fine American and European Firearms and Edged Weapons
Los Angeles, 1974.

"Scottish Arms Makers. A Biographical Dictionary of Makers of Firearms, Edged Weapons and Armour Working in Scotland from the 15th Century to 1870"
Charles E. Whitelaw. Edited By Sarah Barter. London.: Arms & Armour Press. 1977. - NOT REVIEWED

"Antique Firearms And Edged Weapons Catalogue #31"
Robert Abels, Inc. New York, 1965.

"Fine Arms From Tula, Firearms And Edged Weapons In The Hermitage, Leningrad."
Valentin Mavrodin. Translated From the Russian By Rostislav Drapkin 1977. - NOT REVIEWED

"Antique Firearms & Edged Weapons Catalogs"
Norm Flayderman. Greenwich, CT Norm Flayderman. Very good. Circa late 1950s - early 1970s. Illustrated by B&W illustrations.

"Edged Weapons of the Habsburg Monarchy"
Sach, Moudry. Colection of more than 200 pieces, including all basic models of sabres, palashes, swords, daggers, bayonets, and staff weapons.

"The Story of the Sword"
Alexander Barrett, Munsey's Monthly / January 1901. "The rise and fall of the most historic of all weapons, which, after 3000 years of honor and glory, has lost its usefulness--some of the worlds queer knives, including the American contribution, the Bowie Knife. A Legionary of Caesar's time, a duel between cavaliers of the 17th century, a western frontier combat, a Hindu ax, Italian stilettos, a Scotch sword, an early rapier, the Toledo blade of Spain."

"Tournaments: Jousts, Chivalry and Pageants in the Middle Ages"
Barber, Richard W. and Juliet Barker. N.Y., 1989. Thorough, well-written, and extraordinarily well illustrated.

"Knighthood, Wounds, and the Chivalric Ideal in Medieval Spain"
In "Chivalry, Knighthood, and War in the Middle Ages". Noel Fallows. Ed. Susan J. Ridyard. Sewanee Mediæval Studies 9. Sewanee: The University of the South, 1999. 117-36.

"The Chivalric Vision of Alfonso de Cartagena: Study and Edition of the "Doctrinal de los caualleros"
Noel Fallows. Newark, Delaware: Juan de la Cuesta, 1995. Critical edition of one of the most comprehensive chivalric manuals of the Middle Ages. Composed c. 1444 by Alfonso de Cartagena, Bishop of Burgos. Book III is devoted to tournaments.

"The Unconquered Knight: A Chronicle of the Deeds of Don Pero Niño"
Gutierre Díaz de Gámez. London, 1928. A partial English translation. It includes descriptions of tournaments. pp. 39-40. King Enrique of Castile honors the feast of the Church with festivals, including jousts, tourney and "sports with canes".

"Dueling Stories From the Sixteenth Century"
George H. Powell. A. H. Bullen, London, 1904. Translation of "Discours sur les duels" 1614, by Brantome. Excellent primary source for accounts of many major duels.

"Pageantry of sport from the age of chivalry to the age of Victoria."
John & Arthur Daley Arlott. NY Hawthorn. 1968. Some information on sword arts.

"Sword Fights: A Manual for Actors and Directors"
Keith Ducklin and John Waller. Robert Hale, UK, 2000. 240 pages. With 5 fully-illustrated training sequences for two-hander; hand-and-a-half (in armour); sword and buckler; rapier and dagger; and smallsword.

"Jousting-The Earliest Treatises"
Sydney Anglo. In "Livrustkammaren" Journal, Royal Armoury in Stockholm (1991-1992).

A Distinguished Collection of Arms and Armor on Permanent Display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
Edited by Russell E. Belous. LA, 1968.

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor
NY, 1931.

The Tournament and Literature: Literary Representations of the Medieval Tournament in Old French Works 1150 to 1226
Mary Arlene Santina. Peter Lang Publishing; ISBN: 0820442801. Oct 1999. Examines how ladies, chevaliers, injuries, death, and other aspects of the knightly tournament were represented in French literature of the period, and identifies the role tournaments played in the literature. Looks at the narratives of the sport in its infancy, and contrasts it with the more colorful and better-known tournament of the 15th century.

History of Tournament in England and in France
Francis H. Cripps-Day. AMS Press, June 1982. ISBN: 0404171389.

The Tournament in England, 1100-1400
Juliet R.V. Barker. Boydell & Brewer, October 1986.

Tourney and Joust
Steven Jeffreys. Wayland Pub Ltd. June 1980. ISBN: 0853401853

General Reference Books on Medieval Arms & Armor or Medieval Warfare

"A Collector's Guide to Swords, Daggers, & Cutlasses"
Gerald Weland. Chartwell Books, 1991. An interesting work which sheds light on the subject from the view of curators and collectors. Contains some good background information and photos but also a world of erroneous assumptions about the correct function and use of various swords.

"A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor (in All Countries and at All Times)"
George Cameron Stone This notorious work (originally written in the 1920's) has probably done more to retard the accurate presentation and study of arms & armor than any other single work. Repeatedly referenced and re-referenced over and over, this huge book is an outdated and inaccurate resource. Despite its length, coverage, and many rare photos of beautiful weapons, it is a greatly flawed and full of errors. Be wary.

"A History of Arms"
William Reid. AB Nordbok, 1976. Sweden. An unusual work on weapons which spends a good portion on medieval and renaissance weaponry. Somewhat choppy and sparse in areas, but offering details and rare information in others. Worth reading.

"A Late Anglo-Saxon Sword from Gilling West, N. Yorkshire"
Watkin, J.R., and B.J. Gilmour. "Medieval Archaeology", vol. XXX. Society for Medieval Archaeology: Reading, 1986. NOT REVIEWED

"A Lead Model and a Rediscovered Sword, both with Gripping Beast Decoration" - East, Katherine. "Medieval Archaeology", vol. XXX. Society for Medeival Archaeology: Reading, 1986. NOT REVIEWED

"A Record of European Armour and Arms Through Seven Centuries"
Guy Francis Laking. (London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1920 - 1922). Five large volumes, long the standard reference, especially for armor. Very outdated.

"A Two Handed Gaelic Irish Sword of the Sixteenth Century" Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue 15 (1998), p. 18 - 27. - Willis, Tony. A 16th Century two handed sword with an open ring pommel in the collection of the Royal Armouries, Leeds is illustrated and described along with contemporary illustrations of the type.

"The Age of Chivalry (Arms and Uniforms, Vol.1)"
Liliane Funcken, F. Funcken, 1980.A children’s book but with very good historical and military information.

"An Historical Guide to Arms & Armor"
Stephen Bull . Facts on File, 1991. Of the many works available on general weapons and armors of the world, this is among the best as it contains more recent scholarship and a good selection of photos.

"Ancient Armour and Weapons in Europe"
Oxford and London, 1855. From the Iron Period of the Northern Nations to the End of the thirteenth Century with Illustrations from contemporary Monuments. Frontispiece and eighty-nine text illustrations some of them full-page. NOT REVIEWED.

"Ancient & Medieval Warfare"
Spalding & Nickerson, Barnes & Noble, (reprint 1993). Another Barnes & Noble reprint of a very old and poor reference originally entitled "Warfare".

"Anglo-Norman Warfare"
Matthew Strickland, edt. Boydell, 1992. An excellent recent work offering many insights and an intriguing hypotheses on period fighting.

"Anglo-Saxon Weapons and Warfare"
Richard Underwood. ISBN is 07524 1412 7. 1999. A well-done and useful work that combine historical archaeology with living-history reenactment research.

"Antique Weapons - For pleasure and investment"
Richard Akehurst, London, John Gifford.1969 1st.Ed. 174pp. Col. & b/w illus. NOT REVIEWED.

"Antique Arms and Armor"
Frederick Wilkinson, Drake Publishers, Inc., NY. 1st edition, 1972., Illustrated throughout with b/w photos of antique arms and armor. 191pp. Reprint of 1964 edition, sometimes titled "Arms and Armor Pleasures and Treasures".

"Antique Firearms and Edged Weapons"
Robert Abels, 1950's New York, NY. Fully illus. in B&W.

Antique Weapons A - Z.
Douglas J Fryer., G. Bell. 1969. Written on a very practical level with the collector very much in mind. The book includes illustrations of 426 items, mostly sold at auction to individual buyers. Author collected arms for over 20 years and was the cataloguer at well known auction house.

"Arms & Armor - From the 9th century to the 17th"
Paul Martin, Charles E. tuttle, 1967. NOT REVIEWED

"Arms & Armor from the Atelier of Ernst Schmidt"
Ed. By E. Andersen Mowbray, Munich 1967, limited edition.

"Arms & Armor from the Permanent Collection - The Metropolitan Museum of Art"
Herbert Nickel, booklet, 1991. Profiles the museum’s large and well known collection.

"Arms & Armour – Allentown Art Museum 1964"
Limited Edition. Catalog covers a small exhibition from the sixties.

"Arms and Armour"
Howard L. Blackmore. Dutton Vista Picture Book, UK, 1965. A short general reference work with a variety of rare and uncommon artwork and photos of unique pieces.

"Arms and Armor"
Stephen N. Fliegel. Cleveland Museum of Arts. 1998. Profiles the museum’s extensive and somewhat rare collection. Focuses on art and craftsmanship over military utility. ISBN: 0810963760 or 0940717476 or 0940717468

"Arms and Armor (Pointers)"
Chris Gravett. Raintree/Steck Vaughn, September 1994. ISBN: 0811461904. A children’s book. NOT REVIEWED.

"Arms and Armor (Then and Now)"
Adrian Gilbert. Copper Beech Books, October 1997 ISBN: 0761306056. A children’s book.   NOT REVIEWED.

"Arms and Armor"
Ferenc Temesvary, Corvina Kiado, Helikonkiado Kossuth Printing House, Hungary, 1983. NOT REVIEWED.

"Arms and Armour - A Grosset All-Color Guide"
Frederick Wilkinson, G&D (1971), 8vo. 159pp. 500 illustraction in full color. Illust. by John H. Batchelor and Arthur Gay. NOT REVIEWED.

"Armor and Arms - An Elementary Handbook and Guide to the Collection in the City Art Museum.... "
Thomas T.Hoopes, St. Louis: [City Art Museum], 1954. Photographs. NOT REVIEWED.

Arms & Armour in Britain
Alan Borg. Royal Armouries, 1979, 1986. A short informative booklet. Intro by expert A. V. Norman.

"Arms & Armour in the Age Of Chivalry"
Aldo Cimarelli, London: Orbis, 1973. ISBN: 0 85613 158 -NOT REVIEWED

"Armies and Warfare in The Middle Ages: The English Experience"
Michael Prestwich, Yale University Press: New Haven and London, 1996. Another of the recent works which includes much newer scholarship and findings on the subject. This one deals specifically with the English.

"Arms and Armour of the English Civil Wars"
David Blackmore, Royal Armories, 1990. Excellent work.

"Armor from the Battle of Wisby"
B. J. Thordemann, 1939. If you can find it, this is an excellent though slightly dated study of the original excavations and forensic studies that have come to be the most important of their kind for understanding medieval armor and weapon wounds.

"Arms & Uniforms - The Age of Chivalry Part 1"
1980, Ward Lock Limited. 116 Baker St London, ISBN 0-7063-5808-2. This rare work contains a fabulous array of beautiful and highly detailed and highly accurate color illustrations of all weapons, swords, and armor s from the Medieval period. Absolutely fantastic. Has a tremendous wealth of rare information.  Possibly originally French, "Le costume, l'armure et les armes au temps de la chevalerie". Liliane et Fred Funcken. Casterman 1977 Bruxelles. ISBN 2-203-14318-5.  There is also a German edition.

"Armor"
Sean Morrison, Thomas Y. Cromwell Co., NY 1963. An outdated though well illustrated children's book that surprisingly covers many aspects of armor in great detail and gets many of its facts straight. Unfortunately, it also makes many incorrect and even bizarre statements on weapons and fighting in general as well as medieval history and warfare.

"Armor"
Peter Klucina, 1992. Slovakia Publishing, Ltd. Bratislava. B&N Edition translation 1997. Typical limited art-historian approach to the subject focusing on artistry and craftsmanship. Simple and not very detailed, but useful for info on decorations and descriptions. Watercolor drawings no photos.

"Arms & Armor"
Michelo Byam. Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1988. A useful general reference work.

"Arms and Armor in the Art Institute of Chicago"
Walter J. Karcheski. A limited but interesting presentation that avoids some of the typical "art curators view".

"Arms and Armor of the Crusading Era 1050-1350"
Vol. I Western Europe and the Crusader States. David Nicolle. 19988/1999 reprint by Greenhill Books UK, London (Stackpole Books USA). An amazing work. Comprehensive and huge. Over 600 pages, with over 2000 drawings. Presents account of armies, arms, equipment, of the period based on archaeological and pictorial sources. A rare book now reprinted and very worthwhile. The author is a leading historian of the Middle East and Islamic military history. Vol. II covers Eastern Europe and Asia.

"Arms and Armor - Pleasures and Treasures"
Vesey Norman, NY: G.P. Putnam, 1964, 128pp. A good short general work on the subject.

"Arms and Armor"
Eyewitness Books, Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1988. This children's book contains a few very nice, close up and detailed pictures of weapons and armor. The text is very weak though.

"The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages"
J. F. Verbruggen (Boydell edition 1998). Newly revised and enlarged translation of this classic German text from 1954. One of the first to reconsider many of the familiar assumptions about fighting of the period.

"Artists and Warfare in the Renaissance"
J.R. Hale, Yale University Press, 1990. Excellent iconographic resource for all manner of renaissance swords and blades from historical artwork. It covers only Swiss and German sources, with a little disappointing coverage of northern Italy.

Battle Axes
James D. Gamble, Mowbray Co. Providence, Rhode Island, 1981. A complete survey of fighting and military associated axes. 93 pages. NOT REVIEWED

"Battledress"
F. Wilkinson , 1970. NOT REVIEWED.

"Book of Military Uniforms & Weapons An Illustrated Survey of Military Dress, Arms and Practice Through The Ages"
Karel Toman: London: Paul Hamlyn And Alan Wingate, 1964. Sketched type of illustration; 166 pages.  NOT REVIEWED.

"Brassey’s History of Uniforms - English Civil War"
Phillipo J. C. Elliot-Wright, Brassey’s 1997. Very nice and useful book.

"British Rapiers With Trapezoidal Butt Found In Belgium" - Warmenbol, Eugene. "Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society", vol. 52. The University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology: Cambridge, 1986. NOT REVIEWED

"Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Medieval Warfare"
1996. This recent book is one of the best ever on the subject and one which captures a range of information in a colorful and exciting manner. Includes a useful overview of medieval warfare and an interesting discussion of the recent "military revolution" theories.

"The Circle of War in the Middle Ages: Essays on Medieval Military and Naval history"
Donald Kagay & L .Andrew Villalon, Edtrs.  Boydell, 1998. NOT REVIEWED

"Crusading Warfare 1097- 1193"
R. C. Smail, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1956. A somewhat outdated but still very good military history worth checking out.

"Cut & Thrust"
Leon Bertrand, 1927. An outdated source on swords.

"The Cutting Edge - A Practical Guide to the Use of Highland Weapons: The Broadsword and the Targe"
Larry L. Andrews. Past & Present, Sept 1997. A small volume on Scottish fighting. This short booklet offers an amalgam system interpreted from several sources.   Interesting and worthwhile but very limited with assorted minor misconceptions.

"The Development of the Medieval Sword, c. 850 - 1300"
Ian Peirce. - Harper-Bill, C and Harvey, Ruth, eds., Ideals and Practice of Medieval Knighthood: Papers from the Third Strawberry Hill Conference (1988), p. 139 - 158. An illustrated transcript from a lecture, the development of cutting swords within the stated period is illustrated with some of the best surviving examples in public and private collections and with contemporary manuscript illustrations.

"A Dictionary of British Arms, Medieval Ordinary"
Vol. I, by Hubert Chesshyre and Thomas Woodcock. Vol. II, by Thomas Woodcock, Janet Grant and Ian Graham. Extra Publictaion, Society of Antiquaries, London.

"Discovering Edged Weapons"
Wilkinson-Latham. J. Shire Publications: Tring, England, 1972. NOT REVIEWED

"Early Books of the Sword"
C. R. Cammel, 1936. NOT REVIEWED

"Edged Weapons"
Frederick Wilkinson. London, 1970. A good basic book on the subject by a long time historian and curator.

"The Encyclopedia of Weaponry – From Stone Age Spears to Stealth Bombers"
Ian V. Hogg. Wellfleet Press. 1992. London. General wide ranging overview that includes some short overly simplistic sections on swords and medieval & renaissance arms with good graphics.

"English Weapons and Warfare"
A. V. B. Norman and Don Pottinger. London: Barnes & Noble, 1966. Another older work that has some merit.

"European Armor in the Tower of London"
Arthur Richard Duffy, 1968, London H.M.S.O. Well illustrated rare work on this fantastic collection.

"European Arms & Armor at Kelvingrove"
J. G. Scott, booklet, Glasgow Museum, 1980. NOT REVIEWED

"European Arms & Armour in the University of Oxford"
Charles Ffoulkes, 1912. A rare and limited book somewhat outdated.

"European Weapons and Armor"
Ashdown. This recent Barnes & Noble reprint of little value is outdated and actually quite old.

"Fiore De’ Liberi Flos Duellatorium – in armis, sine armis equester et pedester"
Giovani Rapisardi. Gladitoria Press, 1998. A brand new modern Italian translation of Dei Liberi’s indispensable manuals on long-sword/great-sword, dagger, wrestling, and other weapons. Beautifully rendered in old style ink, but containing some errors in both translation and matching captions. To obtain a copy contact: zorro@abc.net. Via Faccioloti, 75 – 35127, Padua, Italy.

"German Knighthood"
Benjamin Arnold. Oxford, 1999. Sociology of unfree knighthood. NOT REVIEWED

"German Swords and Sword Makers - Edged Weapons from the 14th to the 20th Centuries"
Richard H. Bezdek, Paladin Press, January 2000. Useful record of swordsmiths, maker’s marks, and military hilt forms of mostly the 18^th & 19^th century.

"The Grip of the Medieval Sword and a Battle near Tagliacozzo"
R. Ewart Oakeshott, Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue 11 (1994), p. 6 - 13. Nine medieval swords retaining period grips discussed in context with how the grips came to survive

"Handbook of Arms and Armor: European and Oriental Including the William H. Riggs Collection"
Dean, Bashford (New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1915). Very outdated.

"Hart Picture Archives – Weapons and Armor"
Harold R. Hart ed., Hart Publishing Inc., 1978. Worthwhile but limited collection.

"How to Win at Tournaments – The Techniques of Chivalric Combat"
Sydney Anglo. Antiquities Journal, LXVIII, Part ii (1988), p.p. 248-64.

"Imperial Austria Treasures of Art, Arms And Armor From The State of Styria"
P. Krenn & W. J. Karcheski, Prestel Hard Back DW, 1992.  NOT REVIEWED.

"Infantry Warfare in the Early 14th Century"
Kelly Devries. 1996. Reprint edition 1998. Univ. of Rochester Pr. ISBN: 0851155715.
Covers 19 major battles from the early 1300’s to make the case that ordered and disciplined infantry not cavalry was dominate and decisive. Good reading that includes much on weapons, armors, and tactics.

"Knights & Armor"
A. G. Smith. Dover Children's Books, 1985. Another children's book which contains a interesting photographs on late medieval armored fighting. The text is simplistic.

"Knights in Armor"
Shirley Glubok, New York: Harper & Row, 1969. 48pp. NOT REVIEWED.

"Le Jeu de la Hache" - A Fifteenth-Century Treatise on the Technique of Chivalric Axe Combat
Prof. Sydney Anglo. Archaeologia, vol. 109, 1991, pp. 113-128. Superb translated text of a rare 15th century Burgundian combat manual. Also featured here exclusively at the HACA site.

"Living History: Knights"
This children's book contains a number of very interesting and well doen recreational and living history photographs on late Medieval armored fighting. The text is less valuable (but a great book for youth).

"Me Fecit Solingen"
Skipper Greenwade. Albert Greenwade, 1987. ISBN: 0961887303. On swords made by famed Solingen smiths. NOT REVIEWED.

"Medieval and Renaissance Splendor: Arms and Armour from the Higgins Armory Museum & Works of Art Ringling Museum"
Duval, Cynthia & Walter J. Karcheski, Jr.: New, pub: Ringling Museum. 1984. NOT REVIEWED.

"Medieval Arms & Armor"
Francesco Rossi. Magna Books, 1990. This large size Italian book offers a few rare photos of unique pieces.

"Medieval Costume, Armour, and Weapons (1350-1450)"
Eduard Wagner, (1958) (Dover reprint 2000), Paul Hamlyn Ltd. This large book consists mostly of water color drawings on Czech history. Somewhat interesting.

"Medieval Craftsman -- Armourers"
Pfaffenbichler, Matthias. Pub. Bristish Museum Press, 1992. University Toronto Press. (ISBN: 0 8020 7732 3) This brief overview provides a useful introduction to the armorer's craft, including insight into the armor-making families and guilds. Interesting small booklet.

Medieval Military Costume – Recreated in Colour Photographs
Europa Military Special No. 8. Gerry Embleton. The Crowood Press, UK, 2000.   Showing an array of recreated historical source illustrations and artwork, this book covers all the important key elements of late medieval garb and equipment –shoes, headwear, under garments, body wear, helms, and armor.  The book provides splendidly depicted sections on garments worn under armor and on historical footwear and clothing.  Though not large, and not heavy on text, this book is gorgeous. It is an absolute must for anyone interested in eventually adding ameticulously reconstructed and historically accurate ensemble to their experience of historical European martial arts…the other side of the coin.

A Miscellany Of Arms And Armor - Presented By Fellow Members Of The Armor And Arms Club To Bashford Dean In Homer Of His Sixtieth Birthday, October Twenty-Eight, 1927; Published in a limited edition of 150 copies for members of the Armor & Arms Club of New York. 110 pp.

"Military Manuals of the 15^th century"
D. Bornstein, "Medieval Studies 38, 1975.

"Medieval Military Technology"
Kelly Devries, Broadview Press, 1992. An excellent and very concise work, this rare textbook covers interesting angles of the subject in a clear manner.

"The Medieval Tournament" – R. Coltman Clephan, Dover, Reprint 1995. One of the most complete treatments ever, very comprehensive.

"Medieval Warfare"
H. W. Koch, Bromptom Books, 1978. This large size work is well illustrated and one of the best general overview references from the 70's.

"Medieval Warfare"
Timothy Newark. Bloomsbury Books, 1979. Newark's book is a good introduction to the subject and a good secondary reference.

"Medieval Warfare – A History"
Edited by Maurice Keen. Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN # 0-19-82-0639-9. Twelve expert scholars contributed their know-how to produce this new illustrated book that explores 700 years of European warfare.  A great addition to the subject and one that adds new ideas and thoughts from different modern historians. The short, concise, independent chapters make this a useful and easy read for both new students or learned ones alike.

"The Medieval Military Revolution"
A. Ayton and J. L. Price, Barnes & Noble reprint 1998. Essays on changes in medieval warfare up to the introduction of gunpowder. NOT YET REVEIWED

"My very own book of arms & armor"
Helena Spiteri. Macmillan Canada, 1995, cute children’s book, leaves of reusable color stickers.

"New Acquisitions for the Higgins Armory Museum"
Karcheski, Walter J., Jr. "Man at Arms" 19-2 (March-April 1997), p. 14 - 15. The new items are an excavated hand and a half cut and thrust broadsword, an Eighteenth Century German executioner's sword and French Sixteenth Century partisan from the guard of Henri III.

"Nobles, Knights, and Men-At-Arms in the Middle Ages."
Maurice Hugh Keen. 1996, Hambledon Pr; ISBN 1852850876. 14 essays originally published between 1962 and 1993 covering ideas of chivalry and warfare and the relationship between them, including brotherhood-in-arms, courtly love, crusades, heraldry, knighthood, tournaments, and plunder. NOT REVIEWED

"Notes on Arms and Armor"
Joseph R. Mayer, Rochester, 1935. 27p., 6 pls. of figs., 2 illus. laid on. Rochester Museum Guide Bulletin #1.

"Observations on some Blades found in Scottish Basket hilted Swords"
Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue 13 (1996), p. 30 - 38. - Earlshall, the Baron of. Includes a short section on basket hilts with medieval blades.

"Old Swordplay"
Alfred Hutton. A late 1800's book on historical fence. Outdated but interesting for its viewpoints.

Osprey Military - Men-At-Arms Series: Reed Consumer Books, Ltd.
Arthur & Anglo-Saxon Wars
The Age of Charlemagne
French Medieval Armies 1000-1300
Armies of the Crusades
Knights of Christ
Medieval European Armies
Scots & Welsh Wars
The Swiss 1300-1500
German Armies 1300-1500
Italian Armies 1300-1500
Venetian Empire 1200-1670
Armies of Crecy’ & Poitiers
Medieval Burgundy 1364-1477
Armies of Agincourt
Wars of the Roses
The Irish Wars 1485-1603
Henry the VIII’s Army
The Landesknecths
The Conquistadors
English Civil War Armies
Louis XIV’s Army
The Border Reivers

"Phaidon Guide to Antique Weapons and Armor"
Wilkinson-Latham R., '81, Oxford, Phaidon Press. A short, basic but useful overview of weapons and armor, with good illustrations.

The Royal Armouries
A nicely produced full color official guide book to the museum covering the various floors of war, oriental, tournaments, self-defence, hunting, etc. 1996.

Royal Armouries Yearbook
Vol 1, 1996. Vol. 2, 1997, Vol. 3, 1998.  As series of articles on old and new pieces in the museum. Interesting reading on both martial and artistic aspects of the RA’s research.

"Saxon, Viking, and Norman"
Osprey Military Series, 1979. Terence Wise and G. A. Embleton. Another of Osprey's better works (along with Ospreys many other titles such as Viking Hsar, The Hastings Campaign, Saxon Thane, Medieval Armies, Samurai Armies, and many, many others).

"Scottish Dirks and Daggers - An Illustrated reference Guide to Scottish Edged Weapons"
John Wallace, Stackpole Books 1970, ISBN 811715094. NOT REVIEWED

"Scottish "twa handit Swerdis" Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue 13 (1996), p. 12 - 25. - Willis, Tony. The majority of the swords discussed are post-medieval two handed swords of the Sixteenth Century.

"Scottish Weapons & Fortifications 1100 - 1800"
David H. Caldwell, John Donald Publishers, Ltd., Edinburg, 1981. NOT REVIEWED

"Scandinavian Archaeology"
Shetelig, Haakon and Falk, Hjalmar. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1937). This reference covers the period from the earliest Stone Age remains through the close of the Viking Age and includes a chapter on weapons (p. 377 - 405).

"Seven Swords of the Renaissance from an Analytical Point of View"
Gladius 14 (1978), p. 97 - 127. - Williams, Alan R. Report on the analysis of structure and heat treatment of seven European sword blades dating from the 16th through 18th Centuries.

Siege: Castles at War
Daniel Diehl, Mark Donnell. January 1999. Publisher: Taylor Publishing Company. ISBN: 0878332138. A companion to the Discovery Channel's documentary it examines in how castles shaped medieval warfare and society. A lively book with over 150 color photos of reenactors participating in various aspects of a late Medieval siege. It expands the programs material significantly and adds glimpses into seldom depicted sides of Medieval siege warfare, an activity central to warfare of the period. The commendable use of living-history groups to illustrate the text creates a greater sense of reality for the subject.  A light but useful and entertaining work.

"Studies in European Arms and Armor : The C. Otto Von Kienbusch Collection in the Philadelphia Museum of Art"
Claude Blair (Editor), Philadelphia Museum of Art, June 1992. ISBN: 087633088X. Profiles the museum’s famous collection. Focuses on art and craftsmanship over military utility.

"Swiss Arms of the La Tene Period at Princeton, N.J." - de Navarro, J.M. In "Ancient Europe and the Mediterranean", V. Markotic, ed. Aris and Phillips Ltd.: Warminster, England, 1977.

"Sword & Daggers"
Frederick Wilkinson. Hawthorne Books, 1967. A good standard work by a noted authority on blades and swords.

"Sword in Colour"
Frederick Wilkinson & Robert Latham, 1978. A small book with several excellent photographs. Limited text.

"Talhoffers Fechtbuch" - VS Books, 1998 GBR. ISBN 3-932077-03-2 Carl Schmidt & Torsten Verhulsdonk. Germany. A new modern German translation including more than 260 of Talhoffer’s famous plates from his edition of 1467. Excellent resource!   A long-awaited modern English edition is also finally available! "Medieval Combat: A 15th Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat", Translated by Mark Rector. Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal; (September 2000) ISBN: 1853674184.

"The Art of Warfare in the Middle Ages"
Charles W. Oman. Cornell University Press, 1953. Oman's work is a classic but is outdated and not worth the effort except for hardcore researchers.First printed in 1885, the work is highly flawed.

"The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages"
J. F. Verbruggens, North- Holland, 1977 (first published 1956). A good general Belgian work, somewhat outdated but with many insights. Still considered to be the standard work by many medieval historians.

"The Battle of Maldon: Fact and Fiction"
Ed. J. Cooper, '93. A recent book worth examining that sheds new light on this Dark Age battle and famous poem.

"The Book of the Sword"
Sir Richard Burton. London: 1884. This classic work of Burton's (an adventurer and swordsman himself) is a must read. Although it really offers little in the way of historically accurate information, it does present lovely sentiment on the romance and lore of swords in general.

"The Book of the Tournament"
Brian R. Price. Chronique Publications. 1991. Published for an SCA audience, this short and very attractive little treatise focuses on the serious interpretation/reenactment of combat in the chivalric knightly list. In a pleasing and extremely concise and smoothly written manner it presents foot tournament material on a range of subjects from historical foundation and pageantry to arms and armor, honor, behavior, and rules. Throughout the tone is martial yet sporting and does not entirely concern itself with a SCA focus. This is a valuable contribution to an area often rife with fantasy and error.

"The Celtic Sword"
Radomir Pleiner, Clarendon Press, Oxford, '93. An expensive book that is said to be the final word on a subject not widely written on.

"The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms & Armor"
Leonid Tarrasuk. NY: Simon and Shuster, 1982. This is by far the best and most complete work of its kind. An excellent one volume reference.

"The English Warrior from earliest times to 1066"
Stephen Pollington, Anglo-Saxon Books, '97. A great new book that covers in detail a underrepresented era.

"The Face of Battle"
John Keegan. Keegan's famous book has a chapter on what it was like to fight at Agincourt that is worth the whole book itself.

"The Fighting Man"
Jack Coggins, Doubleday, NY 1966. Interesting reading.

"The Finds from the Site of La Tène: Volume I: Scabbards and the Swords Found in Them"
J. M. de Navarro, (London: The British Academy (by Oxford University Press), 1972). (in two volumes) Comprehensive survey of (Celtic era) swords and scabbards found at La Tène (Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland), including a comprehensive illustrated catalogue and analysis of the now widely dispersed finds.

"The Handbook of British Archaeology"
Adkins, Lesley, and Roy A. Adkins. Macmillan Publishers Limited: London, 1983. NOT REVIEWED

"The History of Chivalry & Armor With Descriptions of The Feudal System, The Practices of Knighthood, The Tournament & Trials By Single Combat"
Kottenkamp, Dr. F. trans: Lowy, the Rev A.. Portland House NY 1988. ISBN 0-517-67107-7. Over 174 pgs, 60 color plates, 4 foldouts. Despite the promising title this work presents only a compilation of colorful period prints from jousting and heraldy.

"The Knight, His Arms and Armour c. 1150 - 1250"
Ian Peirce. - Chibnall, Marjorie, ed., Anglo-Norman Studies: XV. Proceedings of the Battle Conference 1992 (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1993), p. 251 - 274. This paper examines European armor and arms in the context of contemporary drawings and sculpture as well as including a few illustrations of swords and helmets.

"The Knight, His Arms and Armour in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries"
Ian Peirce. - Harper-Bill, C and Harvey, Ruth, eds., Ideals and Practice of Medieval Knighthood: Papers from the First and Second Strawberry Hill Conferences , p. 152 - 164. An illustrated transcript from a lecture, this paper examines European armor and arms in the context of contemporary sculpture and includes a few illustrations of swords.

"The Lore of Arms: A Concise History of Weaponry"
William, Reid. NY, Facts on File, 1984. NOT REVIEWED.

"The Man who Taught Leonardo Darts: Pietro Monte and his "lost" fencing book"
Sydney Anglo. Antiquities Journal. Volume 69, 1989.  Superb article outlining this hardly known yet major Master of Defence.

"The Medieval Knight at War"
Brooks Robards. Brompton Books edition 1997. A very limited and superficial look at this subject, it's misleading title was very disappointing. The material on arms & armor and fighting is very weak in particular. The author does not appear to be either a historian, medievalist, military expert or scholar of note.

"The Medieval Soldier"
A. V. B. Norman. Barnes & Noble (reprint 1993). This is an older book by a long time historian of the subject which now reflects less knowledgeable material, but is good reading none the less.

"The Medieval Soldier in the Wars of the Roses"
Andrew W. Boardman. Sutton Publishing, 1998. UK. p.212. $36. ISBN# D-7509-1465-3. A splendid and commendable new work, presents many particulars of medieval combat exclusive to the Wars of the Roses. Engrossing, easy to follow, and offers a range of insights, thoughts, questions, and speculation. Various sections cover the changing value of cavalry, the long-bow and its use, artillery and firearms, and hand-to-hand combat of the time and most interestingly information from the recent findings in 1996 of mass graves near the battle site in north Yorkshire. Will make a good addition to the library of historical combat enthusiasts.

"The Modern Swordsman: Realistic Training for Serious Self-Defense"
Fred Hutchinson. (Paladin Press, Sept ’98). 80 pp. ISBN 0-87364-995-8. An interesting though unusual attempt to provide information on pragmatic practice methods for using real swords today.

"The Norman Knight 950-1204"
Gruett, Christopher and Christopher Hook.. Osprey Military Series, 1993. One of the best of the popular and well researched Osprey books. Short and very sweet with great art.

"The Price Guide to Antique Edged Weapons"
Leslie Southwick, Baron Publishing, 1983, ISBN 0902028944, Antique Collector’s Club, S. Church St., Woodbridge, Suffolk, England.

"The Sword in Anglo Saxon England"
H. R. Ellis Davidson. A good, scholarly overview of a neglected area. It provides substantial historical background.

"The Sword and the Scimitar"
F. Bradford.  G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1974.  ISBN 399-11375-4.  NOT REVIEWED.

"The World of the Medieval Knight"
Christopher Gravett, Illustrated by Brett Breckon.  Peter Bedrck Books, NY 1998/1996. ISBN 62774.  A fine highly illustrated children’s book that is also a useful reference work for adults. Extremely colorful and pleasant presentation. Fetaures detailed and highly accurate drawings and schematics of late medieval armor and weapons.

"A Treatise On Ancient Armour And Weapons (Armaduras, armas, cascos y enseres en detalladas láminas)"
F. Grose. Castellano, London, 1785. S. Hooper, rústica. 280pp. Edición Facsimil de 1998 de Librerías París Valencia. NOT REVIEWED.

"Treasures of the Tower of London - Arms and Armour"
V. B. Norman & G. M. Wilson, 1982. NOT REVIEWED

"The Viking Age"
DuChaillu, Paul B. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1889). This work contains numerous old steel plate engravings of excellent quality and many interesting recitations from the sagas. A tendency to mix together artifacts from the early (Celtic) Iron Age through to the Norman Period may confuse inexperienced readers. Best avoided by those offended by politically incorrect Nineteenth Century chauvinism.

"The Viking Art of War"
Paddy Griffith. Greenhill. 1997. A unique contribution to our understanding of Viking military practice. Good coverage of weapon manufacture.

"The Vikings - Recreated in Colour Photographs"
Fantastic. Exceptional resource.

"Vikings: Eyewitness Books"
Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1988. Another nice children's book with a few very nice, close up and detailed pictures of weapons and items.

Viking Weapons and Warfare
J. Kim Siddorn. Tempus, UK, 2000. Written by one of the most experienced reenactors of the Viking period, with a lifelong interest in the subject, the majority of the book consists of about 140 pages covering history, iron, spears, shields, armor, and swords.  This is a fun and lively book useful to anyone interested in Viking reenactment, medieval arms, or early English history.

Wallace Collection Catalogues
European Arms and Armour – text with historical notes and illustrations. Sir James Mann. Vol. 1 – Armour, Vol. II – Arms. Wallace Collection Trustees, 1962. Supplement by A. V. Norman, 1986. Cover nearly all the pieces in the museum, separate text with black and white photos for most pieces. Extremely useful catalog but not as impressive as the title and considered out of date by the curator.

The Wallace Collection - Guide to the Armouries
Wallace Collection Trustees, 1987. A small 52 page booklet updating the catalogs.

The Wallace Collection - European Arms and Armour
David Edge. Wallace Collection Trustees, 1992. A small color booklet of select pieces updating the catalog.

"War in the Middle Ages"
Phillippe Contamine, Presses Universitares de France, 1980. A authoritative overview of the subject, but translated from the French it is pretty wordy.

"War in the Middle Ages"
Terence Wise. Hastings House Press, 1976. This older work is one of the less impressive, but the author is well informed.

The Wars of the Roses
Michael St.-John Parker. Pitkin Guides. 1999. A short colorful booklet guide to the conflict with considerable artwork. ISBN 0853727791.

"Warfare in Feudal Europe 730-1200"
J. Beeler.  Cornell University Press, Ithaca NY, 1971. ISBN 0-8014-9120-7. 
NOT REVIEWED.

"Warfare in Feudal Europe"
David Nicolle. 1981. NOT REVIEWED.

"Warfare in the Middle Ages"
Richard Humble, Mallard Press, 1984. This large size book has a lot to offer in its illustrations and pictures as well as a well rounded text.

"Warriors and Warfare in Ancient and Medieval Times"
Donald Featherstone. Constable and Company, Ltd. 1997. UK. Written for wargamers and history students this is a very useful synopsis of major warrior peoples and tribes. Offers an evaluation of their forces, weapons, battles and fighting styles.

"Warriors and Weapons of Early Times in Color"
Niels M Saxtorph, NY., 1972. 260p., over 400 col. uniforms, many drawings. (weapons etc.), index. London ed. "...3000 BC to AD 1700..." Uniforms, Equipment, Decorations, Insignia, Badges, Patches, Medals, ancient Greece, Rome, Far East. etc. NOT REVIEWED.

"Warriors' Weapons"
Walter Buehr. Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1963. An illustrated history of pre-gunpowder arms from the stone ax and spear to the crossbow, ballista, and catapult. 80 drawings by the author. NOT REVIEWED.

"Weapons and Armour"
A. J. Barker, Hamlyn, HB, 1974, 77 pages, illustrated by five different people. NOT REVIEWED.

"Weapons of The Ancient World"
Rivka Gonen, Cassel.London.1975. NOT REVIEWED.

"Weapons & Armour"
Balent, Matthew. Detroit, MI: Palladium Books, 1981. NOT REVIEWED.

"Weapons and Armor"
Harold Hart. An average reference from the 1970's. Some good pictures.

"Weapons and Warfare in Anglo-Saxon England"
Ed., Sonia Chadwick Hawkes. Oxbow Books, '89. This superb and scholarly work is a must! It takes the rare and very effective approach of combining historian's research with the insights of Dark Age recreational and living history groups in the U.K. Includes much new research and discoveries and invaluable information on weapons use, training, sword making and wounds. A decent reference work intended for wargamers but useful for others. British import, Barnes & Noble.

"Women Warlords"
Tim Newark, Blandford 1989. ISBN 0713719656. NOT REVIEWED

"World of the Vikings"
(York: Past Forward, Ltd., 1992 (laserdisc) 1994 (CD-ROM). A joint project between the National Museum of Denmark and the York Archaeological Trust., laserdisc (PAL on one side and NTSC on the other) and CD-ROM (available) Contains over 3,500 color images of Viking artifacts and sites contributed by museums across the entirety of the Viking world, to include seldom seen material from the eastern most reaches, with brief accompanying information. Over one hundred pictures of swords, including close-ups. The video disc also contains several brief video sequences (including one on pattern-welding) and music.

Renaissance

The Top Most Strongly Recommended Titles

"The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe"
Sydney Anglo. Yale University Press, May 2000. 416 pages, ISBN: 0300083521.  From the leading scholar of historical fencing manuals. Surely to be the most significant book on the subject produced this century. A major work presenting new material previously unknown as well as precise translations of rare material.

"European Weapons and Armour"
R. Ewart Oakeshott, Lutterworth Press, 1980. Another of Oakeshott's, this is likely the best book available on arms and armor after the Middle Ages and contains a wealth of information on Renaissance armors and sword forms.

"Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Use of Rapiers and Cut and Thrust Swords"
John Clements. Paladin Press 1997. This book by a HACA member and founder, published by Paladin (the gun & bomb nuts) is in all honesty the most comprehensive and detailed work on a Western martial art ever attempted. Includes over 100 pages of illustrations to accompany a text which present extensive detail on the handling and use of renaissance swords. It is sure to become a classic.

"The English Master at Arms from the Twelfth to the Twentieth Century"
J. D. Aylward. Routledge and K. Paul, 1956. One of the few books which covers the Elizabethan Masters of Defence. An excellent must read full of rare and valuable information.

"Schools and Masters of Fence: From the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century"
Egerton Castle. London: 1885. A classic, this book (despite being written in the late 1800's and suffering from the prejudices of a sport fencer) presents a tremendous sampling of material from the manuals of the historical renaissance Masters of Defence.

"The Art and History of Personal Combat"
Arthur Wise. London: Hugh Evelyn Ltd., 1971. This important work is a must read. It presents valuable information from dozens of historical manuals and period sources. Although, it ignores both the Elizabethan cut & thrust style and feudal Japanese sword arts, as well as gives an overly simplistic impression of the medieval period.

"Methods and Practice of Elizabethan Swordplay"
Craig Turner and Tony Soper, Southern Illinois University Press, 1990. This superb, scholarly work is a modern classic. Although ignoring the cut & thrust method and focusing on theatrical uses, it presents a valuable analysis of three renaissance manuals (Saviolo, Silver, and Di Grassi). This is a must read for historical swordsmen and living history reenactors.

General Reference on Renaissance Fence or Swords & Arms
With select 18th & 19th century texts

"The 16th Century Italian Duel - A Study in Renaissance Social History"
Frederick R. Brysan Ph.D., University of Chicago Press, 1938. A useful reference but somewhat outdated.

"A Bibliography of the Art and Sport of Fencing"
Henk Pardoel. This edition is a black and white, perfect bound soft cover publication. It contains over 1,900 entries with some illustrations, 1995. $25.50 (Canadian). ISBN 0 88911 722 5. 1996 Commemorative Edition, ISBN 0-88911-724-1. Lists over 4,000 entries on 506 pages.

"A Complete Bibliography of Fencing and Dueling - As Practiced by All European Nations from the Middle Ages to the Present Day"
Carl Thimm.(1896). Reprint. Firebird Press (January 1999), ISBN: 1565544455, 537 pages (& B. Blom 1968). A prime reference listing for serious researchers and scholars, somewhat useful for enthusiasts and practitioners. Very often cited as a major source by other works.

"A Dictionary of Universally Used Fencing Terminology"
William Gaugler, Laureate Press. This short little booklet is a very handy source for terms from the renaissance up to modern times. Well written but lacking many historical Renaissance terms either no longer used in modern sport fencing or originating in the classical Italian and French schools. Plus it also completely entirely ignores and leaves out anything from the Medieval period.

"A History of Fencing: Foundations of Modern European Swordplay" – William F. Gaugler, Laureate Press, 1998. Very useful but limited info from historical renaissance masters, leading to a detailed history of sport fencing.   Genuinely useful data combined with the usual sporting prejudices and preconceptions.

"A-Z of Fencing"
E. D. Morton. 1992, Queen Anne's Press. A useful listing of fencing terms dealing mostly with the modern sport form and that of the 18th and 19th centuries. Often cited as a source by other books.

"The Art Of Attack "
H.S.Cowper, EP Publishing 1977, 312 pages including many line drawings, a study in the development of weapons and appliances of offense, from the earliest times to the age of gunpowder.

"Actors on Guard: A Practical Guide for the Use of the Rapier and Dagger for Stage and Screen"
Dale Anthony Girard. This book desperately wanted to be a martial work but can't escape the limitations of stage combat illusion. I would highly recommend it for theatrical performers, yes. But for martial replication and reconstruction...no. Very lengthy, but most of that is spent on theatrical considerations (not my kind of thing). He had the hard task of treating stage-combat as an art while recognizing the historical foundation. Includes a wealth of material overall and a great amount of detail on the historical foundations. Nicely illustrated too. Great scholarship and research. But he did rely too much though on Egerton Castle's 19th century book rather than works of the original Masters. Also, mistakenly combines cut & thrust swords and rapiers as usual, thereby complicating matters. A few other faults here and there, but overall good.

"Arms & Armor - A Pictorial Archive from 19th Century Sources"
Dover Books. This offers interesting copyright free clip art of medieval and renaissance arms & armor mostly from Victorian sources. However, do not take all the illustrations literal as the Victorian were greatly misinformed in many instances. 

"Arms and Armor in Colonial America, 1526-1783"
Harold L. Peterson, N.Y.: Bramhall. A rare work presenting a surprising range of Medieval & Renaissance swords and arms that were brought for defense by settlers.

"Arms & Armour in Tudor & Stuart London"
Martin R. Holmes. London, 1957. Useful booklet with interesting information on English sword & armor makers.

"Arms & Armor of the Pilgrims"
Harold L. Peterson, Plymouth, p.p., 1957. 29p., 30 photos & diagrams. NOT REVIEWED.

"Arms and Armour of the English Civil War"
David Blackmore. Royal Armouries, 1990. Soft cover. An excellent reference work covering cavalry, infantry, and artillery. Many b&w photos and drawings.

"Art, Arms and Armour, An International Anthology, Volume I: 1979-80"
Robert Chiasso, editor:, Switzlerland, Acquafresca Editrice, 1979.

"The Arte of Defence"
William Wilson. This short SCA pamphlet is a collection of essays and thoughts on rapier fence from a standard SCA point of view. Limited and incomplete, but a nice attempt.

"Artists and Warfare in the Renaissance"
J.R. hale, Yale University Press, 1990. Excellent iconographic resource for all manner of renaissance swords and blades from historical artwork.

"Boarders Away - With Steel- Edged Weapons & Polearms"
William Gilkerson, Quarto, 160 pages, photo ills some in color, and line drawings. Describes naval weapons from the age of sail (cutlasses, etc.). NOT REVIEWED.

"The Book of Duels"
Philip Rush, London: George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd, c. 1964. illustrations and drawings.

"Brassey’s History of Uniforms"
The English Civil War. Philipp J.C. Elliot-Wright. Brassey’s, UK 1997. ISBN 857532112. A superb work covering extensive equipment and garb. Relies on many color photos of living-history and reenactment groups as well as historical artwork and drawings of arms & armor. A must.

"British Cut And Thrust Weapons"
John Wilkinson-Latham, 1971, 112 pp. NOT REVIEWED.

"Chivalry in the Renaissance"
Edited by Sydney Anglo.
Woodbridge [England]; Rochester, NY, USA, Boydell Press, 1990.

"The Collector's Encyclopedia of Antiques Arms and Armor"
Bonanza Books, 1973.  NOT REVIEWED.

"The Complete Light Weapons Fighter"
Wulfe Von Der Rus (a.k.a Bob Rush.) Southern Illinois University Press. This self published book by a knowledgeable fencer describes standard SCA epee fencing and attempts to put it into a more organized form based on certain historical principles. It offers basic sport fencing concepts from an SCA perspective along with other observations. It essentially recreates modern sport fencing with costumes and historical movements.

"Cut and Thrust Weapons"
Edward Wagner, Spring Books, 1967. An interesting and very extensive general reference. It covers some aspects not found elsewhere and in an unique manner. Covers Medieval weapons as well.

"The Duel - A History of Dueling"
Robert Baldick. Spring Books, 1965. This is the best (but still limited) works giving an overview of historical duels.

"The Duel in European History: Honor and the Reign of Aristocracy"
V. G. Kiernan, London: Oxford University Press, 1989. This translated French book is an academic, ponderous and exhausting read that gives few real insights for historical sword enthusiasts today.

"The Duel: Its Rise in Early Modern France"
F. Bellacois. Yale, 1990. Social history of the dueling phenomena in France during the 16th and 17th centuries. NOT REVIEWED.

"Dueling - The Cult Of Honor In Fin-De-Siecle Germany"
Kevin Mcaleer, Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 1994. 268 pp.

"Dueling scenes and terms in Shakespeare's plays"
Horace S. Craig. Berkeley, Los Angeles, University of California Press, 1940.

"Elizabethan Military Science: The Books and the Practice"
Henry J. Webb. Madison, The Univ. of Wisconsin Press, 1965. 256 pp.

"The Encyclopedia of the Sword"
Nick Evangelista, NY: Greenwood Press, 1995. This impressive compilation is greatly flawed and highly suspect. Relying on only a handful of secondary references for nearly all its information (it even excludes Oakeshott's major works for instance!) its entries offer little insight and no new scholarship. The author, a sport and theatrical fencing teacher offers a mountain of detailed information, unfortunately much of it highly irrelevant to the subject. The book obsesses with Hollywood swordplay and filters everything through the prism of modern sport fencing practice while omitting significant historical masters and texts. It offers a tremendous amount of information on sport fencing but suffers terribly from either misinformation or lack of facts on real sword forms and real historical swordsmanship. The result is a very mixed bag that continues to perpetuate the old standard myths and misconceptions about Medieval and Renaissance swords as well as Asian methods. It is of use only to those who have no access to better references or primary sources.

"English Martial Arts"
Terry Brown. Anglo-Saxon Books, UK. Contains over 200 photographs and covers history, weapons, and techniques of English martial-arts mostly from the 1500's to the 1700's. Covers basket-hilted broadsword, sword & buckler, quarterstaff, bill, wrestling, and some sword & dagger using historical sources. It had much more it could have said, but is very well done, with very valuable material! It is a welcomed study, smoothly written.

"European Swords"
Anthony North. Victoria & Albert Museum, 1982. This is a tiny book by a museum curator covering only small swords and similar pieces.

"European & American Arms"
London, 1962. - NOT REVIEWED

"European Weapons and Warfare 1618-1648"
Eduard Wagner. Svoboda, Czech. 1967. Octopus Books, English edition 1979. Eduard Wagner, Czechoslovakian arms curator, military historian, and fencer authored several great books on swords and weapons. He also produced a stupendous 290 page work on the 30-Years War. While not without flaws in its discussion of swords and armor, this rare book is a dream for reenactors. In splendid water color drawings it covers every conceivable aspect of military equipment and military activity among the armies in the conflict, including: cavalry, infantry, close order combat, discipline, punishment’s, fencing, artillery, supply trains, fortifications, field forts, river crossings and engineering equipment, horses and tack, wagons, clothing such as coats, hats, shoes, and trousers, weapons, firearms, and troop provisions. A splendid reference work if you can find it.

"Fencing and Duelling in Shakespeare's England"
Sidney Lee, Edt. Vol. 2. 1917, Oxford. NOT REVIEWED.

"Fight Directing for the Theater"
J. Allen Suddeth, Master Fight Director. 1996, Heinemann Press, NH. Illustrated Society of American Fight Director's guide for faking it. Basic stage combat guide book. Contains very little of interest to fighters.

"Foil"
Charles Selberg. University of Ca., Santa Cruz: Addison Wesley, 1976. Of all the books on modern sport fencing and its theories, this is among the top two worth reading for historical sword enthusiasts and practitioners.

"The Forms and History of the Sword"
Sir Frederick Pollock, London, Oxford Lectures, 1890. --- NOT REVIEWED

"The First Kingdom of Atenveldt Academy of Fence"
Another short SCA booklet and collection of essays on their stylistic version of rapier combat and role playing. This group effort offers a number of general observations as well as inaccuracies and numerous miss- impressions.

"From Medieval Sword to Renaissance Rapier – The Evolution of Straight Bladed Thrusting Weapons" .
Ada Bruhn Hoffmeyer. Art, Arms, and Armor. An International Anthology.. Robert Held, Ed. Chiasso, 1979. P. 52-79.

"Gentlemen, Swords And Pistols : the story of dueling in the 1800's when Southern gentlemen fought and died upon the field of honor."
Harnett T. Kane. 1951. Bonanza: New York, n.d.(1961). Reprint.

"Handbook of Techniques"
Dan Speaker, Academy of Theatrical Combat, LA, CA. 1995 Desktop published stage combat guide. NOT REVIEWED.

Heroic Armor of the Italian Renaissance – Filippo Negroli and His Contemporaries
Stuart W, Phryy and Jose-A. Godoy Abrams, 1999. Catalogs the Met exhibit of beautiful Italian parade armor of exquisite designs and detailed craftsmanship.

"The History of Weapons of the American Revolution"
George C. Neumann. New York Bonanza Books 1967. Moderate foxing on top edge, light foxing on fore-edge and endpapers. Small dent in front cover Black & white drawings by George C. Woodbridge. After introductory chapters, virtually every other page is filled with black & white photographs of weapons.

"How to Kill a Man at Your Ease: Fencing Books and The Dueling Ethic"
Sydney Anglo. Antiquaries Journal, LXVII, 1988. p. 1-4.

Infantry Combat"
Stuart Peachey, Stuart Press. A very short study from period sources on English Civil War foot soldiers. Of value more to military historians and wargamers.

"Men of Honour: A Social and Cultural History of the Duel"
Ute Frevert. Cambridge, Polity Press in assoc. Blackwell, 1995 1st Eng. edn. with revisions to German text. "A wide-ranging account of the duel and its significance, from the early modern period to the twentieth century."

"Milligen’s History of Dueling - Including narratives of the most remarkable personal encounters that have taken place from the earliest period to the present time"
Dr. R. Milligen. Vol. I, London, 1841.  Interetsing accounts.

"The Military Revolution - Military Innovation and the Rise of the West 1500-1800"
Geofrey Parker, Cambridge Univ. press, 1988. An excellent textbook describing the "revolution" in Western military technology that began in the Renaissance. Great reading.

"The Noble Science: A study and Transcription of Sloane Ms. 2530, papers of the Masters of Defence of London, Temp. Henry VIII to 1590"
Herbert Berry. Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses. 1991. This short work is essentially a theater historian's notes on the records of the English Masters. Very interesting, but sadly limited reading for students of the London Company of Masters and Prize Playing.

"On Fencing"
Aldo Nadi. This is probably the number one book on modern sport fencing and one of the very few of value to historical sword enthusiasts and practitioners.

"Pallas Armata - Military Essayes of the Ancient Grecian, Roman, and Modern Art of War - Written in the Years 1670 and 1671"
Sir James Turner, London, Richard Chiswell, 1683. New York, Greenwood Press, 1968.

Paradoxes of Defence – 1599
G. Silver. With an Introduction by J. Dover Wilson. Shakespeare Association Facsimile No. 6. Oxford Press, 1933. One of the earliest (and now rare) commercial reprints of Silver’s original manual, complete with both illustrations.

"The Rapier and Small Sword 1460-1820"
A. V. B. Norman. NY: Arno Press Inc., 1980. Likely the best treating of rapiers ever produced. It covers in exhaustive detail the many actual blades and hilts known. However, its focus is exclusively that of a museum curator and not a military historian or practitioner.

"Rapiers, An Illustrated Reference Guide"
Eric Valentine. Stackpole Books, 1968. One of the best reference books on these weapons, this small book details many informative facts.

"Renaissance War Studies"
J. R. Hale. 1983.

"The Secret History of The Sword"
J. Christoph Amberger, Hammerterz Verlog Special Publication 0101, 1996. Baltimore Md. A stimulating and entertaining set of essays originally published in the Hammerterz Forum fencing newsletter. Explores many obscure angles of our Western martial heritage. The new Volume 3 updating the previous edition with many new articles is now available.

"Sir John Norreys and the Elizabethan Military World"
John Nolan. 1998. ISBN: 0859895483. The first biography of Elizabeth I's most trusted soldier. It chronicles Norreys's life between 1570 and 1600, examining how Norreys built on his family's personal friendship with Elizabeth to navigate the treacherous waters of the court and rise to prominence as a warrior and diplomat. The book incorporates English, Irish, Belgian, Dutch, Spanish and French archival material, including a number of previously unexploited English sources such as Norreys's personal papers in the Bodleian Library. The life of Sir John Norreys is a tale of ambition, rivalry, corruption, violence and achievement typical of the nobility of the Elizabethan age, and provides a marvellous "grand tour" of western Europe in a time of budding imperialism, religious hatred, international intrigue and military innovation.

"South American Fights & Fighters and Other Tales of Adventure"
Cyrus Townsend Brady, ; NY: Doubleday, 1910 1st ed.. Chapters on Panama, Peru, Cortez, the second half of the book is on famous American duels and a large section on John Paul Jones.

"Spanish Arms and Armour - Being a Historical and Descriptive Account of the Royal Armoury of Madrid"
Albert F. Calvert, John Lane, The Bodley Head. London & New York. 1907 1st edition.   - NOT REVIEWED

"Stage Combat"
William Hobbs. The book's title says it all. Despite being produced by the world's foremost fight director and being the best book on the subject, this textbook offers little of interest to martialists or historical swordsmen.

"Stage Fights A Simple Handbook of Techniques"
Gilbert Gordon. Theater Arts Books, 1973. A small, short book of simple theatrical cliches.

"Swashbuckling: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Art of Stage Combat and Theatrical Swordplay"
Richard Lane (Barry Day, John Gielgud). Limelite, 1998. NOT REVIEWED

"Swords and Daggers"
John Hayward, 1963. - NOT REVIEWED

"Swords of Shakespeare"
J. T. Martinez. This illustrated work offers some worthwhile observations on sword history and practice. Though, as it is directed exclusively to theatrical choreographers and Shakespearean actors, it would be better entitled The Big Book of How Not to Fight since it covers only the illusion of simple stage combat.

"The Schooles of Defence in Elizabethan London"
Jay P. Anglin.  in Renaissance Quarterly Vol. XXXVII No. 3. Autum 1983. pp. 393-410.
NOT REVIEWED.

"The Small-Sword in England - Its History, its Forms, its Makers, and its Masters"
J.D. Aylward, Hutchinson's Scientific & Technical Pub., London 1945, 132pp, 55 illus. NOT REVIEWED

"Techniques and Training for Staged Fighting. (Studies in Theatre Arts, Vol. 6)"
James D. Strider. Edwin Mellen Pr., 1999. Text Book. NOT REVIEWED

"The Sword and Womankind Being a study of the influence of "The Queen of Weapons" upon the moral and social status of women, etc."
Edouard de Beaumont. London Imperial Press, 1905. Adapted from 'L'Epee et les Femmes'. London The Society of British Bibliophiles, 1921. Limited edition.

"The Sword and the Centuries"
Alfred Hutton. London (1901). Barnes & Noble reprint 1996. This older text   provide interesting accounts and details of duels and fighting which have served as references for many later texts.  Great reading by a classic author of the subject.

"Three Elizabethan Fencing Manuals"
James L. Jackson. Delmar, 1972. This is one of the first modern books to offer versions of historical manuals. An excellent resource.

"Tudor and Jacobean Tournaments"
Alan R. Young, Sheridan House, 1987. ISBN 0911378758 - NOT REVIEWED

"Two Rapier Points: Analyzing Elizabethan Fighting Methods"
A. L. Soens, Notes and Queries, 1968. NOT REVIEWED.

"Weapons & Armor A pictorial Archive of Woodcuts and Engravings"
Dover Books. This also offers copyright free clip art of medieval and renaissance arms & armor. Again, do not take all the illustrations at face value as the Victorian were greatly misinformed in many instances.

"Weapons"
The Diagram Group. Diagram Visual, 1980. A simple but informative work with strong graphics.

"The Works of George Silver"
Cyril G. R. Matthey, George Bell and Sons, London, 1898. The first actual publication of the original transcriptions of Silver’s sword texts from the 1590’s. An excellent vital reference from which all other Silver versions are taken.

Additional Worthwhile Titles of 18^th & !9^th Century Methods:

"Ancient Scottish Weapons"
J. Drummond and., J. Anderson London and Edinburgh, 1881.

"Bibliografia E Historia De La Esgrima Espanola"
Baron De La Vega De Hoz Enrique De Leguina. Oak Knoll Press. BIBLIOGRAFIA E HISTORIA DE LA ESGRIMA ESPANOLA, APUNTES REUNIDOS POR. [BIBLIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF SPANISH DUELLING, NOTES COMPILED BY.]. Madrid: n.p., 1904 (but Mansfield Centre: Martino Publishing, n.d. but 2000). Reprint of the first edition which was limited to only 150 copies. Besterman 1723. "Historical notes" on Spanish duelling and duellists (pp.7-40) followed by a bibliography of Spanish and Portuguese books on duelling, from the late 15th century to contemporary works. 290 numbered entries, sometimes annotated, followed by a chronological index, index, and printer's colophon.

"The Collection of Armour And Arms of the Baron De Cosson, F.S.A. Illustrated Catalogue"
Anonymous. Christie, Manson and Wood's. UK, 1892.

"A Critical Inquiry into Antient Armour, as it existed in Europe, particularly in Great Britain, from the Norman Conquest to the Reign of King Charles II. Illustrated by a Series of Illuminated Engravings. With a Glossary of Military Terms of the Middle Ages"
Samuel Rush Meyrick. London, 1824.

"An Illustrated History of Arms & Armour from the Earliest Period"
Auguste Demmin, London: George Bell & Sons, 1877.

"The Fencer's Guide"
A. Lonnergan. (London:1771)

"A Treatise Upon the Useful Science of Defence"
John Godfrey. (London:1797)

"A Complete System of Bayonet Exercise"
Richard Burton. (London:1853)

"Foil Practice; With a Review of the Art of Fencing"
George Chapman. (London:1861)

"The Militiaman's Manual and Sword-play"
M. W. Berriman. (N.Y.:1861)

"A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry"
Richard Burton. (London:1876)

"The History and Examination of Duels. Shewing their heinous nature and the necessity of suppressing them ... With the edict of the King of France against duels ; and an abridgment of that of the King of Poland. "
John Cockburn. London, 1720.

"Field Of Honor: Being A Complete And Comprehensive History Of Duelling In All Countries"
Major Ben C. Truman. Fords, Howard & Hulbert. 1883.

"Notes on Duels and Duelling, Alphabetically Arranged, with a Preliminary Historical Essay" Lorenzo Sabine. Crosby, Nichols, and Company. 1859, Boston. Not very useful accounts, mostly pistol duels or accounts without details of weapon or wounds.

"Duelling in America"
Major Ben C. Truman. Edited By Steven Randolph Wood. Joseph Tabler Books, 1992. Reprint of 1884Edition. Originally published as "Field of Honor" in 1884. First volume in series "Classical Library of the Obscure and Remote". Pistol dueling accounts.

"A Brief Display Of The Origin And History Of Ordeals; Trials By Battle; Courts Of Chivalry Or Honour; And The Decision Of Private Quarrels By Single Combat: Also, a Chronological Register of the Principal Duels Fought from the Accession of His Late Majesty to the Present Time."
James P. Gilchrist. London: Printed for the Author, by W. Bulmer and W. Nicol. 1821. xliv, 346pp. Recounts more famous duels covered in other sources.

"The Romance of Duelling in All Times and Countries. In Two Volumes."
Andrew Steinmetz. London: Chapman and Hall, 1868.

"Works on horsemanship and swordsmanship"
Fredrick Henry Huth. Bath [Eng.] C. Seers, printer, 1890.

"The Modern Fencer: With the Most Recent Means of Attack and Defence When Engaged with an Adversary".
Captain T. Griffiths, London: Frederick Warne, (n.d. 1880?).

"Traite Des Combats Singuliers"
Gerdil Hyacinth Sigismond Turin. L'Imprimerie Royale, 1761. Treatise about single combats.

"New System of Sword Exercise, with a Manual of the Sword for Officers, mounted and Dismounted; Forms to be Observed on inspections, reviews, Parades, Etc., Etc."
Matthew J. O'Rourke, New York: J.Gray and Co. 1872.

"Catalogue of works on fencing and duelling forming the private collection of Capt. C. G. R. Matthey"
Cyril G. R. Matthey, S. N. London. 1898.

"Archery, Fencing, and Broadsword"
Walsh, J.H. 1863. London: Routledge. NOT REVIEWED.

"The Art of Defence on Foot with the Broad Sword and Sabre uniting the Scotch and Austrian Methods into one regular system to which is added Remarks on the Spadroon"
C. Roworth, 1798, London, printed for T. Egerton at the Military Library near Whitehall.    Good reference for the changing style of swordplay, based more and more on Italian small-sword and focusing on gentlemanly pursuits of dueling than on battlefield effectiveness.

"The Art of Defence on Foot with the Broad Sword and Sabre: adapted also to the Spadroon, or Cut-and-Thrust Sword"
John Taylor, London, T. Egerton, 1804. NOT REVIEWED.

"The Art of Dueling"
The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd. 1971. Cloth. Fine/Very Good. First Thus. ISBN: 85546 158 6. Originally printed in 1836. 70pp. Author's name unknown. A practical guide to the art, etiquette and general institution of dueling "that will sufficiently educate the raw youth in the practice, to enable him to accept a challenge and take the field on equal terms with a skilled antagonist". Includes an appendix giving accounts of dueling and invitations to duel by the likes of the Duke of Welllington.

"Broadsword and Singlestick"
C. Phillips Wooley, 1890. Another late 1800's book on rare historical European stick fighting sports and arts. NOT REVIEWED.

"A Discourse, In Which Is Considered The History, Character, Causes, And Consequences Of Duels, With The Means Of Prevention"
Henry Slicer, Washington City, 1838, short 16 page pamphlet. 

"Lessons in Sabre, Singlestick, Sabre & Bayonet, and Sword Feats; or, How to use a cut-and-thrust sword"
J.M. Waite. London. Weldon & Co. 1880. NOT REVIEWED.

"Exercise for the Broad Sword, Sabre, Cut & Thrust, and Stick"
H. C. Wayne. Washington. Gideon & Co. 1849. NOT REVIEWED.

"Fencing Familiarized; or, a New Treatise on the Art of the Scotch Broad Sword"
Thomas Mathewson, W. Cowdroy, 1805. NOT REVIEWED.

"Manual Of Physical Exercises Comprising Gymnastics, Calisthenics, Rowing, Sailing, Skating, Swimming, Fencing, Sparring, Cricket, Baseball, Together With rules For training And Sanitary Suggestions"
William Wood, Harper & Brothers, Publishers. New York. 1867, With 125 illustrations. NOT REVIEWED.

"The Militiaman’s Manuals and Sword-Play without a Master – Rapier and Broadsword Exercises copiously explained and illustrated"
Captain M. W. Berriman, New York, D. Van Nostrand, 1861. NOT REVIEWED.

"Principles of Squad Instruction for the Broadsword"
Antoine J. Corbesier. Philadelphia. J.B. Lippincott, 1869. NOT REVIEWED.

"The Romance of Duelling in All Times and Countries"
Andrew Steinmetz, Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly, 1868. Covers swords and pistol encounters in detail.

"The Sword Exercise. Arranged for Military Instruction. Fencing with the Small Sword: Arranged for Instruction in Squads or Classes. Exercise for the Broadsword, sabre, Cut and Thrust, and Stick"
Henry C. Wayne, Washington, 1849. NOT REVIEWED.

"Instructions for the Sword, Carbine, Pistol and Lance Exercise, Together with Standing Gun Drill for the Use of the Cavalry"
G.A. Wetherall, Adjutant General, Horse Guards, John W. Parker & Son, London, 1858. NOT REVIEWED

"Rules and Regulations for the Sword Exercise of the Cavalry"
William Fawcett, London: Printed for the War Office; Whitehall, 1796. "By His Majesty's [George III] Command. Adjutant General's Office, 1st December, 1796. The Following Rules and Regulations for the Sword Exercise, are, by His Majesty's Command, to be observed and practiced by the Cavalry Corps in general, in His Majesty's Service. By Command of Field Marshal, His Royal Highness The Duke of York. William Fawcett, Adjutant General." First official edition; there are later editions & an American edition. General Sir William Fawcett (1726-1804) published several other items. Three identical "editions" were publ. during French Wars & were in effect until 1819. Author killed in cavalry charge at Salamanca. NOT REVIEWED

"Rules and Regulations For The Sword Exercise Of The Cavalry"
Robert H Craig, Baltimore, 1812. 215 pp., illus. First edition. NOT REVIEWED

"An Abridgement of the New Broad Sword Exercise"
W. Pepper of the Nott's Yeomanry Cavalry. Printed for ther Author, 1797. NOT REVIEWED

"Instructions for the Sword Exercise"
Henry Angelo, 1835 Selected from His Majesty's Rules and Regulations, and expressly adapted for The Yeomanry. Lond: William Clowes, 1835. NOT REVIEWED

"Sur Le Duel"
Par le comte de Chatauvillard; Paris, Chez Bohaire, Boulevard des Italiens, Imprimerie d'Édouard Proux et Comp. Rue Neuve-des-Bons-Enfans, N° 2, 1836. The first major text in French about the "Duel". It was made to codify and to establish the laws and rules of the duel, fought either with a pistol or a sword.

"A Treatise On Duelling; Together with the Annals of Chivalry, The Ordeal Trial, and Judicial Combat, From the Earliest Times."
By Abraham Bosquett, Esq. London, 1818. Vol. XII. Pam. No. XXIII

Non-English & Foreign Titles:

"Fiore De’ Liberi Flos Duellatorium – in armis, sine armis equester et pedester"
Giovani Rapisardi. Gladitoria Press, 1998. A brand new modern Italian translation of Dei Liberi’s indispensable manuals on long-sword/great-sword, dagger, wrestling, and other weapons. Beautifully rendered in old style ink. To obtain a copy contact: zorro@abc.net. Via Faccioloti, 75 – 35127, Padua, Italy.

"Talhoffers Fechtbuch"
VS Books, 1998 GBR. ISBN 3-932077-03-2 Carl Schmidt & Torsten Verhulsdonk. Germany. A new modern German translation including more than 260 of Talhoffer’s famous plates from his earliest edition of 1467. Excellent resource!

"Meister Johann Liechtenaurs Kunts des Fechten"
M. Wierschin. Munich, Beck. 1965. Covers the 1389 sword text of the famous Medieval Fechtmiester.

"Meister Johann Liechtenaurs Kunts des langen Schwertes"
G. Hergsell. (Prague, 1901) Frankfurt am Main. 1985. A prime reference covering the 1389 sword text of the famous Medieval Fechtmiester.

"Europaeische Hieb- und Stichwaffen der Sammlung des Museums für Deutsche Geschichte"
Berlin, 1981. This rare and expensive East German book presents innumerable photographs of rarely seen and unknown pieces from Eastern European collections. Expensive but incredible.

"Die Kriegswaffen in Ihren Geschichtlichen Entwickelungen von den Ältestern Zeiten bis auf die Gegenwart"
Demmin, August (Leipzig: P. Friesenhahn, 1893) (German).

"Die Vor- und Frühgeschichtliche Sammlung"
Menghin, Wilfried and Hofmann, Rainer (Nürnberg: Germanisches Nationalmuseum, 1983 (German).

"Waffen im Schweizerischen Landesmuseum: Griffwaffen I"
Schneider, Hugo (Zurich: Orell Füssli Verlag, 1980 (German). A reference illustrating and describing swords and daggers in the Swiss National Museum in Zurich through the medieval period (many) and into the Renaissance.

"Blank-Waffen I"
Heribert Seitz, Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1981 (swords).

"Das Schwert im Fruhen Mittlelalter" (The Sword in the Early Middle Ages")
Wilfred Menghin, Germanishes Natural Museum, Konrad Theiss Verlag, Stuttgart, 1983.ISBN 3-8062-0362-8

"Elsen – Kleider"
Plottnerarbeiten Ausdel Jahrhunderten, Deutsches Historishes Museum, DHM GMBH, Berlin, 1962. (arms & armor museum catalog).

"The Landeszenghuas of Graz, Bonechi Verlarg Styria"
Peter Krenn, 3-222-11951-1, no date. (arms & armor museum catalog).

"Musee De L’rme Paris – Les armes et la vie"
Jean-Pierre Reverseau, Darguard Editeur, 1982 (arms & armor museum catalog).

"L’Arte dell’armi in Italia"
Jacopo Gelli. Bergamo, 1906. On the development of Italian fencing. An interesting text with chapters on most all the major Italian masters. Somewhat influenced by the prejudices and nationalism of the Victorian period. Also one of the first to write against Egerton Castle’s mistakes about Manciolino.

"Les joueurs d’epee a travers les siecles"
Gabriel Letainturier-Fradin (Paris, no date)

"Epistolas de Mosen Diego de Valera, enbiadas en diversos tiempos
e a diversas personas". Madrid, Impr. de M. Ginesta, 1878.

"Die Fechkunst Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg" - 1500-1900 [i. e. funfzehnhundert-neunzehnhundert]; Grafik, Waffen. [Idee und Gestaltung: Heino
Maedebach, Coburg, 1968.

"Schwert, Degen, and Sabel"
Gerhard Seifert, 1962. - NOT REVIEWED

"Sechs Fechtschulen der Marxbruder und Federfechter aus den Jahren"
K. Wassmannsdorff, 1573 bis 1614, Nurnberger Fechtschulreime vom Jahr 1579 und
Roseners Gedicht: Ehrentitel und Lobspruch der Fechtkunst vom Jahr 1589,
Heidelberg 1870

"Die Entwicklungsphasen der Europäischen Fechtkunst"
Karl E.Lochner. Wien, Selbstverlag des Verfassers, 1953. (The Developmental Phases of European Fencing)

"Beiträge zur morphologischen Entwicklung des Schwertes im Mittelalter: eine Analyse des Fundmaterials vom ausgehenden"
Alfred Geibig, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Wachholtz Neumünster, 1991. ISBN/ISSN 3-529-01171-1

"Meister Johann Liechtenauers Kunst des langen Schwertes"
Hans-Peter Hils. Frankfurt am Main, New York : P. Lang, c1985.

"Duelli Pedane".
Pantano, Stefano & Francesco Ponz De Leon. Manfredi Editore, Rome, 1996 HB. - NOT REVIEWED

"Armes blanches, Armi bianche, Edged Weapons"
Karl & Wetter Stuber, Hans Blankwaffen, Zurich; 1982

"Sur Le Duel"
Par le comte de Chatauvillard; Paris, Chez Bohaire, Boulevard des Italiens, Imprimerie d’Édouard Proux et Comp. Rue Neuve-des-Bons-Enfans, N° 2, 1836. The first major text in French about the duel. It was made to codify and to establish the laws and rules of the duel, fought either with a pistol or a sword.

"Il Fior Di Battaglia – de Maestro Fiore Dei Liberi Da Premariacco"
Francesco Novati. Bergamo, Italy. Instituto italiano D’Arti Grafiche. 1902. One of the first extensive examinations of Fiore Dei Liberi’s fighting manuals of 1410.

"Sport e giuochi : trattati e scritti dal XV al XVIII secolo"
Carlo Bascetta. Milano : Il Polifilo, 1978. Includes an examination of Fillipo Vadi’s Liber de Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi ("Book on the Art of Fighting With Swords") of c. 1482-1487.

"Un texto inedito sobre la caballeria del Renacimiento espanol: 'Doctrina del arte
de la caualleria', de Juan Quijada de Reayo." Noel Fallows. Hispanic Studies TRAC (Textual
Research and Criticism), vol. 14. Liverpool: Liverpool UP, 1996. Modern Spanish version of a 1448 Spanish manual on jousting and mounted combat.

"Tractado de la cauallería de la gineta". Introduction, Text and Notes, Bibliography, Lexicographical Index
Hernán Chacón. ed. Noel Fallows. Exeter Hispanic Texts 55. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 1999. A 1551 Spanish manual on light cavalry emphasizing "sports with canes".

Videos

"Ancient Warriors"
The Learning Channel. A few episodes of this entertaining series features good fighting and costuming. Others suffer from weak editing and narration. Covers Normans, Teutonic Knights, Samurai, Spartans, Romans, Zulu, Ninja, and many others.

"Arms In Action"- Leeds Museum series. A brief history that is very well done, interesting with excellent footage. Episodes on the Sword, the Spear, and other weapons. Highly recommended.

"Battle of Hastings" Reenactment by the Marklander's Medieval group in Maryland. NOT REVIEWED.

"The Blow By Blow Guide to Sword Fighting in The Renaissance Style"
Mike Loades: An informative and interesting video by a renown fight master that reveals the motivations and concerns of fight directors and actor combatants. It is an instructional guide to theatrical fighting and should in no way be confused with serious practice of the martial art form.

"Crimson Steel"
Toshishiro Obata: One of the best demonstrations of Japanese swordsmanship and the cutting power of katanas. Shows basic movements and actual test cutting by a master. He also has a sequel.

"Deadly Duels"
The Discovery Channel. A three part series on the history of dueling. Parts 1 and 2 cover some interesting sword combats. Good overall fights, but suffering from poor camera work and post production editing. Excellent interviews with some noted authorities. Fight scenes range from mediocre to excellent. Narration is less informative.

"Great Battles"
This series of famous historical battles features some excellent graphic animation and some good reenactment and living history groups. Particularly the Hastings, Bannockburn, Culloden Moor, and others.

"How the Estrella War Was Won"
SCA . The video quality of this coverage of an annual SCA war in Arizona is so poor that despite heavy editing little can be seen. It also features more talking than fighting. The best action consist of only the last twenty seconds as the credits roll.

"Evolution of the Sword"
Maestro Charles Selberg, American Fencers Supply Co., San Francisco. VHS- 3S, 90 min. $40. Part of a series of instructional sport fencing videos, this one showing the development of swords leading to the modern sporting form. NOT REVIEWED ...but highly suspect according to rumor.

"Masters of Defence"
The Tower of London: A superb short history of English swordsmanship from the late middle ages to the 19th century. Excellent examples of cut & thrust, rapier, and small sword fence. Authentic weapons and armor. Very well done.

"Medieval Swordfighting - Part 1"
Compagnia De' Malipiero, Massimo Malipiero. Italy ’98.
This video is very unique in that it focuses on the teachings of a specific Medieval fight master, Fiore Dei Liberi of c. 1410, but it's also somewhat problematic. The production values are good and the effort that went into it considerable, but the interpretation is colored by the introduction of standard stage-combat sensibilities. No real insights or few actual martial techniques from Fiore are included. The staged fights are a little too staged, and there are some howlers in terms of technique (saw-toothed blades derived from parrying edge-on-edge, for example, and some extremely lame sword and shield fighting --which himself Dei Liberi didn't teach). The fight scenes and techniques are generally all approached in a theatrical style and stiffly executed. Although the material covered includes some realistic disarms and entering techniques, their application is forced and awkward. Some much needed contact-sparring and some test-cutting with sharp blades would have surely given the combatants a much deeper understanding and appreciation for their source material. Given the wealth of information that Dei Liberi has to offer, this video barely touches on  the fundamentals of his method (only a few stances and actions are even named). Criticism aside, this video offers an introduction to the work of a historical master, and its worth having in your library -- especially considering the dearth of material currently available.

"Medieval Swordfighting - Part 2"
Compagnia De' Malipiero, Massimo Malipiero. Italy ’99. - NOT  YET REVIEWED

Myth of the Sword
By Hank Reinhardt. Paladin Press Video, VHS 2001.
The first in a series of videos exploring the reality and the romance of historical European swords and weaponry from the premier expert on the subject in North America and HACA founder. Mr. Reinhardt explains their form, function, attributes, capabilities, and misconcpetions. Material focuses on the early Medieval sword & shield and includes test-cutting. Finnaly, a reliable source that shows it like it is without all the Hollywood nonsense and duelling sport cliches'.

"Now Thrive The Armorers"
The Tower of London : A mildly interesting look at the great Tower of London collection. Includes swords and firearms.

"Stage Fighting"
A university level introduction course to theatrical stage combat principles. NOT REVIEWED.

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Book Reviews of Recent Titles of Interest

Historical Manuals of European Masters
Historical Works on Renaissance Dueling and Honor and War