Swordplay R&R Book Lists

Reading & Research List
HACA presents the Internet’s most extensive listing of published works of references and suggested reading sources for Medieval and Renaissance swordsmanship and fighting arts. (12/98)

Medieval

The Top Most Strongly Recommended Titles

"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.

"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.

*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. 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).

General Reference Books on Medieval Arms & Armor or Medieval Warfare

"Hammerterz Forum"
A quarterly/annual newsletter of Western fencing and sword history, a magazine for intelligent discourse on sword history but with emphasis on 17th - 19th century fencing. Available for $35. Published quarterly by J. C. Amberger, PO Box 13448, Baltimore, MD. 21203.

"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.

"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 & 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.

"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 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 NOT REVIEWED.

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

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

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

"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.

"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.

"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"
A.V.B. Norman. A good general book 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.

"Battledress"
F. Wilkinson , 1970. 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

"Broadsword and Singlestick"
C. Phillips Wooley, 1890. Another late 1800's book on rare historical European stick fighting sports and arts.

"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

"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 circa 1066 to circa 1700"
C. Blair, B.T. Batsford, Ltd. London. 1979. A basic guide to armor, technical, and a good introductory reference.

"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. 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

"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.

"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.

"Living History: Knights"
This children's book contains a number of interesting recreational and living history photographs on late medieval armored fighting. The text is less valuable.

"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 (1962), 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.

"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.

"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

"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

"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.

"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 earliest edition of 1467. Excellent resource!

"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 and Armor"
Kottenkamp, Dr. F. Rev. A. Lowy, trans New, pub: Portland House NY, (1988), Reprint of 19th century. NOT REVIEWED.

"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 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.

"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.

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.

"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.

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.

"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. Ordering and further information is available on the publisher's web site along with a necessary patch for Windows® users beyond Quick Time® v1.1.1.

Foreign Titles:

"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!

"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.

"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.

"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

Renaissance

The Top Most Strongly Recommended Titles

"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

"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"
Carl Thimm.(1896) Reprint. 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.

"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.

"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.

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

"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 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.

"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.

"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. London. T. Egerton, 1798. NOT REVIEWED.

"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.

"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.

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.

"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 Austrian 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.

"Elizabethan and Jacobean Tournaments"
Alan Young. NOT REVIEWED.

"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.

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

"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.

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

"How to Kill a Man at Your Ease: Fencing Book sand The Dueling Ethic"
Sydney Anglo. Antiquities. ???

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

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.

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

"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.

"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. (Contact zoergiebel@aol.com)

"The Sixteenth-Century Italian Duel; A Study in Renaissance Social History"
Frederick Robertson Bryson, 1878, Chicago, Ill., The University of Chicago press [1938] xxviii, 248 p.

"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

"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.

"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 Sword and the Centuries"
Alfred Hutton. London (1901). Barnes & Noble reprint 1996. This old book does provide some interesting accounts of duels and fighting which have served as references for many later texts.

"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.

"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.

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"
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.

"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.

Worthwhile Classic and General works on Kenjutsu (Japanese Samurai Swordsmanship) useful to Western sword students:

"Bokken"
David Lowry. One of the few books dealing with training in Kenjutsu using wooden swords. It offers numerous relevant concepts.

"The Book of Five Rings"
Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi's book on swordsmanship is a must reading for any fighter. The Overlook Press edition is among the best and is not contaminated by modern martial arts concepts (such as with the recent Kaufman distortion). Shambhalla's translation by Thomas Clearly (a scholar of Asian literature and language), offers a more philosophical version that is valuable for the alternative insights it provides. There is also another version by Bantam which is worth reading.

"The Deity and The Sword Katori Shinto Ryu"
One of the few general works on this school of swordsmanship. Features photographs of techniques. NOT REVIEWED.

"The Lone Samurai and the Martial Arts"
Stephen Turnbull. Of all Turnbull's history books (Celtic Warriors, Samurai Armies, Samurai Daimyo, Samurai Battles) this is his best effort. It present biographies and backgrounds on many famous swords masters and samurai revealing their non conformist and individualistic natures in contrast to the established notions of Japanese feudal conduct at the time. Cuts through a lot of the self promoting modern myths surrounding Japanese swordsmanship. Inspirational and thought provoking.

"Classical Budo"
F. Don Draeger. One of the first and still best of a three volume set on Japanese fighting arts and modern Japanese martial-arts.

"Samurai Swordsmanship"
Don Draeger. An extensive general overview of the subject from the view of traditional practitioners. NOT REVIEWED.

"Secrets of the Samurai"
Published by Tuttle. If you have only one book on Asian fighting arts it must be this! It is must reading for anyone interested in any fighting arts. This highly scholarly work is incredibly well researched and detailed and most importantly, treats the subject from a socio-historical perspective and not a sycophantic one which glorifies mystique. Although highly technical in approach and not the most readable, it is extremely informative and entertaining. It cuts through all the BS and mysticism surround these fighting arts and the myths perpetuated by some practitioners. The chapters on sword skills are among the best and the black & white illustrations are superbly rendered.

"Shinkage Ryu Swordsmanship I & II"
One of the few general works on this school of swordsmanship. Contains photos of drills and basic routines. NOT REVIEWED.

"Sun Tzu's The Art of War"
Translated by Griffith. Of the 14 or 15 currently available translations of Sun Tzu's ancient text, Griffith's is among the most relevant and readable. Also check out the one by Thomas Clearly (Shambhalla). Other good interpretations are those by Haung and Wing, as well as the modern Chinese translation (also the audio tape and comic book ones are good too). James Clavell's is by far the weakest.

"The Sword and the Mind"
This is the latest version of the old Heiho Kaden Sho, or Family Book of Swordsmanship by the famous Yagyu family of samurai sword masters. It offers numerous techniques and concepts for any fighters.

"The Sword of No Sword"
Tesshu, Yamamaoko. A famous work by a 19th century swordsman, this book offers numerous valuable principles and ideas on practice and training.

"The Unfettered Mind"
Takuan Soho. This famous book on kenjutsu philosophy by a medieval Zen monk and swordsman has been influential on Musashi, Bruce Lee, and Aikido's founder Ueshiba.

"The Way and The Power"
F. J. Lovrette, Paladin Press 1987. This book brings out some interesting principles of kenjutsu and then digresses into ridiculous assertions and typical Asian mystic nonsense. Taken out of their cultural context, some of the concepts can be valuable to other sword practitioners. It also serves as an excellent example of what kind of junk to avoid. Read it with critical scrutiny.

"Zen and the Way of the Sword Arming the Samurai Psyche"
This book by a British scholar is more of an attempt to psychoanalyze the sociological and personal forces behind what motivated feudal samurai fighting skills. It is a worthwhile read because of its rare outsider's view, but not too sophisticated.

Back To:

Book Reviews of Recent Titles of Interest

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