New Member, request for advice on 17th/18th century sword

[Phil Moss]

Hi,
New member here, so forgive my blundering! A novice swordsman for many years (member of various reenactment groups in UK) I, and a few friends who live locally, have decided to step it up a gear and practice outside of events. Personally I fight with a 17th century tower ( or 'pikeman's') hanger, and my opponents fight with a mixture of scottish broad swords, due to them coming from Jacobite Rebellion groups. We also have a rapier or two hanging about.
We get along quite competently, but I was wondering where best to find information on a more technical approach to the weapons of this era - or at minimum a simple technique for basket hilt sword fighting in general?

If anyone could provide help it would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Phil.

[LafayetteCCurtis]

George Silver is the first name that comes to mind--and his manual is available online on several websites, including ARMA's ( http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/BriefInstruct.htm ). I've also heard of several other masters recommended for the broadsword, such as Zachary Wylde ( http://www.sirwilliamhope.org/Library/Wylde/ ) and Thomas Page ( http://www.sirwilliamhope.org/Library/Page/Page.php ) --they may be worth checking out.

[David Kite]

Hello,

You could also try browsing here: http://www.thearma.org/ManuscriptListPost1650.html

We don't have most of these works available on this site, so I'm afraid you'll have to actually hunt them down on your own, but this at least gives you a list of sources.

David Kite
GFS, ARMA in IN