Books

Records of the Medieval Sword
Fellini Lexicon
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946
" HMS "Beagle": Survey Ship Extraordinary (Anatomy of the Ship S.)
Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting (Conway Classics)
Captain Cook's "Endeavour" (Anatomy of the Ship S.)
Anatomy Ship: HMS Hood
The Floating Prison: An Account of Nine Years on a Prison Hulk During the Napoleonic Wars
Jack Aubrey Commands: An Historical Companion to the Naval World of Patrick O'Brian
The Age of the Galley: Mediterranean Oared Vessels Since Pre-classical Times (Conway's History of the Ship S.)
Aphrodite and Me
The Battle of Britain
Journey to the Hebrides: "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland", "Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides" (Canongate Classics S.)
To Hell or Barbados: The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland
The Men Who Built Britain
Tribes and Power: Nationalism and Ethnicity in the Middle East
The Japanese Sword
A Gathering of Eagles
The Honoured Society: The Sicilian Mafia Observed
American Hardcore: A Tribal History
A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History
The New Forest: A Portrait in Colour
The Islands That Roofed the World: Easdale, Seil, Luing and Belnahua
Eagle's War: War Story of HMS Eagle
Aerobatics

Average customer rating:

Great resource
A sword expert who actually understood swords!
The best reference on the european medieval sword
The Definitive Sword Reference
Fascinating, a great book for beginners or experts of swords

Records of the Medieval Sword
Ewart Oakeshott
Manufacturer: Boydell Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Uniforms | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry
Swords of the Viking Age
A Knight and His Weapons
The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations
Fighting with the German Longsword

ASIN: 0851155669

Book Description

An extensive and thorough study of the origins, development and usage of the glamorous two-edged knightly sword of the European middle ages, with a complete typology. Spanning the period from the great migrations to the Renaissance, this book presents a selection from a very large body of photographs and research and gives a full and detailed record of the swords of that turbulent time.

Customer Reviews:

Great resource.......2007-01-21

If you're into swords, this is a must have book. It's more than a catolog of styles of medieval swords but also explains the developement of the weapons and how swords and armour influenced each other. It also explains the difficulty in dating a weapon by the style of blade and hilt.

A sword expert who actually understood swords!.......2006-01-16

Ewart Oakeshott was unsurpassed in his understanding of medieval swords. Unlike the majority of weapons curators who focus exclusively on the hilt and try their hardest to pretend that the sword was never a practical tool, he appreciated the whole sword. Oakeshott's typology is based on blade shape, i.e. on how the sword handles and what it can be used for. Because of this Ewart was loved by re-enactors and historical swordsmen who view swords as a beautifully designed tool that comes to life in their hands.

I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to work with Ewart just before his death (editing a paper he submitted to the anthology Spada). Just as he reminded museum curators that the sword was a practical tool, not an art object, he reminded swordsmen that the sword was an important symbol of just might, not just a tool.

Records of the Medieval Sword is the best available book describing medieval swords (though his earlier book The Sword in the Age of Chivalry is also well worth picking up). It has clear photographs of the whole sword, and lists blade lengths. If only it had a few more measurements (weight, blade width at various points, point of balance, centre of percussion etc.) it would be a perfect resource for people who make and use swords but who rarely have the opportunity to hold genuine originals and feel their handling characteristics. Even with this minor omission, this book deserves pride of place in the library of anyone interested in the medieval sword.

Stephen Hand
Author, English Swordsmanship, Medieval Sword and Shield
Editor Spada, Spada II

The best reference on the european medieval sword.......2005-07-28

Ewart Oakeshott in this pictorial guide takes you by the hand
in a enjoyable trip along the classification created by him
on the european medieval sword: The Oakeshott Typology. You'll be delighted by the pictures of dozens of vintage pieces and you'll be inspired to forge your own swords based on the different pieces depicted in this book. A useful reference for the advanced sword enthusiast and an excellent introduction to the novice.

The Definitive Sword Reference.......1999-11-24

Records of the Medieval Sword is a remarkable volume, representing a body of work in the subject area with no equal.

Although the information is provided in an extremely authoritative manner, it is written in a very personable way, leaving this reader with a desire to know (have known?) the author.

If I were to attempt to be overly critical of this book, I would mention that there are a few minor, but still rather annoying, typographical errors and mis-numbered illustrations that detract somewhat from the otherwise masterly scholorship presented in the volume.

Also, in my opinion, a reference such as this should be provided in a hard cover edition, with full color plates wherever possible.

I will treasure this addition to my library.

Fascinating, a great book for beginners or experts of swords.......1999-11-03

This book contains a life-time's work and research of the sword. All the way from the early Scandinavian sword to the swords of the Renaissance and gives full in-depth summary and description on each piece. The author, Ewart Oakeshott is the leading expert of medieval swords and has taught me plenty (if not more) from his previous works. I am satisfied with the latest one here. "Records of the Medieval Sword" is well suited for a sword expert as well as for beginners and is for all to enjoy. The only thing I have to complain is that the binding of the book isnt done very well, but then again it could just be mine only. But then again, it should stop you from purchasing one.

Books:

Books