Good books on swords?
- Thread starter Poor Uke
- Start date
lklawson
Grandmaster
Yeah, what Sukerkin said.
If you just want an overview of all swords ever made anywhere at any time well, there are a very few books.
If you have something more specific in mind, narrow it down to that, Time period, area, etc. For instance, European Sabers of the 18th Century. Or English swords of the Middle Ages, or more broadly, Medieval European swords.
Burton's "Book of the Sword" is considered a seminal work but rather dated by modern standards with a few inaccuracies sprinkled in simply because he was working with a Victorian mindset and the best available information for the time.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
If you just want an overview of all swords ever made anywhere at any time well, there are a very few books.
If you have something more specific in mind, narrow it down to that, Time period, area, etc. For instance, European Sabers of the 18th Century. Or English swords of the Middle Ages, or more broadly, Medieval European swords.
Burton's "Book of the Sword" is considered a seminal work but rather dated by modern standards with a few inaccuracies sprinkled in simply because he was working with a Victorian mindset and the best available information for the time.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
My suggestion would be to make use of the medium to which you are connected to do a little research. Because you are starting with a clean slate but with an idea in mind of what you are interested in, then you will be amazed what 'link surfing' will net you in terms of ideas of where to look next.
It will also bring you into contact with the very great number of misconceptions and myths about swords, their construction and use.
For example, with next to no effort I dug up:
http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/swords_faq_index.htm
which contains quite a few recommendations on further study.
Also:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Me...-Swordmaking/Robert-G-Hoyland/e/9780906094525
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...ry+of+sword+making+book&source=gbs_navlinks_s
It will also bring you into contact with the very great number of misconceptions and myths about swords, their construction and use.
For example, with next to no effort I dug up:
http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/swords_faq_index.htm
which contains quite a few recommendations on further study.
Also:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Me...-Swordmaking/Robert-G-Hoyland/e/9780906094525
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...ry+of+sword+making+book&source=gbs_navlinks_s
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Not really, Uke.
As I noted above, it's a huge subject and there is no one resource that covers everything. Thankfully the Net makes research immensely easier than it used to be - no need to physically travel to out of the way libraries and root through card indexes
.
Another place worth visiting electronically is:
http://www.oakeshott.org/
and also
http://www.myarmoury.com/about.html
I am more interested in how swords are used than how they are made, altho that is a fascinating subject in and of itself.
As I noted above, it's a huge subject and there is no one resource that covers everything. Thankfully the Net makes research immensely easier than it used to be - no need to physically travel to out of the way libraries and root through card indexes
.Another place worth visiting electronically is:
http://www.oakeshott.org/
and also
http://www.myarmoury.com/about.html
I am more interested in how swords are used than how they are made, altho that is a fascinating subject in and of itself.
Bruno@MT
Senior Master
There are even books for people like me, who are interested specifically in the sharpening and polishing of traditionally made Japanese swords
Sharpening and polishing is an art that is completely separate from smithing. Like smithing itself, it is an art that takes a lifetime to master. I was told by a Japanese expert that as an art it was even higher regarded than the actual smithing.
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Japanese-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260961629&sr=1-1
This book is a real treasure trove of information from an authorative source that you won't find any place else on the internet.
