Hi folks!

One of the great things about working in a large academic library is seeing all the new books of interest coming through the doors. Here is a new one that some may know of, but I'll post for those that don't. I checked, and it's available at Amazon.com for US$90.00 new, less if used.

British Basket-Hilted Swords: A Typology of Basket-Type Sword Hilts
Author: Cyril Mazansky, with major photography by R. Kenneth Snodgrass
The Boydell Press in association with Royal Armouries
Copyright 2005 (March), Trustees of the Armouries
ISBN: 1 84383 053 1 (hardback; alk. paper)
LOC Call# NK6743.M34 2005

The book's chapters are arranged by:
1 - Categories
2 - Eponyms / Nomenclatures
3 - Terminology and relationship of hilt components
4 - Aspects of construction and decoration
5 - Gen. differentiating characteristics between English and Scottish hilts
6 - Signed hilts;
7 - Typology;
8 - Prototype and early hilts
9 - Fully developed hilts
10 - Incomplete hilts;
11 - Mortuary hilts
12- Hilts based on peirced side rings
Appendix - Portable photographic technique for swordhilts by R. Kenneth Snodgrass (includes some nifty picks of his photo set-up, as well as how-to notes)


I will do my best to try to get some pics from the book into this thread if possible. I just grabbed the book off the aquisitions shelf 2 minutes ago. I am busily trying to type this and simultaneously trying not to drool on the pages or the keyboard.

I hope this is of interest to some of you!

Cheers!

This has been discussed in This Topic and also appears in our recent article:

[ Linked Image ]
The Paper Armoury: Scotland the Brave
An article by Sean Flynt

Thank you, Carl ..... we appreciate you taking the time to let us know !

As Nathan pointed out ..... many of us here have eargerly awaited the release of this book and I was happy to report that it did not disappoint ! Dr. Mazansky's work belongs in every sword lovers library, no doubt about it !

Cheers, Mac

I'm sure everyone would love to see some pictures from the book. Personally, I wish you could post some of the early hilts.

Well, now that i found a little time to read Sean's suggested books, I see i did miss the boat a little in posting this :blush:

I'll gladly see what I can do to get some of the pics on board this thread. I'm pretty computer-stupid, so I may ask Nathan for a hand.

I appreciate not getting bashed for missing the previous announcement of this great book. Thanks, guys!

Cheers!