Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > I Finally Bought a copy Records OF The Medieval Sword Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Hugh Fuller




Location: Virginia
Joined: 01 Oct 2003

Posts: 256

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 9:24 am    Post subject: I Finally Bought a copy Records OF The Medieval Sword         Reply with quote

Well, after years of procrastinating due to the cost, I broke down and bought a copy of Ewart Oakeshott's Records of the Medieval Sword. As I have not been all that interested in Medieval weaponry aforenow, I had difficulty justifying the cost of the book but my interest in swords has expanded to include the period and I now bought one. It is, upon early scanning, quite a fascinating book and not in the least bit dry reading. I really enjoyed those of Oakeshott's lovely little anecdotes and asides that I read in that scanning, most particularly his masterful discussion of the controversy surrounding the Edward III Sword. I was also interested to noter that his picture of the Kragehul Bog Sword that Patrick Barta reproduces and calls a "Roman Riding Sword" is labelled a Behmer Type IV and dated to ca. 400 CE. It also clearly shows the narrow fullers that Patrick includes in his version. I was fascinated by his discussion of the Italian cinquedeas as I bought one from Tinker Pearce.

I will try to remember to post more as I have more time to study the book.

Hugh
Still trying to walk in the Light
Please see 1 John 1:5
View user's profile Send private message
Luka Borscak




Location: Croatia
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Likes: 7 pages

Posts: 2,307

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 10:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

My 'Records' finally arrived last week, 3 months after ordering. Confused It is a great book, I really like it, especially the part of appendix B that explains why he thinks long griped and long bladed swords were used much earlier then most of us think... And that beautiful Celtic sword with almost rectangular point... Cool
View user's profile Send private message
Mike Arledge




Location: Indianapolis, IN
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Reading list: 8 books

Posts: 434

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 10:20 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I got mine about 3-4 months ago. I love it. I am eagerly awaiting my copy of Swords of the Viking Age to arrive soon! I hope it will be as good.
Mike J Arledge

The Dude Abides
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Jeremy V. Krause




Location: Buffalo, NY.
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,717

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 11:32 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

It's a classic for sure! I use it universally when showing folks my collection along with a few other books as appropriate.

Pierce's Sword in the Viking Age is to the Viking Sword what Records is the the medieval sword. Pierce gives more dimensions and weights which is really nice.

I need an archtypical book on seaxes!

But let us all raise one for Ewart Oakeshott!

Jeremy
View user's profile Send private message
Russ Ellis
Industry Professional




Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Posts: 2,608

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 2:08 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Excellent! If I could suggest it Hugh, you now need to get a copy of The Sword in the Age of Chivalry to complement it. Not as many pictures, but a whole lot more text...
TRITONWORKS Custom Scabbards
View user's profile Send private message
Doug Lester




Location: Decatur, IL
Joined: 12 Dec 2007

Posts: 167

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 6:53 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

It's a great book. I keep it by my bed for light reading. Guess it shows how bad I've gotten. Wink
View user's profile Send private message
James R.Fox




Location: Youngstowm,Ohio
Joined: 29 Feb 2008

Posts: 253

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 8:42 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Gentlemen-If you want a good read, get Archaeology of Weapons. It is great, and contains Mr Oakshott's earliest thinking on the subject, particularly the erily saxss, which is the onlybook where he went into that subject so deeply as far as I know. My copy is about 40 years old and one of my greatest treasures. Congrats on getting Records, I have it and refer to it all the time.
Ja68ms
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin


myArmoury Admin

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 8:51 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

It's about time you picked up your copy, Hugh. Happy

While I think Records is a must-have book, I find it more as a support work for other books on the subject. As mentioned, Archaeology of Weapons and Sword in the Age of Chivalry are a much finer reads. Records serves as an important update to both volumes, however, and rounds them out beautifully.

.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bill Grandy
myArmoury Team


myArmoury Team

Location: Northern VA,USA
Joined: 25 Aug 2003
Reading list: 43 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 4,194

PostPosted: Thu 06 Mar, 2008 9:14 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Nathan Robinson wrote:
It's about time you picked up your copy, Hugh. Happy

While I think Records is a must-have book, I find it more as a support work for other books on the subject. As mentioned, Archaeology of Weapons and Sword in the Age of Chivalry are a much finer reads. Records serves as an important update to both volumes, however, and rounds them out beautifully.


What Nathan said. Happy Records is indespensible, to me, but the other books are what make it so, in my opinion.

HistoricalHandcrafts.com
-Inspired by History, Crafted by Hand


"For practice is better than artfulness. Your exercise can do well without artfulness, but artfulness is not much good without the exercise.” -anonymous 15th century fencing master, MS 3227a
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Jeremy V. Krause




Location: Buffalo, NY.
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,717

PostPosted: Fri 07 Mar, 2008 8:53 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

What makes Records great is it's role as a public relations tool for myself and my collection. Those with no or little knowledge on the subject can learn something about- at the most basic level- what swords really looked like.
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > I Finally Bought a copy Records OF The Medieval Sword
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum