Books

This is a highly accurate reproduction of McBane’s original work from 1728, created by the historian Ben Kerr. It features reproductions of all the original image plates as well as a full and accurate transcription of McBane’s original text including his teaching on self-defence, an account of his life and adventures and the art of gunnerie.

The Journal for the Discerning and Gentle Practitioner, containing diverse papers on the Native European Arts and Sciences of Defence.

Buy The Noble Science, Volume 1 with confidence from the UK’s leading HEMA book retailer.

Editor: MI. Hillyard
Format: Paperback, 40 pages, 27.94 x 21.59 cm, B&W
ISBN: 978-0-9564871-2-4

This book is an introduction to the history, use and context of the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword. As part of the Academy of Historical Arts Study Guide series, it is intended to serve as a study guide for practitioners of historical fencing who work with this weapon, or who would like to begin learning its style. Instructors will also find it helpful as it provides plenty of contextual information to use for illustrating lessons, and anecdotes to help students engage with the system.

Roworth’s book The Art of Defence on Foot is a simple system for the broadsword or sabre. His instructions are clear and the book works well for beginners.

This facsimile has been recreated from the original treatise owned by the Academy of Historical Arts in Glasgow

One of the first works to focus on the weapons and fighting skills of the medieval Gaelic warrior, Scorners of Death offers instruction in the use of the medieval Gaelic sword, sword and buckler, two-handed sword and battle-axe (including both the Lochaber axe and the sparth axe of Ireland), as well as a detailed discussion of the warriors who used these weapons and the strategic context in which they fought.

Although there are no technical manuals for the use of these weapons, the authors have developed a training method based on the best historical evidence available. These techniques will be useful for reenactors portraying the Scottish highland or Irish warriors of the Middle Ages, especially in the time period between 1300 and 1600, as well as for any practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts (or HEMA) with an interest in Scottish or Irish history.

Today, fighting with dagger versus dagger, or with knife versus knife, is not a common scenario that people might expect to face. However, it was more common in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, when it was normal for people to wear a dagger on their belt. Arguments or fights with daggers could break out; and while duels were more often fought with swords, combatants could also agree to do so with daggers.

This is not a book on modern knife fighting; rather, it is a book dealing with the historical knife fighting of Renaissance Italy. The modern blade aficionado will also find material of interest. The book offers several views of short-bladed weapons that were developed and tested when cold steel was the king of weaponcraft and when duels were more common than today.

A complete beginner's guide to training in medieval Italian longsword. This book covers everything from choosing a sword to warming up, to fencing. Full of set drills and clear descriptions, this book has been the standard work on the subject since it first came out in 2004. As a technical manual, it has been largely superseded by The Medieval Longsword, which came out in 2014, but it is unsurpassed as a general guide to how and why you should train swordsmanship.