Nick Evangalista

The Inner Game Of Fencing – excellent in form, technique, strategy and spirit

A set of short pieces on thinking like a fencer, rather than like the player of a sport

Allanson-Winn & Phillips-Wolley

Broadsword and Singlestick with chapters on Bayonet, Quarterstaff, walkingstick, umbrella and other self defence weapons

Pub 1890. Straightforward basic instruction in 19thC manly arts

Hans Talhoffer (trans Rector)

Medieval Combat

Modern trans of Talhoffer's 15thC manual. Very little commentary. See Tobler.

William M Gaugler

The History of Fencing – Foundations of Modern European Swordplay

As the title says, a thorough history of the period foundations of the modern game, good for those who want to “tell what isn't period”. Also good overviews of several Italian masters.

Frederic Robertson Bryson

The Point of Honor in 16thC Italy, An Aspect of the Life of a Gentleman

Bryson's PhD thesis, focusing on honour and the duel as part of the cult of honour.

Frederic Robertson Bryson

The 16thC Italian Duel

Focusing on the duel: the technical and social requirements and the legal and religious aspects.

Aldo Nadi

On Fencing

Focuses on the modern game, but has useful insights on doing and teaching footwork and on mindset.

Aldo Nadi

The Living Sword

Nadi's autobiography. Swords, parties, fast women, ego, and the famous account of his one duel.

Sydney Anglo

The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe

Solid overview of the manuals available, and importantly how they solved the problem of getting physical skill down onto paper. Lots of good information and things to think about.

Mark Rector (ed)

Highland Swordsmanship, Techniques of the Scottish Swordmasters

Two post period manuals and a fascinating foreword on the use of sword and shield. Shows that there is no 1600 cutoff, but a progression from rapier to modern epee, with each book having offhand techiniques with smallsword.

Roger Crosnier

Fencing with the Foil

Written in the 1950s to help people in Britain teach fencing. Lots of lesson plans and drills that can be adapted.

William M Gaugler

The Science of Fencing

The work of an obsessive compulsive, every move and sequence in the modern Italian system analysed and described with drills to teach it.

Baron Cesar de Bazancourt

Secrets of the Sword

Written 1862, discusses fencing and duelling, includes description of Italians of the era using dagger and offhand parries

Christian Tobler

Secrets of German Swordsmanship

A magnificent, lavishly illustrated, how-to book on 15thC German longsword, sword and buckler, and spear, armoured and unarmoured

William Wilson

The Arte of Defence, An Introduction to the use of the Rapier

An instruction book on Italian style by a well known student and teacher. Just arrived, so haven't evaluated it yet.

Various Authors

Spada – An Anthology of Swordsmanship in Memory of Ewart Oakshott

Various articles on thngs like use of shield, singletime attacks, sword styles and so on. Patchy quality, some articles recycled from elsewhere.

Ewart Oakshott

The Sword in the Age of Chivalry

An analysis of sword types, both blade and hilt, from 1050-1550. Includes an appendix that takes account of discoveries made since the book was written in the early 1960s

Richard Burton

The Book of the Sword

Burton's 19thC work on sword types all over the world. Unfortunately he died before he wrote VolII which would have covered our period.

Vesey Norman

The Rapier and Smallsword 1460-1820

Another obsessive compulsive, detailing and classifying every known hilt from extant examples and painting into types and dates. More overwhelming than Oakshott.