Our Bookshelf
Our Bookshelf
Listed and reviewed here are some books that we consider well worth buying. The books are all ones that we own and have therefore read and can honestly recommend. As we have lots of books I have had to split the bookshelf into categories please be patient as the pages load. You can also purchase any of the books by clicking on the "purchase" link by the book you are interested in. As time permits I will add more.
I have split the collection into categories as best I can
| Archery | Swordsmanship / Fighting techniques | Period life | Sword / Blade smithing | |
| Swords | Cannon / Gunpowder | Wood working, etc. | Blacksmithing etc. |
| The Book of the crossbow
by Ralph Payne-Gallwey ISBN 0486287203 |
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First published in 1903, later to appear with the 1907 appendix, this valuable work was written by Ralph Payne-Gallwey who apparently had an unlimited source of money and time. Along with the history of the crossbow, detailed accounts of the construction and maintenance of various crossbows designed for bolts and bullets are given. Related and/or relevant medieval weapons, like longbow, ballista and arquebus, are also treated in some detail. Some self-evident details of construction or handling, clearly visualised by the illustrations, are too often spelled out in full, while more obscure mechanisms of elaborate trigger systems, could have benefited from a whole lot more detailed explanation. This said, it must be stressed that on the whole it is a very fine piece of work, a book without a match for almost a century, and certainly well worth recommending.
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this fine work
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| The Longbow (
A Social and Military History )
by Robert Hardy ISBN 1852604123 |
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| This is the second edition of a fine work by
Robert Hardy. This book was in its first edition the definitive work on
the English longbow. The second edition has added much to what was an
outstanding work. With data from the Mary Rose finds and research carried
out about the longbow since the first book was published this book is a
must for any historian, archer or re-enactor. The depth of the work and
the carefully detailed research that is evident are enough to recommend
this book
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this fine work
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| English
Longbowman 1330-1515
By Clive Bartlett,
illustrated by Gerry Embleton ISBN 1855329328 |
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| An inexpensive and useful work.
This book traces the history and development of the bow from King Edward
to Henry V, during which time the backbone of the English armies was the
longbowman. This book charts the development of the longbow and covers
some of the most famous battles of medieval history - Crecy, Poiters and
Agincourt. Great value for money and well illustrated.
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this fine work
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| The Medieval
Archer
By Jim Bradbury ISBN 0851151949 |
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| This is a study of the archer
and his weapon, from the Norman Conquest to the Wars of the Roses. It
opens with a definition of various types of bow and challenges the usual
assumption that the "longbow" was a new and devastating weapon
used only by the English army from the late-13th century onwards. The
author clearly shows from a close study of early evidence, including that
of bows used for hunting, that the archer's role before the time of Edward
I was an important but rarely-documented one, and that his new prominence
in the 14th century was the result of changes in development of military
tactics and the organization of armies rather than a change of weapon.
Bows have been around since the stone age after all. Having examined the
archer's role in warfare, next is the archer's role in society, based on
the legend of Robin Hood, and shows how the stories about him can reveal
much to us about the standing of the yeoman archer. The final chapters
look at the archer in the 15th century and then chronicle the rise of the
handgun (if I could find more books on early hand guns I would be happy)
as the major infantry weapon, at the bow's expense.
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this fine work
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The traditional bowyers bible by Various authors
ISBN: 155821206X |
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| Written by a collective group
of bowyers this is an excellent book for the novice and the experienced
crafts person. The authors know what they are talking about. Building a
really good all wood bow is not easy, but these bowyers take the mystery
out of it and try to make it fun in the process there are technical
accounts from experienced bowyers, lots of black and white pictures
of bows, bow details and key operations in bow making. On the downside, I
consider that this book is not for the complete novice. Many technical
terms are used without explanation, and a basic understanding of wooden
bows is required. It was my first book on the subject I am happy to
recommend it.
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this fine work
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| The
Archers craft Archery and the making of Archers tackle, etc By Adrian Eliot Hodgkin ISBN 1897853807 |
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| This book was first published in 1951 and has now been re-printed. The author starts the book with a history of archery quoting extracts from various historical sources on its rise and fall as a military weapon. He describes the types of wood for bows and arrows giving reasons for their choice. His writing is splendidly readable being both simplistic and impassioned. Written in the 1950’s he tells a knowledgeable and enlightening lesson with a delightful attitude so laid back that he is truly professional. The second half of the book describes the simple methods of bow and arrow making at home, in the sun, on the doorstep. The last part of the book deals with hunting with the bow and the various techniques learnt through listening and observing. It is evident that the author absorbed himself in his hobby, learning his craft, reading and practising. A useful reference for those of us wishing to make our own bows. | Purchase
this fine work
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| Kyudo
By Hideharu Onuma, Dan
DeProspero, Jackie
DeProspero ISBN 4770017340 |
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| A Rare insight into
the Japanese art of Archery so different to our own. This guide to the
spiritual and technical practice of this graceful martial art, by
15th-generation master Hideharu Onuma, includes illustrations and rare
photographs. And has much I feel of value to the traditional archer of
today.
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this fine work
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| Armed
Martial Arts of Japan : Swordsmanship and Archery
By G. Cameron Hurst ISBN
0300049676 |
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| As a follow up to
the book on Kyudo I found this book well worth a read. This history of
Japanese armed martial arts focuses on traditions of swordmanship and
archery from ancient times to the present. The author provides an overview
of martial arts in Japanese history and culture, then closely examines the
transformation of these fighting skills into sports. During the
Tokugawa era (1600-1867), swordmanship and archery developed from fighting
systems into martial arts, transformed by the powerful social forces of
peace, urbanization, literacy, and professional instruction in art forms.
the author investigates the changes that occurred as military skills that
were no longer necessary took on new purposes: physical fitness, spiritual
composure, character development and sport. The author concludes by
exploring the modern organization, teaching, ritual and philosophy of
archery and swordmanship.
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this fine work
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| Weapons
and Warfare in Renaissance Europe : Gunpowder,
Technology, and Tactics
By Bert S Hall ISBN 0801855314 |
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| This book presents a serious, unbiased and well documented view on gunpowder-technology origins and evolution and its real significance in medieval and Renaissance land warfare. However, only the projectile weapons have a good coverage, and warfare at sea is almost totally forgotten. This is a subject that requires more books and research. The author intertwines facets of technology and society to clarify how each can affect the other. He tries to show that gunpowder did not sweep away the Middle Ages; the thoughts of the Middle Ages and Renaissance men molded how and why gunpowder would be used. Hall makes the point that a new technology such as gunpowder does not dominate progress but is rather only an ingredient in a very complicated mix of elements. | Purchase
this fine work
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| If there is a book you want and it is not listed above try searching for it below. | ||
