The Archaeology of Weapons : Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry; R. Ewart Oakeshott; Paperback; $10.75; Midwest Book Review: Arms and armor from prehistory to the age of chivalry are covered in this detailed analysis of medieval arms development. More than 30 centuries are studied here, but the tone is lively and light, using evidence of arms found during excavations and descriptions in literature and art to lend insight into early warfare. The Archaeology of Weapons is good for high school study or for leisure browsers.

A Collectors Guide to Swords, Daggers, and Cutlasses; Gerald Weland; Hardcover; $12.98; After an introduction that analyzes the evolution, mythology and historical significance of edged weapons, this volume uses three sections to consider separately the subjects of focusing on Oriental edged weapons. Special sections give advice on assessing the value of individual pieces, on how to establish authenticity of the piece, and categories of special interest to the collector. More than 150 full-color illustrations.

The Encyclopedia of the Sword; Nick Evangelista; Hardcover; $79.50; Rating=10 Book News, Inc., 11/01/95: A reference on the history of sword types and styles around the world; techniques of sword combat; techniques and styles of modern sport fencing; names and descriptions of fencing implements and weapon types; swashbuckler films and the fencing masters who have influenced the genre; significant teachers; the sword at the Olympics; and literature in which swords figure largely are among the information presented. Also includes winners of various competitions and awards, famous people in other fields who were fencers, writers and scholars of the sword such as Richard Burton, and other auxiliary topics.

The Art and Science of Fencing; Nick Evangelista; Paperback; $13.45; Rating=10 Book News, Inc., 11/01/96: An enjoyable introduction to the history, lore, and some specifics of technique, including the psychology of fencing. Covers the three types of weapons, the rules, and selecting a fencing school or getting started in the sport. Includes profiles of prominent fencers, a glossary of terms, and book and film resources. Illustrated with b&w photos.

Foil, Saber, and Epee Fencing : Skills, Safety, Operations, and Responsibilities; Maxwell R. Garret, et al; Hardcover; $25.00; Anyone who wishes to learn the sport of fencing will find the basic elements necessary to begin in Foil, Saber, and Epee Fencing. The already accomplished fencer will find methodology and strategies by which to overcome one's opponent in tournament play. The coach and teacher is herein presented with lesson plans by which to chart a student's progress. The administrator is advised of the safety factors and range of liability to consider while incorporating fencing into a sports program. Three eminent coaches, each with a wide range of international experience, present their methods of teaching, which are compatible for the student choosing to learn the skills necessary in more than one weapon. Excellent photographs and diagrams illustrate the concepts, and an extensive annotated bibliography provides the reader with a wide selection of research materials. Late in the summer of 1993, new rule changes were adopted by the United States Fencing Association. These changes, which went into effect with the start of the 1993-94 fencing season, are included in this manual. Foil, Saber, and Epee Fencing also traces the transition of the art of duelling from the combat arena to the sports arena.

On Fencing; Aldo Nadi; Paperback; $17.96; Rating=10 Aldo Nadi is one of the acknowledged greats of fencing. His theories on the art of fencing were tested against the most renowned fencers of his day. His exploits were celebrated throughout Europe during the 1920s and 30s, when professional fencing contests were as popular as tennis is today. To not read "On Fencing" is to miss learning from a true master.

War and Society in the Eastern Mediterranean, 7Th-15th Centuries (Medieval Mediterranean, Vol 9); Yaacov Lev (Editor); Hardcover; $210.00

The Book of the Sword; Richard Francis Burton; Paperback; $8.95

The Celtic Sword; Radomir Pleiner, B.G. Scott; Hardcover; $99.00

Pattern Welded Blade; Hrisoulas; Hardcover; $31.50

The Book of the Crossbow; Ralph Payne-Gallwey; Paperback; $16.16

Crossbows; Roger Combs (Editor); Paperback; $14.35

Actors on Guard : A Practical Guide for the Use of the Rapier and Dagger for Stage and Screen; Dale Anthony Girard; Paperback; $48.75

The Duel : Its Rise and Fall in Early Modern France; Francois Billacois, Trista Selous (Translator); Hardcover; $35.00

Fight Direction for Stage and Screen; William Hobbs; Paperback; $14.35

Methods and Practice of Elizabethan Swordplay; Craig Turner, Tony Soper; Hardcover; $29.95

The Book of the Tournament; Brian Price; Hardcover; $21.95 (Special Order)