Blade weapons. Story. Design. The art of ownership

The history of the evolution of the blade weapons used by the fencers is the story of a huge family of its varieties, including Khopeshi, Xifos, Mahaira, Copies, Falcates, Gladiuses, Spaty, Palais, Fakes, one and a half -handed and two -handed swords, Messers, Dussaks, Bockens, Rapira, Estos , daggers, swords, as well as parts of armor. In a certain sense, swords (collective concept) are works of art, and the book presents their best samples. Authoritative Western expert Mike Loads puts a story about these samples in a wide historical context, highlighting the main milestones of the history of wars and duels. In all its formidable beauty, we are faced with Egyptian, Greek, Celtic and Roman swords, swords of the peoples of the north and crusaders, duel weapons, swords of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, King of the Eastern Angls of Redvald, King of England Henry V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Maximilian I, Samurai Cansin , King of France Henry IV, Lord Protector of England Oliver Cromwell, the first US President George Washington and, finally, weapons of the Battle of Waterloo and the Civil War in the United States. An integral feature of the narrative is information about the process of manufacturing swords and technical progress, about the evolution of the art of fencing, about changing styles and techniques, about the spheres of using swords (combat, mourning, ceremonial, swords for execution and others), about the symbolic significance of the sword. The publication is equipped with many luxurious color and black and white illustrations, many of which are published for the first time, glossary and pointer and will undoubtedly interest everyone who is passionate about the history of weapons and fencing