Highland Broadsword: Five Manuals of Scottish Regimental Swordsmanship [Paperback]

Paul Wagner (Editor), Mark Rector (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2004

The basket-hilted Scottish "broadsword" or Claymore has long been a symbol for Scottish independence and the fierce regard in which Scots warriors are still held. While the rest of Europe emphasized the use of smaller, lighter swords or curved cavalry models, the Scottish weapon retained its medieval flavor. Veteren swordsmen and accomplished authors Paul Wagner and Mark Rector present five key treatises that offer a wealth of advice for fighting with both the basket-hilted broadsword and the single stick -- an ash or rattan stick mounted in a wicker or leather basket-hilt, used both for training and as a weapon in its own right. Included are complete transcriptions of:"Anti-Pugilism" by Sinclair, illustrated with copper plate engravings; MacGregor's "Lectures on the Art of Defence;" "The Art of Defence on Foot with Broadsword and Saber" by Taylor; "Fencing Familiarized" by Mathewson; and Henry Angelo's "On the Use of the Broadsword," rendered in full color.These texts contain useful exercises for historical swordsmen of any background. In addition, Paul Wagner provides a full introduction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Chivalry Bookshelf (July 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891448218
• ISBN-13: 978-1891448218
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,125,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Five important works on swordsmanship, April 24, 2005

By 

Stephen Hand (Hobart, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highland Broadsword: Five Manuals of Scottish Regimental Swordsmanship (Paperback)

If you want to learn how to use a basket hilted broadsword, buy this book.

At the core of this book are the five treatises, teaching and discussing the use of the basket hilted broadsword. What we know of the use of this weapon is mostly English, due to the thoroughness of their suppression of Scottish martial culture after 1745. However, even if Scots regiments went into battle using their swords in an English manner, that does not detract from the weapon and the systems documented here. Collected together here are five of the most important and influential works on the basket hilted broadsword. These teach systems that are similar enough that you can learn them all, each one having a slightly different take on the use of the weapon, but utilising the same fundamental principles.

Also in the book are essays on the Highland regiments and on their fencing, together with excellent photos of swords from a very fine private collection. Paul gets a trifle carried away in the first essay, ascribing every English success at arms to the Scots and their wonderful charge. This is despite the 'two volleys and in with the bayonet' being recorded among English troops as early as the English Civil War (except that it was clubbed muskets, not bayonets back then) and was used by Wellington himself as Colonel of the 33rd Foot before he gained command of Highland troops. By the end of it I was waiting to hear that the Scots Regiments invented sliced bread and manned space flight in between their important work rescuing puppies and reading to blind orphans.

Still, all the essays contain great information, and an author is entitled to have an opinion, even if Paul's are usually strong. The treatises are the centrepiece of this work, and are why you'd buy it. The instructions on how to use an 18th/19th century basket hilted sword (or a sabre for that matter)are clear and unambiguous. The system is relatively easy to learn and is very effective.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scottish Swordsmanship, February 14, 2007

By 

Kilroy "I'm still here" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Highland Broadsword: Five Manuals of Scottish Regimental Swordsmanship (Paperback)

This is a very good book with five manuals on Scottish Swordsmanship, written in the times when Napoleon was a threat to Britain's survival.
The sword fighting system is simple, easy to teach or to learn, natural, and very effective. Whenever I want to get someone interested in Western Swordsmanship, this is the first system I teach them. The rudiments of it can be taught or learned in a day, and the entire system can be learned in a few months.
The book has only two flaws. The first is that there is a lack of good photographs. Until I found the pictures on page 125, I could not make head nor tail of the system, but after finding them, it was easy to learn.
The second flaw is, as Mr. Hand stated, the overrating of the effectiveness of the Scottish Regiments. However, this has nothing to do with the effectiveness or validity of the system.

1 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Purchases, December 25, 2007

By 

Lois R. Rolston (Temple, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Highland Broadsword: Five Manuals of Scottish Regimental Swordsmanship (Paperback)

My son loves books of all kinds. This is a great addition to his collection. He chooses the titles and I purchase. The service is great and pain free. I had most of his Christmas gifts well in advance of the crowds so I could just relax and not go to the stores. Yeah!