Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters [Paperback]

Mark Rector (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2001

The Scottish Highlander has been romanticized in poetry, song and legend; immortalized in the figures of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Rob Roy. His reputation as a fierce fighter and deadly swordsman was much more than a myth - a proud tradition of Scottish fencing masters taught the use of the backsword, smallsword, target and dirk from the 17th through the 19th centuries. These masters were as colorful and diverse as the Scottish people themselves, from the upper-class "Anglicized," Sir William Hope, to the bawdy, soldier-turned-fencing master Donald McBane, who ran a fencing salon out of his wife's brothel. In this omnibus edition, Mark Rector presents two classic manuals of Scottish swordsmanship from the days of Culloden.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Rector is an actor, playwright, stage combatant and fight choreographer, as well as a student and practitioner of historical swordplay. He is the translator and editor of "Medieval Combat, Hans Talhoffer's Fechtbuch ('fight book') of 1467"

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Chivalry Bookshelf (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891448153
• ISBN-13: 978-1891448157
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Fencing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book!, June 20, 2002

By 

Anita Evangelista (Springfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters (Paperback)

Mark Rector has put together an interesting volume that serves both as a historical reference to old Scottish swordplay, and a guide to those individuals interested in the recreation of old styles of sword combat. Happily, it is also easy to read, and nicely illustrated. As the author of "THE ART AND SCIENCE OF FENCING," "THE INNER GAME OF FENCING," and "THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE SWORD," and the editor/publisher of "FENCERS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE," I recommend this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No WAY This Terrific Book Deserves Two Stars!!!, April 13, 2007

By 

Michael J. Elliott "Aspiring bard" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters (Paperback)

To help counterbalance the misleading review from October, 2005, this is a terrific book on swordsmanship. The costuming might not be completely accurate, but that's hardly the point of the book.

One would be hard-pressed to argue against the text of the manuals themselves, as they were written in period, at least one of them by a man (Donald MacBane) who had to rely repeatedly for his very life upon the skills set forth in the manual. The interpretations of the authors seem spot on with the text. Overall, I would say that this is an excellent introduction to the ways in which the basket-hilted broad- and backswords were actually used in mortal combat.

I hardly think the editors were unaware that a "Highlander" was a "Scottish Gael." The simple fact is that the manuals contained in this book were written by lowland scots, and the "Highland" in the title is used for marketing. If you own or are thinking of getting a baskethilt, chances are you've either already purchased or are planning to purchase the kilt to go with it; simply put, "Highlanders" sell nowadays (if you need help deciding what sort of kilt would be most appropriate, the review I've mentioned lists several good sources for info). "Lowland Swordsmanship" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

The fact that these were lowland scots also explains the quotes in scots sprinkled throughout the book. That these passages are in scots and not gaelic is hardly an "omission;" they're as gaelic as the authors of the period texts they're printed with. Which is to say, not at all.

To fault this book because it doesen't contain little snippets in the language most common to the geography of the title, or because the reenactors wear the wrong clothing, is as absurd as faulting a cookbook filled with good recipes because the china patterns in the pictures aren't right. Is it an accurate observation? Sure. But it has absolutely nothing to do with the purpose of the book. It's a book on swordsmanship, not linguistics or costuming, and as a book on swordsmanship, it's quite good.

"Highland Swordsmanship" is well worth both purchasing and studying, as is the sequel, "Highland Broadsword," and I hope there are more volumes by these folks in the works. I'd give it six stars if I could.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting resource for writers, October 12, 2003

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters (Paperback)

This books is a wonderful resource for writers or reinactors. It pays ode to the romanticising of Scottish fighters such as Rob Roy, Wallace, The Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie, but goes past these legendary images to show you the reasons for certain practices. It covers the basics of offence and defence,especially in the fencing techniques of the 17th through 19th centuries. I do wish I would have covered the medieval aspects of Highland swordsmanship: The Claymore. The movements for using the longest two handed sword is wonderful to see in action, so I had hoped this book would cover that.

Lots of diagrams and photos so the non fencer can follow precisely what they are demonstrating.

Very detailed in who did what in duels, the protocol and history.

All in all a very good work.