For centuries, the symbol of bravery and service for U.S. naval officers has been the sword. presented as badges of honor, surrendered as tokens of defeat, these beautiful yet deadly weapons survive today in tribute to such legendary heroes as John Paul Jones, Stephen Decatur, David Farragut and David Porter. They also serve as remonders of lesser-known officers who served gallantly yet are almost lost to the pages of history. In cooperation with the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, this exciting book not only shows you the swords and dirks that are out nation's naval heritage, but recounts the timeless deeds of honor that are forever tied to them.
Naval Swords and Dirks reflects the weapons that a naval officer and his men would have used to gain their fame and is written as a companion to both Boarders Away and Swords for Sea Service. The object is to provide a number of colour images for each of the 174 British, 21 French and 33 American hangers, cutlasses, officers' swords and dirks. Included are fine images of hilts, but also all makers' scabbard cartouches and details of blade design and marks. (1,750 plus colour images.) In addition, the text provides a lively commentary by a collector written for fellow collectors and curators which includes a detailed description of each piece and biographical information to the many provenanced swords. A Glossary and comprehensive Index are also provided. The two volume set is finely printed on long life paper, uses sewn binding and is housed in a fine slip case. The edition is limited to 750 boxed sets.
This new publication is intended to bring together a mass of research dealing with all aspects of British naval swords. Unlike the much sought after Swords of Sea Service by May and Annis, this work offers a far broader coverage and, for the first time, the complete story of swords and swordsmanship is presented in one concise volume. While the swords themselves are described the authors also tell the story of naval swordsmanship For exsample, subjects such as how swords and cutlasses were used in action and how training was conducted and covered. The authors also address how how the use of swords developed into a sport in the Navy, and how swords and swordsmanship may have entered naval symbology in such areas as ships' names. Many current myths are addressed and corrected, and the story is brought right up to date with information on the sport from 1948 to 2000. While the book concentrates on the Royal Navy, foreign weapons, including those of the Irish Naval Service, are mentioned where appropriate Other British Maritime organisations such as the Merchant Navy, the Customs and Coastguard Services, and the Reserves are also addressed The book also covers subjects such as dating, collecting, and conservation of swords and re-examines those swords attributed to Nelson. The Appendices include the first list of Swords of Peace awarded to naval units to be published. Recent research by the authors is also reflected in the updated lists of Patriotic Fund Awards, City of London Swords, and Naval fencing champions contained in the Appendicitises The comprehensive nature of the work has not been attempted before and the book will appeal to a wide range of naval enthusiasts and historians, collectors of weapons, fencers and re-enactors.
"A reference/historical guide to the ""collectable"" market of Japanese military swords. Subjects covered include rebellion swords, Army, Air Force and home-defence emergency-issue swords, civil officials' swords, detail on blades, swordsmiths and markings, and collecting."
DIVThe first book devoted exclusively to the subject, this invaluable volume will aid collectors, curators, historians. Enhanced with more than 400 illustrations from rare documents, the book classifies and describes all major types of swords worn by the U.S. armed forces, cadets, and diplomats since the American Revolution to the end of World War II. /div
This three volume set on Imperial German swords, daggers, and bayonets is a follow-up to the author's successful and highly acclaimed four-volume series on World War II German (2005), and his equally heralded three-volume series on World War II German swords (2006) - both sets from Schiffer Publishing. These new Imperial volumes are the result of many years of arduous research on both sides of the Atlantic with several dozen advanced Imperial blade collectors making contributions. Additionally, the author's long-term relationship with key personnel in the Solingen edged weapon industry opened numerous doors in the preparation of this invaluable reference series. No one can doubt the fact that the quality of the Imperial sidearms far surpasses their subsequent mass-produced Third Reich counterparts. The author was afforded complete access to two of the most advanced Imperial edged weapon collections in the United States and one in Germany. Whether you own a single Imperial German edged weapon or have a massive collection of these beautiful artifacts, this series of references will greatly expand your knowledge and appreciation of these unique sidearms and will prove to be a must for all German edged weapon aficionados.
While bookshelves groan with works on the capital ships of the German Third Reich, there is little in English devoted to their predecessors of the Second Reich, so this new book will fill a clear gap in its study of German cruisers of the period, from wooden-hulled corvettes, through the fusion of ‘overseas’ and ‘home’ vessels into the modern small cruisers that evolved and fought in the First World War. The book covers the full range of cruising vessels operated or ordered by the Imperial German Navy between 1871 and 1918, excluding the large cruisers, previously covered by the author’s companion volume The Kaiser’s Battlefleet. These include corvettes, avisos, sloops, torpedo cruisers, III- and IV-class cruisers and small cruisers, and are described and arranged in a chronological narrative. This includes both design and operational histories, the latter continuing down to the end of ships’ service after the fall of Imperial Germany, and it is accompanied by an extensive selection of many rare photographs. The ships’ technical details are tabulated in the second half of the book which also includes sketches of ships’ internal layouts and armour and changes in appearance over time. The authors have made extensive use of archival material, particularly relating to the political and technical background to design and procurement, and present a developmental history of this ship class which is unique in the English language. It will have huge appeal to all those with an interest in the German navy and to those who have been waiting avidly for the sequel to The Kaiser’s Battlefleet.
Finally, a thorough work on the swords worn by German naval officers and non-commissioned officers from 1806-1945. The authors, both experienced collectors, have extensively researched in archives and numerous public and private collections. Thus they can, among other things, correct statements about the legendary Frstenberg Swords, add new information on the various types, and also provide a list of the wearers of honorary swords from the days of the Imperial Navy, the Reichs- and Kriegsmarine. This impressive book includes more than 250 images showing the weapons and their wearers.
