Swords and Hilt Weapons Hardcover – February 5, 2013

If you have an interest in swords, this is a well illustrated volume, with chapters arrranged in chronological order, beginning with flint, copper, & bronze weapons. Each chapter is written by a knowledgable authority. It is quite readable & interesting.

Overall a well produced book. The well illustrated essays by the various expert writers provided variety and uniformity at the same time. The inclusion of so many illustrations of rarely seen swords, rather than the stock photographs so frequently encountered, was a welcome change. While not a book for the serious specialist or collector, it nevertheless provides much more specialist information than many in the genre. My only criticism is the disjointed captioning of the illustrations, which can be a bit confusing at times. Also, it would have been a pleasure if some of the more rarely seen items could have been shown in larger photographs, considering the very large format of the publication. As this was a purchase made on a whim, I cannot complain and I am enjoying the read.