No comments about Gun Propulsion Technology (Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics).

No comments about Gun Digest, 1990: 44th Annual Edition.

5 comments about Italian Rapier Combat: Ridolfo Capo Ferro.

1. Okay, I agree with the others who rave about Capo Ferro. And yes, translating anything out of another language is difficult, and even more so when it was written 400 years ago.
   
   I have used both this (Kirby) translation and the Swanger\Wilson translation. I find the S\W translation to much more usable. The Kirby translation seems to have been done with the goal of impressing academics and NOT with the goal of being readable and usable by non-academic fencers. (by non-academic I mean "not a researcher")
   
   It is very difficult to follow for one simple reason. And that is because the Kirby translation leaves almost all key terms in Italian. Even if there is a perfectly equivalent English term, Kirby left it in Italian. By comparison, S\W tranlated all but a few key terms.
   
   I cannot cite a specific example, because I don't have it anymore. But imagine reading a book, and every few words there's a foreign word stuck in. And even though you know what that word means, it still stops you cold. It's the mental equivalent of going for a run and having to stop every 20 feet to tie your shoes. The solution? Use different shoes.
   
   So I wonder, what is the point of translating something if you are going to leave every 7th word in the original language?
   
   On the positive side, the pictures are very very clear, and big. Mind you, you can't do the techniques without the pictures. There are a few of them which in the S\W tranlation can't be made out as to whether someone is striking above or below the sword, or in 2nd or 4th. But the Kirby pictures can clear that right up.
   
   So to sum up:
   
   Translation bad, unless you like memorizing new words that you don't know how to pronounce.
   
   Pictures good, very clear (this is important).
   
   I recommend having one Kirby book for every rapier GROUP so that you have good clear illustrations. And then use the Swanger/Wilson tranlation for learning the techniques.
   
   I am sure that a bunch of the other historical fencers are going to lambaste me for daring to criticize a translation of a fencing master. But I found this book so difficult to use, I sold it after only two weeks.



2. Some will know Capo Ferro as a throw away reference in the cult fencing favorite; the duel between the Inigo Montoyo and the man in black atop the cliffs of insanity in "The Princess Bride".
   
   In fact, Ridolfo Capo Ferro was considered one of the great fencers of the 17th Century and his methods are considered foundational even in clasical fencing schools of today. His forms and strategies can give studied depth to the most experienced combat fencer.
   
   This book contains the original artwork, pen and ink illustrations that are gracious and clear. That alone makes the book worth collecting.
   
   All that said, this is not lightweight work in either form or concepts. It will take some work to read and apply the concepts, with many referals to the glossary as some terms are left in the original italian.
   
   I can see this in the library of two kinds people; Those who simply want to enjoy the historical value of well illustrated 17th century reference, those who wish to add some of the time tested wisdom of the ages to their martial art.



3. Writing in 1610, Ridolfo Capoferro immortalizes the prevalent swordsmanship style of Italy - the style we now call "rapier" - by presenting both the underlying theory and practical advice. Historically, this remains one of the most important and oft-quoted books on the subject, so much so that in the 19th Century early Renaissance-fencing revivalists celebrated it as one of the absolute pinnacles of European martial writing (see Egerton Castle, Jacopo Gelli).
   
   The book is divided into two main sections: the "art" and the "use" of the sword. In the first part, the author distills fencing down to a rock-solid set of essential rules, some of which are planted in the Aristotelian tradition of physics. Anyone thinking that European martial arts are brutally pragmatic compared to their Asian counterparts will be pleasantly surprised by Capoferro's philosophical approach to such aspects as time and space.
   
   The second part describes the practical side of fencing, which is founded on the rules enumerated in the previous section. Capoferro starts by giving some important definitions and practical advice on such topics as walking, attacking, parrying, controlling the opponent's blade, etc. Then, he presents illustrations of six guards and a very detailed picture of the lunge, along with letters and lines showing the geometric relation between the different body-parts. From here, Capoferro presents and illustrates a number of different practical scenarios that lead to one of the two fencers scoring a hit - and he intersperses some further commentary on important actions. Besides the main weapon (the sword), left-hand companion weapons get their share of the author's attention - dagger, cloak and even a large round shield called "rotella."
   
   The illustrations are among the most striking and artistic in the history of fencing (the one on the cover is a good representation of what is in the book).
   
   This first English edition of Capoferro is beautifully put together, with the illustrations reproduced cleanly and accurately. The translator has done a very good job maintaining a parallel structure between the original and the translation as far as page numbers, paragraphs, etc. Many of the technical Italian terms have been left untranslated, but a glossary is provided to understand them.
   
   If you are even remotely interested in European martial arts, dueling or swordsmanship in general, this book is a must-have. If you are a student of the rapier, you will learn more good theory and fencing repertoire than you can imagine - in spite of its age, Capoferro's instruction is very clear and easy to follow.



4. Having researched and practiced historical fencing for more than a decade, I can appreciate the hard work and challenge the transcription, translation and interpretation of ancient language pertaining to the historical fighting arts can be. Mr. Kirby has done an exemplary job of making such material available to everyone studying these fighting arts. Along with the scholastic contributions by modern day fencing masters, Maestro Ramon Martinez and Maestro Jeanette Acosta-Martinez, a serious practitioner of this fighting art would be diminished without this particular publication in their library.
   
   Ridolfo Capo Ferro, master of the Italian rapier, whose work is based on over 200 years of Italian fencing tradition, published the original treatise in 1610, almost exactly 200 years after the first known Italian fencing treatise by the great fencing master, Fiore dei Liberi, presents to the practioner, access to the foundations of fencing so difficult to extract from historical treatises. This publication now unlocks the original treatise and makes available to every practitioner the eloquent nature and elements of Italian rapier fencing. A recommended publication that includes the 43 beautiful illustrations from the original treatise, along with the translations of the text offering the student, both visual and textual information which will enhance and refine their own technique and understanding of this art.
   
   David M. Cvet
   Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts



5. The translation is straightforward, retaining the original terms, and the original artwork is some of the best, leaving little room for error and omitting any dubious modern interpretation or commentary by any self proclaimed masters.
   It is also a good work for beginning students of the rapier. Master Capo Ferro includes his basic guards and stances, and explanation of many basic concepts. The techniques are also viciously effective and economical, and well described. Many of the plates include a grid on the floor for even more exact interpretation of the techniques. Definitely a must have for anyone interested in this deadly and inovative western weapon.

No comments about The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Handgun Drawings.

1 comments about Knifemakers Of Old San Francisco.

1. I REALLY liked this book.....If you are into history AND knives then this is THE book for you!!..It has tons of pictures and illustrations....Well organized....It delves into the economic situation of SF during the period (very fascinating stuff).... A lot of the info is from primary sources which is always good....It tells the story of the California Bowie and the industry surrounding it...The author is well known as THE KNIFE EXPERT so you know the book is legit...This book is a must have for any serious antique knife collector....Oh...and if anyone knows anything about the "schoolboy toad stickers" let me know!!.....I would like to get a hold of one for my collection ;)

No comments about Home Gunsmithing the Colt Single Action Revolvers.

1 comments about Modern Guns Identification & Values: Identification & Values (12th ed).

1. I suspect that this book was very good - once upon a time. And therein lies the problem. It appears that the authors have not adequately updated the book, or, simply did a very poor job with the minor updating they did attempt.

   The book does have pictures of almost every gun it identifies, which is not true of most other similar type books.

   If you have expectations that your reference book should be reliable and current, then save your money and buy "Bluebook of Gun Values" or a similar book from Amazon.com

2 comments about Thoughts on the Kentucky rifle in its golden age (Longrifle series).

1. The Kindig book is a classic for those people who are interested in firearms of the muzzle loading period. The book is has well detailed photographs. These are very important for those people researching muzzle loading firearms with an eye towards building their own. They give the builder a reference from which to base appointments that are appropriate to the school and age period of the firearm. If you are starting a "builders" library this is one of the books to have.




2. Joe Kindig's _Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle_ is a major work, cataloguing as it does the exhaustive Kindig longrifle collection. Even now, thirty seven years after its initial publication, no other work in the field (with the possible exception of George Shumway's _Rifles of Colonial America_, in two volumes,) comes close to its breadth of analysis, or to the sheer number of splendid arms shown in fine B&W illustrations. Each of the several 18th century Pennsylvania gunmaking schools is anlayzed individually, with several rifles from that school presented and discussed.

   The text is far from dry and analytical, however. It is alive with humor and anecdotes, and apart from being top-notch research (or very educated opinion where the facts are unknown as yet), is a joy to read in its own right.

   Most likely the book will be bought for its illustrations, though, for as interesting as the text is, the book is splitting at the seams with hundreds of crisp black and white photogtraphs from the late Mr. Kindig's landmark rifle collection which he assembled over his long life. Virtually every phase of metamorphosis in the fascinating development of the American longrifle is shown in close detail, with textual analysis of each rifle answering questions and asking new ones as well.

   It is difficult to imagine delving into this field of study and not owning _Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle_. It is a vivid portrait of one of the great American artforms, and of a collection that may never again be altogether in the same place under the same owner, especially one as affectionate toward its subject as Joe Kindig.

No comments about U.S. military arms: Dates of manufacture.

No comments about Colt Peacemaker-Yearly Variations.