Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. List of Illustrations vii
4. Acknowledgements xv
5. Foreword xvi
6. Preface xvii
7. List of Contributors xx
8. I Typology
9. 1 “What is the Riddle of Steel?”: Problems of Classification and Terminology in the Study of Late Medieval Swords 1
10. 2 Challenging Typologies: Swords in the Utrecht Psalter 12
11. 3 “… schirmen mit Federklingen”: Towards a Terminology of Fencing Swords (1400–1600) 24
12. II Metallurgy and Production
13. 4 Phosphoric Iron and Welded Patterns: The Reconstruction of an Early Medieval Sword from Beckum 41
14. 5 Material and Properties of VLFBERHT Swords 61
15. 6 A Sword from the Rhine: Restoration, Examination and Classification of a Chance Find 89
16. 7 The Highest Art of Smithery: Research on a Tyrolean Sword 102
17. III Symbolic Meaning and Cultural Perception
18. 8 The Battle for Glory: Form and Function of Early Nordic Bronze Age Swords 117
19. 9 The Iron Sword from the “Warrior’s Grave” in Lanuvium 131
20. 10 The Swords of the Italic Kings 143
21. 11 Three Treasures in One Blade: Thoughts on a Rare Form of the Japanese Sword 155
22. 12 “.j. veel feble fauchon dil anxien temps.” The Selection of the Falchion as Symbol of Tenure: Form, Function and Symbolism 167
23. 13 The Way of the Northmen: The Development of the Norman Sword from Duke Rollo in Normandy to Emperor Frederick II in Sicily from the Tenth to the Thirteenth Century 176
24. IV Fighting and Swordsmanship
25. 14 Researching Bronze Age Swordsmanship: Experiments and Wear Analysis 185
26. 15 Egenolff ’s Fight Book: Form and Thought, Then and Now 208
27. 16 A Sword for a System: The Pattern 1796 Light Cavalry Sword 216
28. Bibliography 236
29. Index of People 263
30. Index of Places 265
31. General Index 267