Sources
Which period sword-fighting manual should you read first?
We focus mainly on 18th century fencing but you could try reading one of the many 19th century manuals like Alfred Hutton’s 1889 Cold Steel or Robert Meikle’s 1859 Fencer’s Manual.
The 19th Century material is written with more modern English and teaches you important fencing lingo. After you have that covered you can move back in time to the fun stuff!
Angelo’s 1798 Art of defence on foot with the broad sword and sabre is a good intro to Broadsword, but some of the techniques have a “Sabre-ish” slant.
Angelo’s 1763 School of fencing is a good intro to Smallsword basics.
Starting with later texts and working backwards is an option but there isn’t any “right” way to study. The point is to enjoy yourself and learn a thing or two.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of British fencing manuals, just the ones we use to inform our practice.
Most of these documents are available in print or online as pdfs.
Broadsword and offhand devices
Thomas Mathewson A new treatise on the art of the scotch broadsword 1805
Henry Angelo The guards and lessons of the highland broadsword 1799
Charles Roworth The art of defence on foot with the broad sword and sabre 1798
Archibald McGregor Lecture on the art of defence 1791
Henry Angelo Hungarian and Highland Broad Sword 1790
Captain Sinclair Anti pugilism 1790
John Ferdinand The sword’s-man 1788
Andrew Lonnergan The fencer’s guide 1771
Domenico Angelo School of fencing 1763
John Godfrey A treatise upon the useful science of defence 1747
Thomas Page The use of the broad sword 1746
Captain James Miller A treatise on backsword, sword, buckler, sword and dagger, sword and great gauntlet, falchon, quarterstaff 1735
Donald McBane The expert swordsman’s companion 1728
Zach Wylde English master of defence 1711
Sir William Hope A new short and easy method of fencing (1st edition) 1707
Alexandre Valville Treatise on the contre-pointe Alexandre Valville 1817 (a French manual with a useful image “Guard of the Scottish Highlander” demoing the use of a targe)
Smallsword
John Ferdinand The Sword’s-man 1788
Anonymous A few Mathematical and Critical Remarks on the Sword 1781
Andrew Lonnergan The Fencer’s Guide 1771
Domenico Angelo School of Fencing 1763
Donald McBane The Expert Swordsman’s Companion 1728
Zach Wylde English Master of Defence 1711
Sir William Hope A New Short and Easy Method of Fencing (1st edition) 1707
Quarterstaff/Polearms
Archibald McGregor Lecture on the art of defence 1791
William Windham A Plan of Discipline, Composed for the Use of the Militia of the County of Norfolk 1760
Captain James Miller A Treatise on Backsword, Sword, Buckler, Sword and Dagger, Sword and Great Gauntlet, Falchon, Quarterstaff 1735
Donald McBane The Expert Swordsman’s Companion 1728
Zach Wylde English Master of Defence 1711
Joseph Swetnam The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence 1617
George Silver Brief Instructions upon Paradoxes of Defence ca. 1605
Bayonet
Anthony Gordon Treatise on the Science of Defence: For the Sword, Bayonet, and Pike in Close Action 1805
Archibald McGregor Lecture on the Art of Defence 1791
William Windham A Plan of Discipline, Composed for the Use of the Militia of the County of Norfolk 1760
Shillelagh
Allanson-Winn, Phillipps-Wolley. Broadsword and Singlestick with chapters on Quarterstaff, Bayonet, Shillalah, Walking-Stick, Umbrella and Other Weapons of Self Defence 1890
Donald Walker Defensive Exercises 1836