Cold Steel: The Art of Fencing with the Sabre (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor)

very systematic and efficient training method, a good reference for weapon training. Must read for all interested in weapon training

I recently purchased this book as an introduction to the saber. Having no swordsmanship experience or martial arts experience at all, I found it to be quite accessible with the exception of the expectation of knowledge of foil fencing. However, with a little effort it is not difficult to commit the guards and parries to memory and put them into use in a controlled manner. I'm not as interested in the later sections of the book, although they are worth reading.The "advanced lessons" provide a starting point for paired training, and should take some time to become proficient in as we learn and gather protective equipment. Granted, we have no coaching to help us develop good form, but the straightforward methods in the book provide a good baseline to work from. I'll certainly get Hutton's other books over time, if only to gain a better understanding of one of the first "historical fencers."

This book is a straight forward manual on training to use a saber. That means there is little to no historical stories and no nice chit chat on the personal belief of the author. From the first chapter we are thrown straight into grip of the saber to the guards and to the basic cuts.A saber fencer should have no problem understanding and picking up many techniques and exercises that is given. A Foil or Epee fencer should be able to quickly pick up much of what is written and learn much of saber techniques. A non-fencer might have trouble remembering all the numbers attached to the cuts and parries, but the book has good illustrations and the writing explains things well enough for even a beginner to pick up quite a bit from this book. (although it'll be hard to tell whether you are applying the techniques correctly without a properly trained fencer to fence against you)

I fenced a bit in college. Although I was never particularly good, it was fun and helped foster a life-long interest in history. This is one of those books which brings history alive because the author was writing to his contemporaries about the subject which was his passion. Moreover, the author is himself a student of history and presents his understanding of fencing in a historical context which illustrates how important the art was to gentlemen for a period of centuries. There are probably better modern books to read if you want to learn fencing as it is practiced today (just for fun), but if you want to understand the evolution of fencing, you could do a lot worse than this book.PS - the author's sketches are a treat in their own right.

I am new to the fencing scene, and I just wanted to explore the subject before diving in. This book although dated in language (you get used to it), is easy to read and understand for the most part. There are various sections and exercises for training your skills in the use of the saber. Alfred Hutton mixes the best of the "schools" of his day to produce a practical and easy to learn sword manual. The 'plate' pictures used to show some of the techniques are harder to decipher and understand then the newer looking drawings of Hutton with the sabre, but you get the point with the text. Don't expect support for your pursuit of mastering swordsmanship from people these days, but if your interested in late 1800 sabre training then Hutton's book is a good deal.

"Cold Steel: The Art of Fencing with the Sabre" was originally published by Alfred Hutton in 1889. The book is a classic instruction manual in the use of the saber in one's defense. There are several illustrations showing proper guards, defense and use of the saber.In addition to discussion of the use of the saber, "Cold Steel" also discusses:>The Game of the Sword (The Fencing Sword)>Saber Against Bayonet>The Saber Opposed to the French Sword>The Great Stick (The 5-foot Stick)>The Constable's Truncheon>The Short Sword-Bayonet or DaggerFor anyone interested in the Western / European martial sciences, "Cold Steel" is recommended reading. For those interested in developing skills with sword, stick, and dagger, "Cold Steel" is a must. Written at a time when men relied on these weapons for their personal defense, "Cold Steel" offers excellent instruction for one's defense.Highly Recommended!

It's written in an old style, where words are used less for terminology then for communication purposes. I've been combinging it with a lot of other martial sword books, and let me state, you've got to put a lot of effort into understanding what is ment, you can't just follow it like a 1980's karate manual (not that those where very good)If you've already had some real life study in fencing, then pick this up, but if you're a newb, start with something more recent. Martial arts are complicated enough without sifting through flowery speech.

Well written and with reasonably useful illustrations. I also enjoyed the additional sections near the back on single stick and bayonet. One note is that the author assumes that the reader is already familiar with foil so, if you are not, I would recommend reading a bit on the basics of foil (guards and attacks) first. The prose has a good flow and focuses on the practical needs of a gentleman of the time...a time when "gentleman" meant "a rough and capable man who prefers education and civility when possible".

The book is a sum of all the basics you need to know on saber fencing. Actually the book is in part a ground work for later sport fencing rules and principles. Alfred Hutton is for me a real scholar warrior.

Tous les ouvrages (anglais) de cet auteur sont intéressants.

Estupendo libro, estoy encantado

Sehr interessant. Sehr gut und Komplett. Ist aber ohne Fechtvorkenntnisse, vorallem im Saebelfechten nichts, da der autor davon ausgeht das der Leser eine GEwisse Fechterfahrung hat.

Hutton veröffentlichte mit diesem Büchlein seine Säbelschule, die jedoch über simpelste Grundübungen, noch dazu in hohem Maße mit Elementen des Stoßfechtens vermischt, nicht hinaus geht.Für die Geschichte des frühen Sportfechtens in Großbritannien sicherlich als Randerscheinung von Interesse, aber von allenfalls geringem praktischen Wert.Für die Praxis des Säbelfechtens des 19. Jahrhunderts gibt es wesentlich aufschlussreichere Werke, zudem ist gerade der deutsche Sabrist, wie auch der schweizer und österreichische, in der vorteilhaften Lage, dass die deutsche Hiebfechtschule des 19. Jahrhunderts nach wie vor in ungebrochener Tradition vorhanden ist und bei seriösen Fechtmeistern erlernt werden kann.Fazit: wer historisches Säbelfechten erlernen möchte, ist mit dem Huttonbüchlein schlecht beraten. Für die Geschichte des Fechtens in Great Britain ist das Büchlein eine nicht uninteressante Randnotiz.****Anmerkung aufgrund von Nachfragen: als sinnvolles Buch zum Thema "deutsches Hiebfechten" empfehle ich die Schrift von Meister L.C. Roux "Die Hiebfechtkunst: Eine Anleitung zum Lehren und Erlernen des Hiebfechtens aus der verhangenen und steilen Auslage". Das Werk ist von 1885 (Jena) und wird seither immer wieder neu aufgelegt. Außerdem von Meister F. Schulze "Die Säbelfechtkunst: eine gründliche Anleitung zum Rechts- und Linksfechten", erstmals erschienen 1889 (Heidelberg).