Ewart Oakeshott, 86, a leading
authority on European arms and armour, died last month. He loved handling
swords, says The Daily Telegraph in his obituary, and was involved in historical
re-enactments of battle scenes. He contended that the lack of significant
"edge damage" on surviving medieval swords indicated that, contrary to
the Hollywood myth, the weapons were rarely used to parry blows from other
swords. The medieval "cut and thrust" swordsman, he suggested, would not
have parried at all if he could help it; if he had not landed his blow
first, he would have got out of the way or turned so that his opponent's
blow glanced off his armour or helmet. "We are talking about fighting here,
not putting on a play show," he would observe.
swords, says The Daily Telegraph in his obituary, and was involved in historical
re-enactments of battle scenes. He contended that the lack of significant
"edge damage" on surviving medieval swords indicated that, contrary to
the Hollywood myth, the weapons were rarely used to parry blows from other
swords. The medieval "cut and thrust" swordsman, he suggested, would not
have parried at all if he could help it; if he had not landed his blow
first, he would have got out of the way or turned so that his opponent's
blow glanced off his armour or helmet. "We are talking about fighting here,
not putting on a play show," he would observe.
Globe and Mail - Friday, October 18, 2002 - Page A22: Social Studies: Boosting the military
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