Tag Archives: French

Danet on the Demi-Volte

Posted on May 27, 2021 by S

“In smallsword, the volte is a movement that is an evasive action—that is, an esquive—that sidesteps an attack while simultaneously thrusting into the opponent. When one executes this advanced move, one is simultaneously attacking and defending at the same time. … Continue reading →

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Danet’s Art of Arms

Posted on May 15, 2021 by S

Phil Crawley, Provost with the Black Boar Swordsmanship School and administrator with the Smallsword Symposium, has released a new English translation of Danet’s 1766 treatise, the Art of Arms (vol I). Crawley’s translation is dedicated to memory of Victor Markland … Continue reading →

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Louis XIV French Classic Smallsword

Posted on March 3, 2018 by S

This early French smallsword (ca. 1655 C.E.) has few parallels.  Its style reflects early French Classicism from the reign of Louis XIV, and was likely made in Paris.  Its hilt features ornate foliage and figure motifs executed in gold inlay, … Continue reading →

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Plate from Liancour, 1686, pg 25

Posted on February 25, 2018 by S

Examine Liancour’s 1685 manuscript by downloading a pdf (in French) on our Study Page.

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Angelo’s Plates I-XV from Escrime in the Encyclopédie, 1765

Posted on February 17, 2018 by S

Domenico Angelo rocked the fencing world.  He was an Italian trained in France, appointed as Royal Fencing Instructor by George II where trained the future King, George III, in escrime.  In 1763, working with artist Gwyn Delin, he published L’Ecole … Continue reading →

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Crawley’s Five A’s of French Fencing

Posted on September 23, 2017 by S

Phil Crawley, Provost with the Black Boar Swordsmanship School and administrator with the Smallsword Symposium, has gleaned these 5 themes of French fencing from a number of 18th and 19th Century texts.  They are presented here with his permission, and … Continue reading →

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New de La Touche Translation Forthcoming

Posted on October 17, 2015 by S

Reinier van Noort has just announced a forthcoming translation of de La Touche’s seminal work, The True Art of the Single Sword (1670). Combined with plates reworked by Todd Glenn, this translation should be of great interest to enthusiasts of the … Continue reading →

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Monsieur de La Touche

Posted on October 7, 2015 by S

Monsieur de La Touche was a 17th Century French Master. He played in integral role in the process of standardizing fencing terms and in establishing a codified method of fencing instruction.  The plate above is from his 1670  Les Vrays … Continue reading →

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French Small-sword exhibition, Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martinez & Instructor Cecil Longino

Posted on October 3, 2015 by S

French Small-sword exhibition assault, Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martinez and Instructor Cecil Longino. Combat Con, Las Vegas, Nevada USA, June 2011

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