annieb123's Review of Italian Rapier Combat

by Ridolfo Capo Ferro

This beautifully-illustrated and detailed book presents one of the world's most influential fencing treatises. Capo Ferro was a legend in his own lifetime and his intricate and exact instructions were copied and emulated throughout a Europe bewitched by this Italian's grace and style. The manual, illustrated with 43 striking illustrations, gives a very real flavour of the panache of this expert in swordsmanship and mastery of that most lethal of weapons - the rapier. Ferro examines different kinds of swords, their component parts and their suitability, before going on to discuss their actual use. There he expounds his theory as to the timing and direction of thrusts, the essential distances and the need for complete control. He also looks at defensive measures, guards, parries, the need for quick footwork. Capo Ferro's text is a practical guide to fighting and one which builds on the theory to show exactly how a superior form of swordsmanship could be learned by Europe's elite. His illustrations clearly show the best methods and also show how a rapier could be lethally effective when used with a dagger or with a cloak.
Translated into English for the first time, and presented by fencing expert Jared Kirby, this handsome volume is not only attractive to look at its also a vital historical record. It is essential reading for any historical swordfighter, student of martial arts and student of military history as it allows the reader to access the knowledge of one of the masters of the art. The book is also sure to give the modern fencer new insights in technique and a greater appreciation of the history of this exciting sport.

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferro's 'grand Simulacro' is a reprint and translation of the original work from 1610 by Ridolfo Capo Ferro. This English translation edited by Jared Kirby was originally released in 2004. This reformat and re-release due out 30th Nov 2021 from Pen & Sword books on their Greenhill imprint is 148 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written more than 400 years ago, this is still a famous and classic work dedicated to the Italian rapier. The language has been updated to more modern vernacular and includes an updated glossary. The book includes a table of contents, but no index. The first part of the work covers general concepts, glossary, positions, and theory. The second part, containing the plates (see cover), show two dueling gentlemen in various stages of nudity, presumably to better show anatomy. Many of the plates are quite gruesome with rapiers & daggers sticking out of various body parts.

I feel quite certain that the book's value lies more in the historical importance, and unlike many modern treatises, will have limited practical use for actually *learning* rapier fencing to any meaningful degree. I was most fascinated by the facsimile plates showing the illustrations and bookplates from the original 1610 edition.

This would be a good selection for library acquisition, historical re-enactors (SCA and similar), and readers interested in historical armed combat. Many such extant Renaissance manuscripts have value also for costumers and historians, but the illustrations in this volume show nude or semi-nude combatants, so that isn't really applicable here. It might be of some interest for calligraphers and artists, but I would recommend looking at the content first, since the text makes up the largest portion.

Five stars for the historical value. Quite gruesome content, so sensitive readers should be aware of that and proceed accordingly.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Italian Rapier Combat

by Ridolfo Capo Ferro

Reviewed by annieb123 on Aug 28, 2021

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