THE X TO XXII OF MEDIEVAL SWORDS
Ronald Ewart Oakeshott was born in 1916. His uncle, Jeffery Farnol, a writer of historical fiction who collected ancient weapons, inspired his early interest in swords. Oakeshott was lucky to live in a time when, even with a modest income, one could build up an impressive collection. However, he grew frustrated about the lack of information about his new possessions. So he set out to do it himself – greatly aided by his training as a commercial artist, which contributed to his careful, analytical eye. With other interested collectors, scholars, and curators, he established the Arms and Armour Society shortly after the Second World War.
To most people, Oakeshott’s name is now synonymous with the late medieval sword and, in particular, his pioneering…