Another heads-up: Kirill Rivkin" Arms and Armor of Caucasus"

rickystl · 24th January 2016, 04:30 PM

Thanks Charles.
Rick.

Jens Nordlunde · 25th January 2016, 09:20 PM

A friend of me has bought this book, and has asked me to post the text below.

'I would highly recommend the recently published 'Arms and Armor of Caucasus' by Kirill Rivkin. As you know, new solid academic approaches to our subject are few and far between and we seem to be infested with coffee table publications that simply lift off the same old presumptions we are desperate to steer away from. Rivkin's book approaches his field with a confident hand, and gently lays out the historical and martial side of the Caucasus (first two chapters) which leads to the weapons (chapter three) which dominates the majority of the book. This is not a catalogue, with flowery and meaningless descriptions - this is a true scholarly study of the weapons of the Caucasus and anyone that has an interest in arms from any region in the east will be able to find information here to use in conjunction to their own subject.
The print is good, and there are some impressive unpublished pieces of great importance. All in English but I wish I could read Russian so I can go through the goldmine of references in his bibliography.'

TVV · 25th January 2016, 10:50 PM

Ariel,

Is this book simply an English edition of Kirill's books in Russian from a few years ago?

Thank you,
Teodor

ariel · 28th January 2016, 08:53 PM

No.
Totally (!!!) different animal.

CharlesS · 8th February 2016, 01:08 PM

I finally got a chance to start this lovely book this past weekend, and now can agree with the high recommendations. It's scholarly, yet very readable, and loaded with info that will benefit the collector especially in differentiating the artistic and design styles of the various regions of the Caucasus.

I appreciated that the the book also notes, rather specifically, when styles and designs changed over the course of time, and when new ideas, blades types, and artistic styles were introduced to certain regions.

Mr. Rivkin even tackles the use of sword terms like "kilij" and "shamshir" which are debated regularly on this forum, and puts their use in historical perspective.

I have really enjoyed the work. It combines a very enjoyable text with scholarship and research and joins both with lovely pics. Mr. Rivkin, even goes so far as to humbly admit he is not the last word on the the topic and he may have even made mistakes. I find this modest approach to such a lovely volume very appealing.

My only complaint about the book is with its binding/cover which is made of a material that seems to be a fingerprint magnet to even the slightest touch.

Great work, and highly recommended even if, like myself, Caucasian arms are not your chief area of interest!

ariel · 9th February 2016, 12:44 PM

I am proud to have some of my examples featured there.

carlos · 9th February 2016, 03:24 PM

Is only avalaible to buy it in Amazom? anybody knows another place to buy it? with paypal, please. Thanks in advance
Best regards
carlos

8th February 2016, 01:08 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	I finally got a chance to start this lovely book this past weekend, and now can agree with the high recommendations. It's scholarly, yet very readable, and loaded with info that will benefit the collector especially in differentiating the artistic and design styles of the various regions of the Caucasus. I appreciated that the the book also notes, rather specifically, when styles and designs changed over the course of time, and when new ideas, blades types, and artistic styles were introduced to certain regions. Mr. Rivkin even tackles the use of sword terms like "kilij" and "shamshir" which are debated regularly on this forum, and puts their use in historical perspective. I have really enjoyed the work. It combines a very enjoyable text with scholarship and research and joins both with lovely pics. Mr. Rivkin, even goes so far as to humbly admit he is not the last word on the the topic and he may have even made mistakes. I find this modest approach to such a lovely volume very appealing. My only complaint about the book is with its binding/cover which is made of a material that seems to be a fingerprint magnet to even the slightest touch. Great work, and highly recommended even if, like myself, Caucasian arms are not your chief area of interest! Last edited by CharlesS; 9th February 2016 at 01:00 PM.

24th January 2016, 04:30 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	Thanks Charles. Rick.

25th January 2016, 09:20 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	A friend of me has bought this book, and has asked me to post the text below. 'I would highly recommend the recently published 'Arms and Armor of Caucasus' by Kirill Rivkin. As you know, new solid academic approaches to our subject are few and far between and we seem to be infested with coffee table publications that simply lift off the same old presumptions we are desperate to steer away from. Rivkin's book approaches his field with a confident hand, and gently lays out the historical and martial side of the Caucasus (first two chapters) which leads to the weapons (chapter three) which dominates the majority of the book. This is not a catalogue, with flowery and meaningless descriptions - this is a true scholarly study of the weapons of the Caucasus and anyone that has an interest in arms from any region in the east will be able to find information here to use in conjunction to their own subject. The print is good, and there are some impressive unpublished pieces of great importance. All in English but I wish I could read Russian so I can go through the goldmine of references in his bibliography.'

25th January 2016, 10:50 PM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,663	Ariel, Is this book simply an English edition of Kirill's books in Russian from a few years ago? Thank you, Teodor

28th January 2016, 08:53 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	No. Totally (!!!) different animal.

9th February 2016, 12:44 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I am proud to have some of my examples featured there.

9th February 2016, 03:24 PM	#7
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 751	Is only avalaible to buy it in Amazom? anybody knows another place to buy it? with paypal, please. Thanks in advance Best regards carlos