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

ariel · 19th January 2016, 04:02 AM

It is on Amazon already.
The only one book on this topic in English. Miller's Danish book on Hermitage collection is not about weapons: it is about the Hermitage.

$85. 325 pages of superb illustrations, detailed description of military traditions, development, dating, attribution.

Examples from private collections and world-class museums.

I do not even approach Kirill's level of knowledge, so besides finding a couple of typos I cannot critique and argue. There are some great people on Russian Fora and a few knowledgeable people in large museums. I am expecting their comments to learn new things.

Meanwhile, it was a pure pleasure to read it.

Strongly recommend.

P.S. I miss Kirill on this Forum very much.

rickystl · 23rd January 2016, 05:44 PM

Is there a section on firearms in the book? Thanks, Rick.

CharlesS · 23rd January 2016, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Is there a section on firearms in the book? Thanks, Rick.

I just got my copy yesterday, and it is quite an impressive volume. This book, along with Robert Elgood's Arms & Armour at the Jaipur Court:The Royal Collection and Tim Roger's An Annotated Bibliography of Indonesian, Filipino & Malay Edged Weapons, has made it a very good year for ethnographic publications.

Rivkin's book does look at firearms, but the emphasis is on blades.

Jim McDougall · 24th January 2016, 07:05 AM

I have been looking forward to this book, and glad to see it has finally become available. Mr. Rivkin in my view has considerable knowledge on this subject, and I have no doubt that will be reflected in this volume, which has long been needed. It is indeed regrettable he left here years ago, as his entries were always outstanding.

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

Jeff D · 9th February 2016, 06:12 PM

Hi carlos,

Amazon would not allow it to be shipped to Canada, so I contacted Kirill through their contact seller function.

Jeff

Jens Nordlunde · 9th February 2016, 06:16 PM

Hi Jeff,
Nice to see that you are still there:-):-)
Jens

Jeff D · 9th February 2016, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Hi Jeff,
Nice to see that you are still there:-):-)
Jens

Ha, Ha. I never really left, life just kept getting in the way.

Jeff

carlos · 9th February 2016, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff D

Hi carlos,

Amazon would not allow it to be shipped to Canada, so I contacted Kirill through their contact seller function.

Jeff

thank you very much !!, I will look for his email.
if someone have it please tell me.
thanks in advance
carlos

Jim McDougall · 9th February 2016, 08:32 PM

Hey Jeff!!!
Man it HAS been a long time!!!

Hope all is well up there!!

ariel · 10th February 2016, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos

thank you very much !!, I will look for his email.
if someone have it please tell me.
thanks in advance
carlos

Here it is:

sales@historyswords.com

Enjoy the book!

Jeff D · 10th February 2016, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Hey Jeff!!!
Man it HAS been a long time!!!

Hope all is well up there!!

Hi Jim,
I guess it has been awhile

. Things are great here, will be a little better when Kirill's book arrives.

Take care
Jeff

carlos · 10th February 2016, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Here it is:

sales@historyswords.com

Enjoy the book!

Thank you very much !!!

19th January 2016, 04:02 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Another heads-up: Kirill Rivkin" Arms and Armor of Caucasus" It is on Amazon already. The only one book on this topic in English. Miller's Danish book on Hermitage collection is not about weapons: it is about the Hermitage. $85. 325 pages of superb illustrations, detailed description of military traditions, development, dating, attribution. Examples from private collections and world-class museums. I do not even approach Kirill's level of knowledge, so besides finding a couple of typos I cannot critique and argue. There are some great people on Russian Fora and a few knowledgeable people in large museums. I am expecting their comments to learn new things. Meanwhile, it was a pure pleasure to read it. Strongly recommend. P.S. I miss Kirill on this Forum very much.

8th February 2016, 01:08 PM	#9
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	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.

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23rd January 2016, 05:44 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Is there a section on firearms in the book? Thanks, Rick.

24th January 2016, 07:05 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,940	I have been looking forward to this book, and glad to see it has finally become available. Mr. Rivkin in my view has considerable knowledge on this subject, and I have no doubt that will be reflected in this volume, which has long been needed. It is indeed regrettable he left here years ago, as his entries were always outstanding.

24th January 2016, 04:30 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Thanks Charles. Rick.

25th January 2016, 09:20 PM	#6
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	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	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	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	No. Totally (!!!) different animal.

9th February 2016, 12:44 PM	#10
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	#11
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Is only avalaible to buy it in Amazom? anybody knows another place to buy it? with paypal, please. Thanks in advance Best regards carlos

9th February 2016, 06:12 PM	#12
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi carlos, Amazon would not allow it to be shipped to Canada, so I contacted Kirill through their contact seller function. Jeff

9th February 2016, 06:16 PM	#13
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Jeff, Nice to see that you are still there:-):-) Jens

9th February 2016, 08:32 PM	#16
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,940	Hey Jeff!!! Man it HAS been a long time!!! Hope all is well up there!!