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

ariel · 19th January 2016, 05:02 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, 06:44 PM

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

CharlesS · 23rd January 2016, 10:59 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, 08:05 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, 05:30 PM

Thanks Charles.
Rick.

Jens Nordlunde · 25th January 2016, 10:20 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.'

19th January 2016, 05:02 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.

23rd January 2016, 06:44 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, 08:05 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	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, 05:30 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Thanks Charles. Rick.

25th January 2016, 10:20 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.'