Greaves-Winston typology

Peter Dekker · 3rd April 2018, 09:20 AM

Thanks Nathaniel, very useful!

Bowditch on his website, last updated July 28, 2007;

"One significant change that has been made is the phasing out of the now-obsolete Greaves-Winston typing system. We have learned a lot since this was first developed, and we are able now to define types more appropriately along ethnic lines. "

But he continues "As noted, not all of the pages have been updated with the new typology"

I like to get a handle on the old and new typology and would be most interested in the primary sources that helped the typologies. There must be either:

1. Period accounts
2. Period drawings
3. Early photographs
4. Benchmark pieces with markings and/or sound provenance

Unfortunately, no list of these seems to have been left.

The Kachin type is mentioned in Egerton, 1880.

I quite like Bell's little paper which is a welcome oasis in the overall lack of sources. But he too only described local conditions for smiths and not so much the types of swords made.

3rd April 2018, 09:20 AM	#11
Peter Dekker Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kingdom of the Netherlands Posts: 63	Thanks Nathaniel, very useful! Bowditch on his website, last updated July 28, 2007; "One significant change that has been made is the phasing out of the now-obsolete Greaves-Winston typing system. We have learned a lot since this was first developed, and we are able now to define types more appropriately along ethnic lines. " But he continues "As noted, not all of the pages have been updated with the new typology" I like to get a handle on the old and new typology and would be most interested in the primary sources that helped the typologies. There must be either: 1. Period accounts 2. Period drawings 3. Early photographs 4. Benchmark pieces with markings and/or sound provenance Unfortunately, no list of these seems to have been left. The Kachin type is mentioned in Egerton, 1880. I quite like Bell's little paper which is a welcome oasis in the overall lack of sources. But he too only described local conditions for smiths and not so much the types of swords made.