Need a good source on melee combat

Go to www.sca.org. The SCA specializes in the Middle Ages and does a lot of demos on melee combat. If they can't help you, I'm sure they could point you in the right direction. Or go to your local re-enactment group. They can point you in the right direction. Having an actual melee combat to see helps with visualizing it on paper.

Try looking at this page: http://www.schielhau.org/Sutor.main.html

It is a collection of medieval fencing manuals. BEWARE! In the middle ages, perspective drawing was unknown, so the drawings might not be 100% accurate. Also, they are written with some assumption that you have learned the basics already.

There is also http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/paradoxes.html 'the paradoxes of defense,' by George Silver. A fine work, but unillustrated.

efreysson said:

My low-tech fantasy writings feature a looot of armed (swords, axes, spears, knives, clubs) and unarmed melee violence, and I would like to get it as accurate as I can without having to buy twenty different manuals on the subject. Is there a book out there that's just an all-around coverage of medieval combat maneuvers? Preferably one with pictures?

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there's a nice section on Agincourt in

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Face_of_Battle

Though small these are, as far as I remember, full contact bouts using various weapons.

http://www.lancasters-armourie.co.uk/Videos/videos.htm

The company is also a top notch re-enactor armour and weapon maker!

I second the SCA advice. I was a member for a while and I can tell you, those people have done some serious research! They really knew their subject.

I'd say to contact the SCA and ask to speak to some of their fighters or all. There are chapters pretty much anywhere except Africa, Asia and South America so unless you live there, you could go talk to them in person. They are an all around nice bunch. Weird. But nice.

I learnt a lot about archery with them and I'll turn to my SCA friends any time I need more info for fantasy combat.