The Skean

It is a truly excellent book, well done. I will make a longer and a shorter skean from the book and then make a film about them and the book… the book is already a wealth of information and detail. – Tod Todeschini, a replica arms manufacturer and YouTuberI just received The Skean the other day and I am GOBSMACKED! First off, I didn’t expect it so soon… Secondly, it is absolutely, positively AMAZING! I wish all such sources were so well done! This is the perfect fusion of info for academics, collectors, and living history cutlers. – Terry Bond, Historic Jamestown MuseumThis is an excellent in-depth introduction to a little known or explored historical fighting knife that remains elusive today…Whilst a very much in depth and academic approach to the Skean I found the book very easy to read. I would highly recommend this publication to edged weapons collectors, particularly those who have an interest in early knives and how they were employed from a military perspective. I hope that this publication may yet bring to light more original examples that have perhaps been incorrectly identified in the past. – Cathey Brimage Editor of Barrels and Blades and Secretary of the Heritage Arms Society

Robert Gresh is a lifelong student of Irish arms and armor. He has reviewed reserve collections in Ireland and correctly identified a skean in the possession of a prominent British collector, which was mislabeled as a Scottish dirk. He is the author of several other works on the military aspects of 16th century Ireland.