Manual of the baratero, or, The art of handling the navaja, the knife, and the scissors of the Gypsies

First published anonymously in 1849 in Madrid, Manual del Baratero has the distinction of being the oldest manual on the art of Spanish knife fighting ever published and is the only known historical text on the subject. The rare, often cited Spanish manual, whose original author was identified only by the initials M.d.R., has long been surrounded by an aura of mystery and intrigue among aficionados of the knife fighting arts. Now presented in both English and Spanish for the first time, this annotated translation provides a window to the methods of knife fighting practiced by the working class, the criminal class, and, in particular, the Gypsies in 19th century Spain. With original drawings supplemented by illustrations of the period by noted artists Jose Luis Pellicer and Gustave Dore, it offers a nostalgic glimpse into the ways in which armas blancas cortas, or small edged weapons, were used on the dark and grimy cobblestone streets of the Spanish underworld. Maestro de Armas Blancas Sevillanas James Loriega's meticulous translation preserves for posterity a significant component of Spain's historic martial culture to the non- Spanish-speaking world. Western martial arts aficionados, edged-weapons enthusiasts, and historians alike will derive new insights from Maestro Loriega's translation and interpretation of this long-lost manual. This is the oldest manual on Spanish knife fighting ever published and is the only know historical text on the subject.This annotated translation provides a window to the methods of knife fighting practiced by the working class, the criminal class and the Gypsies in 19th century Spain. With original drawings, it offers a revealing glimpse into the ways in which armas blancas cortas, or small edged weapons, were used on the dark and grimy cobblestone streets of the Spanish underworld.