Craig Johnson. Photo taken at Opening Ceremonies, ISMAC 2005.

The International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention Biography Page for Craig Johnson Arms & Armor, Inc.

Craig Johnson is currently the Production Manager for Arms & Armor Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Working at A&A since 1986, he has been able to pursue his love of history and the pursuit of craftsmanship by producing high quality reproductions of weapons and armor. A&A specializes in the medieval and renaissance periods and has crafted items for customers the world over. This includes customers such as The Royal Armouries in Leeds and Stockholm, Hampton Court Palace, many Museums, and A&A has been designated the official weapons makers to the Globe Theatre, London. Craig is also Secretary of the Oakeshott Institute, a nonprofit education and research center with the purpose of furthering the study of ancient arms and armor and increasing access of this information to the public. This allows him to expand his research and continue his work as a professional educator, which was his calling prior to becoming an armorer. Craig’s duties include editing the Journal of the Oakeshott Institute and managing the educational and research endeavors. He is also on the Advisory Council for the Swordplay Symposium International (SSI). In these capacities Craig has delivered hundreds of lectures and presentations on the subjects relating to the middle ages. Mr. Johnson has practiced and taught the historical use and manufacture of European weapons and armor in many capacities since 1985. This has included work with historical martial arts and interpretation, stage combat, choreography, professional jousting and a variety of metalworking. He has worked as a consultant to many events and productions, both educational and commercial. The combination of hands on study of originals, accurate construction of reproductions and knowledge of their use in the historical context allows insight that is often missed by the academic treatises on medieval and renaissance matters of arms.