Jeff Johnston has run into many battles with sword held high and a war cry bellowing deep from his lungs.

He's lived through the War of 1812, the Battle of Hastings and many others. Now he realizes that an adage as old as those battles might very well be true — the pen is mightier than the sword.

Jeff Johnston and Faye Randle, Johnston's fiancée and the editor of Living History Magazine. (Living History)

The Fairview, Alta., man has been a part of many historical re-enactments over the last decade, but is now turning his eye to the printed word.

While bringing history to life, he found that many re-enactors stumble when it comes to communication in the modern age.

To rectify this, Johnston, a computer technician by trade, is launching Living History Magazine this summer.

The magazine, to be edited by his fiancée Faye Randle, will provide re-enactors with articles about their hobby, written by people who participate.

Johnston also hopes that this magazine will work as a hub for re-enactment communities.

"There is really no communication between groups, they kind of keep to themselves," said Johnston.

"A lot of the skills and the things we are doing are the same. So the community as a whole could benefit from a magazine, and since no one was doing it, I decided to start one myself."

Johnston got his start in re-enactment about 10 years ago when he was living in Ontario. Johnston, a self-described history geek, was invited to a re-enactment by a friend.

The mock up of the cover of the first issue of Living History. (Living History)

He's never looked back. Well, more accurately, he never again looked forward.

When Johnston first moved to Alberta he didn't expect he'd find a re-enactment community, but was pleasantly surprised by the number of groups he found.

Now, knowing more about the province, Johnston said he's not shocked.

"It's an activity for the entire family, and Alberta is always for outdoor activities," he said.

"Most of the events are camping events. We use canvas tents and a lot of archaic camping technologies."

Johnston said "every field you could imagine represented in the re-enactment community."

He learned bookbinding from a lawyer in Pennsylvania, and was taught the ways of the sword from a metal worker in Ontario.

Johnston wants to tap into this deep well of people in the community to write and produce articles for the magazine. He wants the magazine to be as eclectic as its audience.

It will have features geared towards rookies, Do-It-Yourself guides, personal stories and regular columns.

"Basically anything of worth to history geeks like myself."