This comprehensive boxed set offers two authoritative encyclopedias on sharp-edged weapons through history and around the world. The first section of each book is a fascinating overview of edged weapons, from the pole arms and ballock daggers of medieval Europe, and the cavalry sabers of the 17th century to the swords of the Russian Empire and classic commando knives of World War II. The second sections offer complete visual directories, featuring each weapon's capabilities and individual specification.With over 1500 illustrations, this is essential reading for everybody interested in the history of military conflicts and sharp weapons.

In 1827, James Bowie carved his way into American history at the Sandbar Fight, and soon every fighting man of the South and West had to have a knife like his. The bowie knife could cut like a razor, chop like a cleaver, and stab like a sword, and many considered it deadlier than a pistol at close range. So great was the dread it inspired that by 1838 it was banned in several states—a ban that did little to stanch the flow of blood. Bowie's story is well known, but what of the other cutters and stabbers of his day? Gunfighters have long been celebrated, but those who fought with the bowie knife have been largely ignored—until now. Unearthing accounts from memoirs, court records, regional histories, and newspaper archives, Paul Kirchner, author of the Paladin bestsellers The Deadliest Men and More of the Deadliest Men Who Ever Lived , presents their stories for the first time in Bowie Knife Fights, Fighters, and Fighting Techniques. Kirchner identifies and profiles the four greatest bowie knife fighters of history, as well as numerous other wielders of the blade. He details the weapon's use in the Texas War of Independence, the Mormon exodus, the Mexican War, the slave system, the Gold Rush, Bleeding Kansas, the Civil War, the Lincoln assassination, the Indian Wars, and the Western frontier. The book describes bowie knife fighting tricks and techniques and provides numerous accounts of knife-against-knife and knife-against-gun encounters. Its final chapter surveys the continued use of the bowie and other fighting knives in modern warfare.

This book examines the history of edged weapons in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East and surrounding areas before gunpowder increased the distance between combatants. It takes a critical look at the relationship between the soldier, his weapon, and the social and political mores of the times; examines the historical background and metallurgic science of the knife, sword, or bayonet respectively; and explores the handling characteristics and combat applications of each weapon. The book is written for those with an interest in exploring the historical beginnings of edged weaponry, how edged weapons have been used in war in different parts of the world, and the value the soldier attached to his weapon. Military, social, and political history is discussed. Although more than one-hundred photos and illustrations are represented, arms collectors or others with detailed interest in the finer points of weaponsmithing may want to look for books that are more heavily illustrated. The book comprises the full series of ten previously published shorter book on specialized edged weapons and regions, each of which can also be purchased separately: 1. Kukris and Gurkhas: Nepalese Kukri Combat Knives and the Men Who Wield Them 2. Machete, Kris, and Throwing Iron: Edged Weapons of Latin America, Indonesia, and Africa 3. Cold Steel: The Knife in Army, Navy, and Special Forces Operations 4. Japanese Swords: The Katana and Gunto in Medieval and Modern Japanese Warfare 5. Chinese Swords: The Evolution and Use of the Jian and Dao 6. Yatagan, Khanda, and Jamdhar: Swords and Sabers of Persia and India 7. Sickle Sword and Battle Axe: Edged Weapons of Ancient Egypt 8. Gladius and Spatha: Swords and Warfare in the Classical World 9. Longsword and Saber: Swords and Swordsmen of Medieval and Modern Europe 10. Pike, Halberd, and Bayonet: Sharp Weapons in Near Modern and Modern Warfare