This four volume set by Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, has been compiled to serve as a useful and authoritative reference on the daggers of Nazi Germany, and have been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basic patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational and it adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject as a whole. Within these books one will see coverage of the historical background; the manufacturing techniques; constructional information; the actual basic patterns; variations and rarities; the art of collecting, and a whole host of other salient facts of absorbing interest.

This four volume set by Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, has been compiled to serve as a useful and authoritative reference on the daggers of Nazi Germany, and have been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basic patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational and it adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject as a whole. Within these books one will see coverage of the historical background; the manufacturing techniques; constructional information; the actual basic patterns; variations and rarities; the art of collecting, and a whole host of other salient facts of absorbing interest.

This four volume set by Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, has been compiled to serve as a useful and authoritative reference on the daggers of Nazi Germany, and have been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basic patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational - and it adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject as a whole. Within these books one will see coverage of the historical background; the manufacturing techniques; constructional information; the actual basic patterns; variations and rarities; the art of collecting, and a whole host of other salient facts of absorbing interest.

This three volume set on World War II German swords by LTC (Ret.) Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, is a follow-up to his successful and highly acclaimed four volume series on World War II German daggers by Schiffer Publishing (1995). Johnson is the author of some twenty-six reference books on the subject of German edged weaponry. This sword series has been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basis patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational, and adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject as a whole. Within these books one finds the historical background, the manufacturing techniques, constructional information, the actual basic patterns, variations and rarities, and a whole host of salient facts of absorbing interest.

This three volume set on World War II German swords by LTC (Ret.) Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, is a follow-up to his successful and highly acclaimed four volume series on World War II German daggers by Schiffer Publishing (1995). Johnson is the author of some twenty-six reference books on the subject of German edged weaponry. This sword series has been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basis patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational, and adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject as a whole. Within these books one finds the historical background, the manufacturing techniques, constructional information, the actual basic patterns, variations and rarities, and a whole host of salient facts of absorbing interest.

This three volume set on World War II German swords by LTC (Ret.) Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, is a follow-up to his successful and highly acclaimed four volume series on World War II German daggers by Schiffer Publishing (1995). Johnson is the author of some twenty-six reference books on the subject of German edged weaponry. This sword series has been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basis patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational, and adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject as a whole. Within these books one finds the historical background, the manufacturing techniques, constructional information, the actual basic patterns, variations and rarities, and a whole host of salient facts of absorbing interest.

The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando dagger has become iconic as the most widely recognized fighting knife in the world. The origins of the dagger can be traced to Shanghai in the 1930s where W. E. Fairbairn and US Marine officers including Sam Yeaton carried out experiments to develop what they considered the perfect knife for close combat. When Fairbairn and Sykes became instructors for the Commandos, they refined the design which would evolve into the classic Fairbairn-Sykes dagger. The dagger was first used during early Commando raids into occupied Europe but saw action in every theatre of World War II. US Rangers and Marines who had trained with the Commandos took their Fairbairn-Sykes daggers home, and this also influenced the development of American Special Forces daggers. The Fairbairn-Sykes remained in use with many units after the war. It has become a symbol of Commando and special forces units throughout the world.