Modern Fighter

 

The History and Role of Edged Weapons Across Time and in Different Cultures

From the swords of ancient Egypt and medieval Islamic states to the knives of Africa and today’s Special Forces, this book examines how edged weapons were wielded, their strengths and weaknesses, and their impact on history.

Tribal weapons from Congo, 1960-1964. Note the multiple edges of the throwing iron to the left of the dagger.

Martina Sprague is a military historian, martial artist, and aviation enthusiast. Her most recent book, A History of Edged Weapon Warfare, is a comprehensive examination of how knives, swords, and bayonets have been used by soldiers of the world's armies over the last three thousand years. Her next book, The Swedish Volunteers in the Russo-Finnish Winter War, 1939-40: A History of Combat and Neutrality Politics at the Start of World War II, will be released toward the end of 2010.