Knives, Swords, and Bayonets: A World History of Edged Weapon Warfare

Knives, Swords, and Bayonets: A World History of Edged Weapon Warfare 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. Edged weapons were developed to function in foot or mounted combat. The primary battlefield function often determined the specific design of the weapon. In poorer societies the general populace frequently modified agricultural tools into weapons of war. The techniques for employing these tools in civilian life translated into viable methods of combat. When the advent of firearms made certain edged weapons obsolete, close range combat continued to rely on foot soldiers carrying knives and bayonets as sidearms to modern artillery weapons. But even in ancient times edged weapons were seldom the primary arms, but were frequently employed as sidearms to long range projectiles. Rebel fighters of Third World countries have likewise used edged weapons extensively in near modern and modern wars. 

The Knives, Swords, and Bayonets series takes a critical look at the relationship between the soldier, his weapon, and the social and political mores of the times. Each part examines the historical background and metallurgic science of the knife, sword, and bayonet respectively, and explores the handling characteristics and combat applications of each weapon. The author suggests that the reader make specific note of how battlefield need and geography influenced the design of the weapon, the type of warfare employed (guerrilla, rebellion, chivalry, pitched battle, skirmish, mass army, etc.), and the type of armor available to counter the blow of a knife or sword. 

The historical treatment of edged weaponry could fill volumes. Because of the vastness of the subject, certain restrictive measures had to be applied in order to keep the series within a reasonable length while still giving adequate coverage. For example, the author has chosen to cover Chinese and Japanese but not Korean sword history. Every reader is thus bound to find some favorite details omitted. While many treatments of the subject focus exclusively on the technical aspects of weapons, this series also considers the political climate and the environmental or geographical factors under which the weapons evolved. Moreover, every culture, western or non-western, employs a number of subtleties that are exceedingly difficult to understand fully, unless one has spent time living in and studying the specific culture. The same can be said for every subculture (a culture within a culture), such as a military organization. The reader is reminded that, unlike science which is mathematically precise, history offers a broad range of perspectives on every issue. 

The narrative the author has chosen to write portrays the development and dynamics of edged weaponry from ancient to modern times, including the soldier’s training and his view of military service. The close relationship between military and political or social history also spurred the author’s desire to examine the carry of edged weapons as symbols of military rank and social status. Rather than covering battles in their entirety, the author has elected to illustrate bits and pieces of particular battles that exemplify how the weapon in question was used. The series comprises ten parts arranged by weapon type, geographical area, and time period, and is designed to introduce the reader to the great assortment of edged weaponry that has been used with varied success in most regions of the world. Each part of the series is an entity in itself. In other words, it is not necessary to read the series in any particular order. Hopefully, the series will provide the reader with a solid foundation for continued study. 

For her research, and in order to render an analysis that closely describes the dynamics of battle and the cultural aspects surrounding edged weaponry, the author has relied on a large number of primary and secondary source materials including historical treatises, artifacts located at museums, ancient artists’ renditions of war in sculpture, paint, and poem, eyewitness accounts to the events in question, books, articles, documentaries, Internet resources, university lectures, personal correspondence, and direct hands-on practice with weapons in mock battles. Note that source material is often contradictory in nature. For example, swordsmen of the same era and geographical region frequently differed in their views with respect to the conduct of battle or the “best” type of sword or battlefield technique. The reader is encouraged to keep an open mind and consider the different possibilities that the soldier faced, and why he would emphasize a particular type of weapon or combat technique over another. The endnotes provide additional information, clarification, and exceptions to commonly propagated historical beliefs. 

The author reminds the reader that despite their lethal features, edged weapons are not randomly chosen bars of steel that can cut and kill. The difference between victory and defeat often lies in the soldier’s knowledge, skill, and fortitude; in how well he handles his weapon, and also in how well the weapon adheres to the laws of physics with respect to balance and motion. Studying metallurgic science is the key to understanding the relationship between the weapon smith and the soldier. The knife- or swordsmith thus carried part of the responsibility for the soldier’s success or failure. Additionally, edged weapons were an integral part of the soldier’s kit and often represented abstract qualities such as bravery and honor. By understanding the history of knives, swords, and bayonets, one will gain insight into the culture—the external and internal forces—that shaped the men who relied on these weapons in personal struggles of life and death. 

This book comprises the following parts: 

Kukris and Gurkhas: Nepalese Kukri Combat Knives and the Men Who Wield Them 

Machete, Kris, and Throwing Iron: Edged Weapons of Latin America, Indonesia, and Africa 

Cold Steel: The Knife in Army, Navy, and Special Forces Operations 

Japanese Swords: The Katana and Gunto in Medieval and Modern Japanese Warfare 

Chinese Swords: The Evolution and Use of the Jian and Dao 

Yatagan, Khanda, and Jamdhar: Swords and Sabers of Persia and India 

Sickle Sword and Battle Axe: Edged Weapons of Ancient Egypt 

Gladius and Spatha: Swords and Warfare in the Classical World 

Longsword and Saber: Swords and Swordsmen of Medieval and Modern Europe 

Pike, Halberd, and Bayonet: Sharp Weapons in Near Modern and Modern Warfare

 

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