The World Encyclopedia Of Knives Daggers And Bayonets

Human civilisation has produced many remarkable inventions, from the wheel and the printing press to the internal combustion engine and the electric toaster. Yet remarkably early in this impressive procession of technological achievements, somebody discovered that a sharpened piece of metal could be enormously useful, particularly when another person was behaving disagreeably. Thus began the long and fascinating history of knives, daggers and bayonets, a collection of implements that humanity has spent thousands of years refining with extraordinary enthusiasm.

In The World Encyclopedia of Knives, Daggers and Bayonets (2010), Tobias Capwell explores the remarkable diversity, development and historical significance of edged weapons from across the world. Published by Hermes House, this extensively illustrated reference work examines an extraordinary assortment of blades, ranging from practical military equipment to elaborate ceremonial weapons whose decorative splendour sometimes exceeded their usefulness in an actual confrontation.

The knife is among humanity’s oldest and most versatile tools, employed throughout history for hunting, food preparation, craftsmanship and the occasional forceful disagreement over territorial boundaries. Over the centuries, different cultures developed distinctive blade designs, each reflecting particular practical requirements, manufacturing traditions and ideas about what constituted a suitably intimidating piece of metalwork.

Daggers, meanwhile, acquired a more specialised reputation. Compact, portable and frequently elaborately decorated, they became symbols of military authority, personal status and, in certain historical circumstances, a rather unfortunate development in palace politics. Few objects have combined artistic craftsmanship with such an uncompromisingly direct purpose.

Then came the bayonet, an ingenious military invention that allowed soldiers to transform their firearms into improvised spears. This was particularly useful during the centuries when reloading a musket required enough time for an approaching enemy to become uncomfortably familiar. The bayonet ensured that even when ammunition ran out, military disagreements could continue at considerably closer quarters.

Capwell’s encyclopedia celebrates the astonishing craftsmanship and engineering behind these historical weapons, exploring their shapes, construction, origins and changing applications. From elegant fighting knives to formidable military bayonets, the variety demonstrates humanity’s remarkable ability to develop hundreds of different solutions to the relatively straightforward problem of producing a sharp object.

Naturally, collectors approach these artefacts with considerably more enthusiasm for historical detail than their original users might have possessed. The precise shape of a blade, the markings on a hilt or the design of a scabbard can inspire hours of scholarly discussion, particularly among enthusiasts who regard a minor manufacturing variation as a discovery of international importance.

Condition: Very Good. This is a previously owned copy dating from 2010, displaying only modest signs of age and handling. Unlike the historical weapons featured within its pages, it requires no sharpening, specialist preservation treatment or careful consideration of whether it can legally be carried about in public.

Published by Hermes House in 2010. ISBN: 9781846813634.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where we appreciate historical weaponry, particularly when it arrives in the considerably safer form of an illustrated reference book rather than something requiring a locked display cabinet.

An excellent addition to any collection of military history, arms and armour, historical craftsmanship or illustrated reference works. Particularly recommended for enthusiasts fascinated by the extraordinary ingenuity with which humanity has developed edged weapons, and the rather unfortunate persistence of circumstances in which people considered them necessary.

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