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

The sword, a treasured combat arm and symbol of identity, status, and courage has held a special place in most countries of the world. The samurai, however, may have received unparalleled attention in the history of the sword. This brief introduction to medieval Japan demonstrates how the politically strong samurai shaped the view one held of battle. Following the abolishment of the samurai class, the Meiji Restoration, and the opening of Japan to the West in the nineteenth century, Japan was anxious to move ahead with modern military equipment and the building of a national army. Few traditional swords were made and the Japanese adopted western style cavalry sabers. In the twentieth century the sword continued to be carried into battle as a supplementary weapon; not necessarily practical for the battlefield but, nevertheless, serving an important function as a "crutch for the heart." The gunto, or new-army sword, which was modeled after the samurai katana but modernized to conform to western standards, was carried by army and navy officers and cavalry troops until Japan's fall at the end of World War II. This book focuses on the era that one normally associates with the medieval period. It starts by exploring the history of Japanese sword making, the development of metallurgic science, and the skill required of the swordsmith to forge a strong and battle-worthy blade that adhered to the standards followed by the samurai warrior class. It then covers samurai mentality and philosophy of sword fighting, with respect to the battlefield use of the katana and the dynamics of Japanese swordsmanship. It summarizes with a history of the gunto new-army sword and the practical and philosophical value this sword had to the twentieth-century soldier. The concluding remarks focus on the sword as a symbol of Japanese culture.

Ancient Greece and Rome, also referred to as the Classical world, laid the foundation for Western civilization. Because of their geographical proximity to one another and to the Mediterranean Sea, the countries shared many similarities with respect to culture and weapons. The early Greek swords used by infantry had straight two-edged blades, without taper, of equal width from hilt to point. The Spartan sword measured only 14 to 15 inches in length, and was by some considered short and non-frightening. Those who had an intricate understanding of edged weaponry and combat, however, knew that while a long sword carried certain psychological powers, length did not necessarily communicate the deadliness of the weapon. Rome, perhaps the greatest power of the Mediterranean, differed from other civilizations most notably in the notion of citizenship. The Romans were a pragmatic people who did not fail to adopt from other cultures the weapons or technology they found useful. The classic Roman short sword remained in use for centuries; however, while the Romans emulated many of the Greek weapons and armor, they also copied Hispanic daggers as well as straight Hispanic swords during the conquest of Spain in the third century BCE. This book begins with an introduction to bronze, iron, and steel used in weapons and armor in Classical Greece, Britain, Gaul, Rome, and Spain. Next it examines the type of training the soldiers encountered to prepare them for battle. This section focuses mainly on the training of the Roman warriors. The book then analyzes the military organization and battlefield tactics of the Greeks, Romans, and Celts. It ends with a discussion of war wounds and the protection that various types of armor afforded the soldier. The concluding remarks focus on the pragmatic way in which one viewed war in the Classical world.