Knives and Swords: A Visual History

by Chris McNab (Editor)

Showcasing more than 300 swords, knives, and daggers from over 3,000 years of history with stunning color photography, Knives and Swords is the perfect book for anyone with an interest in the history of edged weapons. From the finely crafted swords of the Japanese samurai to the brutal but functional bayonet of the World War I infantryman, Knives and Swords places the weapons in their historical context as well as providing in-depth analysis of the most historically significant bladed weapons.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Reference, War, Military Fiction

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dr Chris McNab has written over a hundred books in a career spanning over two decades. He is a historian with a specialisation in military history.

Reviews

[Phil Greaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up and read it on a whim. I've started used lots of knives and so on since working on my modest bit of land and I love DK books, so I gave it a go. Genuinely interesting. I tend to skip over knives and swords when I see them in museums - I'm not a military fetishist - but there is something revealing about the society in which the knife is made. Very good, just the right approach to these kinds of books. Nearly the full tang, except I would have liked to see more on contemporary knives.

[Alfredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bonito e interesante. Pero no tiene corvos.

[Fred Baerkircher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is pretty much generic filler, but this book has some great reference images from museums and also replicas.

[Mohamed Tahar Hamada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very pictorial, with fantastic images of hundreds of bladed weapons through history and cultures. There are brief discussions on each set of weaponry and each item is given a general description and set of stats. A good book for pictorial reference if you ever need to describe a particular blade in detail or just get a general idea of weapon types. Very interesting.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what you'd imagine it would be

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid collection of assorted museum pieces, actual weapons of war, and unlikely parade arms, this was a good, quick read with many detailed photographs.

[Shane]

I decided not to give it an official ranking, since it's just a coffee-table book, but it was interesting. I should be able to make good use out of it in my writing.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is mostly illustrations so there is not a lot of reading involved. Does not go a great deal in to depth but it's great if you are using it as a reference when writing.