This comprehensive chronology takes you on a visual tour of sharp weapons throughout history: from the hand-held flints of the Stone Age, through to the civilian knives of modern times. There are intriguing blades from Africa and Asia, including the Japanese tanto and Sudanese throwing knives, the ceremonial kris from Indonesia, the double-edged Japanese ken, and the distinctively decorated Indo-Persian peshkabs. Presented in an easy-to-follow format there are specially commissioned photographs of each item, annotated with the blade’s defining features as well as at-a-glance specification boxes. Featuring over 350 pieces shown in more than 500 pictures, this book is an indispensable resource for both the serious collector and amateur enthusiast.