by Arthur Wise
First published 1971
Arthur Wise argues that swords have killed more men than any other weapon in history. He surveys personal combat from its earliest recorded forms through contemporary gang warfare and commando tactics. The study covers broadswords, two-handers, rapiers, daggers, bayonets, and halberds alongside modern rifles and handguns. Wise draws from dozens of historical manuals and period sources to trace how fighting techniques evolved from primitive encounters to the ritualized formality of classical dueling. Historic engravings, photographs, and line drawings accompany nearly every page. The author excludes sport fencing entirely, concentrating solely on lethal encounters. This comprehensive examination spans centuries of warfare and personal dueling, offering readers detailed technical analysis grounded in primary historical documents.
Genres: history, art, non-fiction, military-history
Vibes: informative, technical, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-survey, technical-analysis
Period: Centuries
256 pages · Hardcover · Arma Press