Swords & Knives, Antiques & Collectibles, Sports, Hunting 

For the outdoorsman or soldier, a knife is not a luxury; it could become an absolutely vital tool, or weapon, in a struggle for survival. A knife can be used to gather and prepare food, build and tend a fire, create a shelter against the elements, and signal for rescue. Also, when necessary, it will do duty as a lethal close combat weapon.

Knives have long held a fascination for the enthusiasts of the "great outdoors" ¿ the hunters and anglers, campers, orienteers and trekkers, rock climbers and mountaineers ¿ while the modern soldier, albeit that he may well be equipped with the most sophisticated of firearms, will have a knife of sorts in his armory. This fabulously illustrated book shows the extraordinarily wide range of knives that have been designed for specific tasks, or for a multitude of duties, They range from multi-purpose tools (with a variety of blades and other tools folded away, such as the famous Swiss Army knife), through folding knives and switch blades, utility and special purpose knives (including jungle machetes), general combat and survival knives (including the famous KA-BAR), to lethal daggers and other fighting knives.

The author Pat Farey provides a great deal of technical detail in his florid descriptions of the knives, as well as candidly analyzing each for fitness-for-purpose. Supporting this highly readable text are specially commissioned close-up photographs of the weapons or tools. The result is a handsome and useful reference work on an extremely wide-ranging subject.