KNIFE
The knife was, and is, without a doubt, the most common weapon and tool ever used by Man. Knives have been carried by soldiers and craftsmen, ladies and gentlemen, people of every walk of life for hundreds and thousands of years. Its ancestry is virtually identical to that of the dagger except that at some point eons ago the dagger began to "carve out" its niche almost exclusively as a weapon while the knife continued to evolve as both tool and weapon. The true "fighting knife" is a more modern development.
Knives have always appeared in a myriad of interesting forms but today their variety is at its peak, a testament to its continued use and versatility (see photos below for a few examples). Knives are so germane to every culture that a general description would be redundant. Some of the more famous knives are: the Bowie Knife, a large single edged fighting knife designed in the 19th century by American frontiersman Jim Bowie; the Switchblade, made popular by the Sharks and the Jets; the Sykes/Fairbairn (its designers) Commando Knife, the original standard issue to British commandos; the Bali-Song or Butterfly Knife; and the imposing Gurkha Kukri.
The knife was, and is, without a doubt, the most common weapon and tool ever used by Man. Knives have been carried by soldiers and craftsmen, ladies and gentlemen, people of every walk of life for hundreds and thousands of years. Its ancestry is virtually identical to that of the dagger except that at some point eons ago the dagger began to "carve out" its niche almost exclusively as a weapon while the knife continued to evolve as both tool and weapon. The true "fighting knife" is a more modern development.
Knives have always appeared in a myriad of interesting forms but today their variety is at its peak, a testament to its continued use and versatility (see photos below for a few examples). Knives are so germane to every culture that a general description would be redundant. Some of the more famous knives are: the Bowie Knife, a large single edged fighting knife designed in the 19th century by American frontiersman Jim Bowie; the Switchblade, made popular by the Sharks and the Jets; the Sykes/Fairbairn (its designers) Commando Knife, the original standard issue to British commandos; the Bali-Song or Butterfly Knife; and the imposing Gurkha Kukri.