Knife Fighting

Stab–resistant body armour is now becoming a standard item of equipment for police officers in the United Kingdom. In the UK these are usually required to have a stab resistance as specified by the Police Scientific Development Branch KR42 standard [G. Parker, PSDB Stab Resistant Body Armour Test Procedure, Police Scientific Development Branch, Publication No 10/ 93, 1993].

There are several other test standards, all of which specify that body armour must resist penetration by a specific blade type delivered at a specific energy level or range of levels. However, the actual range of energy levels specified varies over almost … Continue Reading

This is the complete US army training manual on bayonet combat.

The will to meet and destroy die enemy in hand–to–hand combat is the spirit of the bayonet. It springs from die fighter’s confidence, courage, and grim determination, and is the result of vigorous training. Through training, the fight ing instinct of die individual soldier is developed to die highest point. The will to use the bayonet first appears in the trainee when he begins to handle it with facility, and increases as his confidence grows. The full develop ment of his physical prowess and complete confidence in his weapon culminates … Continue Reading

Equipment, materials and methods for the measurement of the biomechanical parameters governing knife stab attacks have been developed and data have been presented that are relevant to the improvement of standards for the testing of stab–resistant materials.

A six–camera Vicon motion analysis system was used to measure velocity, and derive energy and momentum during the approach phase of the attack and a specially developed force–measuring knife was used to measure three–dimensional forces and torque during the impact phase. The body segments associated with the knife were modelled as a series of rigid segments: trunk, upper arm, forearm and hand.

The … Continue Reading

Emphasizing the practice aspect of bayonet, knife and stick fighting, this rare volume also provides short courses in unarmed combat and knife throwing.

Fighting men have long realized the need for a full, practical, easy–to–understand study on close combat. The step–by–step photographs and accompanying text of Cold Steel are intended to fill this need. But the book has another purpose–to instill confidence in the man by proving that the principles of hand– to–hand combat can be mastered easily and surely.Years of practical experience and observation have proved that the age–old practice of using the bayonet primarily as a pike leaves much … Continue Reading

This how–to is meant as an introduction to tomahawk fighting. It covers such topics as: selecting a tomahawk, stances, advantages, disadvantages, different strikes, defense and more.

An excellent fully illustrated primer to tomahawk fighting.

This extremely well written handbook is a must for anyone interested in the properties of iron and steel – and even more invaluable for anyone planning on making their own blades. This handbook is written in easy to understand laymens tems and illustrated throughout.

The following is the contents page:

Pure IronSummary

Solutions and Phase DiagramsSolutionsPhase DiagramsSummary

Steel and the Fe–C Phase DiagramLow Carbon Steels (Hyoeutectoid Steels)High Carbon Steels (Hypereutectoid Steels)Eutectoid Steels The A1, Ae1,Ac1, Ar1 NomenclatureReferencesSummary

The Various Microstructures of Room Temperature SteelOptical Microscope Images of Steel GrainsRoom Temperature Microstructures of Hypo– and Hypereutectoid SteelsMicrostructure of Quenched SteelMartensiteTwo Types of MartensiteThe Ms and … Continue Reading

From the Preface:

The ensuing lessons on Old Sword–Play have been compiled from the works of various author of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries; and it has been my intention so to arrange them as to make the antique methods accessible to the student without the labour of searching the pages of books in various languages, many of which are very difficult to procure, and much more so to understand.

There are those who affect to ridicule the study of obsolete weapons, alleging that it is of no practical use ; … Continue Reading

The Author has been an ardent student of Self Defense in all of its branches for a great number of years. In the course of these studies he received expert instruction in the art of Chinese “Boxing” from one of the retainers of the late Dowager Empress.

He received special instruction in Foil and Dagger fighting from several of the finest Instructors in the Far East. Although a non–resident of Japan, he was admitted to Kodokan Jui–Jitsu University, where he was eventually awarded the Black Belt (NIDAN) = Second Degree.

During his career he has held appointments as Chief Instructor in … Continue Reading