As offensive weapons, daggers and swords are shaped in the main by fighting styles. However, they were always status symbols as well. Lavishly designed with precious materials, they represented the self-image of warrior castes and military leaders. This is evidenced by Neolithic fishtail daggers of outstanding craftsmanship, as well as by magnificently decorated Frankish gold-hilted spathae. Volume 6 of this successful series is dedicated to one type of weapon for the first time, presenting a cross-epochal classification of "daggers and swords". The spectrum ranges from Neolithic flint daggers to Viking iron swords from the time around 1000. For the first time, prehistoric, Roman and early medieval forms are grouped together in a uniform system.

• Updated, revised edition