Knives can be both luxuries and necessities. For the outdoorsman, as well as for the soldier, a knife can be used to gather and prepare food, build and tend a fire, create a shelter, and signal for rescue. When the chips are down, they will also do duty as lethal close combat weapons. For the more domestic user, knives can simplify and make convenient a wide variety of tasks. KNIVES is a complete reference to the history and culture of these fascinating tools.