Paladin is pleased to reissue this classic book in the field of military battle knives. Allied Military Fighting Knives chronicles in detail the background, development and variations of both common and unusual combat knives. It also provides firsthand accounts by and in-depth interviews with the special operations troops who used them in battle, including U.S. Marine Raiders; U.S. Army Rangers; U.S., Canadian and British airborne units; the legendary Gurkhas; the First Special Service Force; such clandestine outfits as the OSS and SOE; and even officers who served in the Shanghai Municipal Police with W.E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes. In addition to its focus on military-issue blades, the book devotes comprehensive chapters to two of the leading private companies that provided knives to soldiers in all war zones - Ek and Randall.