We’ve also examined the legendary SMG used by gangsters and Commandos alike (The Thompson Submachine Gun); the revolutionary British rifled musket that equipped both sides in the American Civil War (The Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle); the long-lived ‘big Colt’ .45 (The Colt 1911 Pistol) and its Italian-designed successor in US service (The Beretta M9 Pistol); the deadly edged weapons of Japan’s warrior elite (Katana: The Samurai Sword); and the world’s most recognizable fighting knife (Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger). In November we publish The Uzi Submachine Gun and The M1 Carbine, with The M16 lined up for December.
 
We’d love to broaden out our coverage of weapons history, and so we’re asking regular Osprey contributors to nominate up to five non-firearm titles they’d like to see published in the series, ranked in order of preference. What weapon, or family of weapons, has the most interesting story behind it? Where did it come from, how was it used – and what did it change?

Edged, pointed, or blunt, the only rules are – it needs to be a great story, and it can’t go bang!