Section 3,Killing and Physical Distance: From a Distance You Don't Look Anything Like a Friend: Chapter 5, Killing at Edged-Weapons Range Summary and Analysis

Here the author informs readers about the actual influence of edged weapons in combat. Bladed weapons have a capacity to set off fear that is unparalleled. Second, combatants harbor an intense aversion from thrusting rather than slashing with steel weapons, as the latter only causes wounding. As they would rather not kill, even the sword bearing professional Roman Empire's foot soldiers would slash and cut their opponents rather than using thrust-to-kill tactics.

In the case of bayonets, most military personnel will convert their weapons for application of the blunted form rather than for use of the sharp edge. This aversion includes knives. The...