Originally published by Paladin Press in 1978, and recently reisssued, the book purports to be the style of knifefighting taught by W.E. Fairbairn to the SMP as well as the OSS and SOE during WW2.
Somehow, I don't see any Police Force (even the Shanghai Municipal Police during the 20s and 30s) teaching their men how to "knife fight".
As for the contents of the manual itself, I will gladly state that there is nothing wrong, stupid or flashy about what it teaches. Basic cuts and thrusts, footwrk, grips, vital targets etc. All are quite simple, direct and, dare I say it.. correct!
There are however several points that must be made. Most important of all is simply that this book is really nothing more than a basic compilation of the knife methodology shown in Fairbairns GET TOUGH and Rex Applegates KILL OR GET KILLED. It even looks like Mr. Cassidy got a look at Applegates BOOK OF DOUBLE EDGED KNIFE FIGHTING years before it was even published by Paladin!
He even appears to have taken several illustrations (line drawings) from the above mentioned books.
The book is 40 pages long, but could easily have been done in 20 if the illustrations had been put on the same pages with the written material.
So, to conclude, am I saying that you shouldn't buy this book? Actually, not at all. If you don't currently have the books I referenced above, and would like to get the knife fighting methods in them for a bargain price (the book is currently retailing for a mere $6.00) then by all means, buy it.
But if you already do own the books that Mr. Cassidy "borrowed" from, then don't bother.
Because there's nothing in it that you haven't seen before.
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