The history of the knife is nearly as old as humanity itself. Originally made from copper, bronze, iron, steel, and ceramic, the knife served various purposes. Along with the dagger—a knife with a very sharp point and usually two sharp edges, typically designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon—the manufacture of these blades tested the skills of the very finest craftsmen in the land.
Click through the following gallery and take a slice out of history with these examples of early blades from around the world.