James:
Concerning the recent article on traditional weapons, I have a couple of comments:
Knife fighting: Stabbing may have it’s place, but a good knife fighter will slash and cut. Someone who stabs with a knife is relatively easy to disarm. Someone who slashes is much harder to defend against. A stab wound is unlikely to be instantly fatal. A slashing attack directed at tendons can instantly render the victim defenseless and eliminate his ability to fight back or flee. (See the following link for more info http://www.martialbladeconcepts.com/
A word of warning regarding arrows: If you shoot a compound bow do not make arrows out of wooden dowels. Wooden arrows shot from a compound bow are likely to shatter from the energy generated by the bow and do more damage to the shooter than the target.