German swordsmiths have always been famous for their production of high-quality swords, making the swords themselves highly sought by collectors. Equally important to the knowledgeable collector are the histories of the men who designed, manufactured and sold these prized weapons. The book presents the most information ever published on German sword and edged weapon makers from the Middle Ages to the present. It includes photographs and illustrations of swords from Prussia, Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Saxony and Austria; over 300 illustrations of German sword maker blade marks spanning five centuries; rare sketches and photographs of German sword-makers and their factories; a listing of German sword-makers who exported swords to Union and Confederate dealers during the American Civil War; identification of sword and edged-weapon suppliers to Nazi Germany; and much more.