Combat knives in the US Army. Combat knives of elite units of the Russian army

Edged weapons have always been popular among the male part of the planet. Even in Ancient Rus', a knife was considered a mandatory attribute of a free person. The longer the blade, the higher on the social ladder its owner was.

During the Soviet era, the authorities were able to almost completely destroy the knife culture. Combat knives were only used by the army or by criminal elements. For other categories of citizens, army combat knives were prohibited. Starting in the 90s, knives began to gain popularity in society. Unfortunately, for the majority of residents of the Russian Federation, the Chinese “butterfly” or “miscarriage” is considered the best combat knife. Having such a knife as your first one, you can be disappointed in them for a long time.

Currently, many schools of knife fighting have appeared, which, in addition to studying combat, instill in their students a love for high-quality models of folding, combat and tactical knives. It should be noted that the knife fighting taught in these schools is sporting and has very little in common with real knife fighting. A real knife fight is a fight of destruction, and the knife, as a rule, is used in it suddenly and hidden from the enemy.

The history of military knives

The first knives appeared in the Stone Age. At that time, a good knife was intended for household purposes. With the development of metallurgy, knives were improved; they were made first from copper and bronze, and then from iron.

Contrary to popular belief, combat knives were not common in antiquity or the Middle Ages. In those days, people used spears, axes and bows to fight. Even swords were very rare and were used only by noble and wealthy warriors. Although every ancient fighter had a knife in his arsenal, there can be no talk of any knife fighting, since knives were used as household tools. As a last resort, the knife could be used as a weapon of last chance, in case of loss of all other weapons.

Although one version of the combat knife existed in the early Middle Ages. It was a skramasax, or fighting knife of the ancient Germans. This weapon was often used by the Vikings, although with the development of armor, the skramasax gradually became a peasant and robber cleaver.

Knives, which can conventionally be called combat knives, appeared among three categories of the population of the period of antiquity and the Middle Ages:

Hunters, due to their profession, were often forced to use knives to finish off animals or in case of a sudden attack by a predator. Since in the latter case it was impossible to use a bow or a spear, it was the combat knife that gave its owner the opportunity to survive. It was the first hunting knives that differed significantly from household knives. They had a long blade, more massive and heavy;
For peasants, knives (together with axes and other agricultural tools) were not only helpers in the household, but also weapons with which they could protect themselves and their family from attack. Peasant knives were similar to modern cutlasses and could not only chop down bushes, but also chop off a thief’s hand;
It was common for robbers, who were generally peasants or hunters, to use a knife as a weapon. In addition to using cutlasses and hunting knives, the robbers also had specialized throwing knives, which were never used in everyday work.

Professional warriors of that time did not need a combat knife, since there were many types of more effective bladed weapons, and a knife was not able to pierce armor, although knives were used for household purposes in military units all over the world.

The emergence of specialty knives in the era of firearms

When firearms began to be used en masse on the battlefield, the era of solid armor became a thing of the past. It was this fact that gave a powerful impetus to the development of combat knives, since swords and axes became irrelevant due to the lack of armor. Soldiers armed with muskets (which were bulky and inconvenient) needed light edged weapons with which they could fight off the enemy while reloading the muskets.

It was at this time that heavy military cutlasses appeared, which can rightfully be called real combat knives. Detachments of crossbowmen, pikemen and artillerymen were armed with such weapons.

The first bayonets used by the regular armies of Europe

In the 16th century, infantry with firearms was very vulnerable to attacks by cavalry and pikemen. To work effectively, the infantry necessarily needed the support of other units (which often found themselves at the scene of the battle when all the “firearms” infantry or artillery were destroyed).

In the 17th century, special hunting daggers began to appear - baguettes, which were inserted into the barrel of a musket and could be used as pikes in the event of an attack by cavalry or pikemen. Already at the end of the 17th century, bayonets appeared that were attached to the weapon rather than inserted into the barrel, which made it possible to reload a musket with an attached bayonet. With the advent of bayonets, detachments of pikemen became unnecessary and quickly disappeared.

The bayonet is still in service with many armies around the world, but with the advent of rapid-fire weapons, its functionality has dropped significantly. Modern designers have tried to combine a bayonet and a tactical knife in one model, but this is quite problematic.

Bayonet and combat knife from the First World War

The most famous bayonet from the First World War is the bayonet for the Mosin rifle. While viewing military chronicles of those years, you can see how popular this bayonet was.

It was the First World War that became the impetus for the development of combat knives. Since a huge part of Europe was covered with thousands of kilometers of trenches, soldiers often had to fight in cramped conditions. A bayonet attached to a rifle was ineffective in a trench, as it lacked maneuverability. Since the military industry of those years did not respond to the need to create a combat knife, soldiers began to come up with their own versions of weapons for trench battles:

German soldiers took sharpened sapper blades (they were the first to use it in hand-to-hand combat);
The French used homemade trench knives that resembled butcher knives;
Russian Plastun Cossacks used Caucasian bebuta daggers;
The Austrians, in addition to traditional knives, took into battle heavy clubs with spikes, reminiscent of an ancient mace.

Many soldiers who managed to survive several trench battles quickly made their own versions of combat knives. As a rule, they had similar blade length parameters (about 15 centimeters). Traditional bayonets or iron rods were used as blanks.

Some foreign companies, noticing the popularity of homemade combat knives, began producing serial products. The most famous combat trench knives of that period were the following models:

The end of the First World War put an end to the further development of combat knives, but with the beginning of the Second World War, development began with renewed vigor.

World War II combat knives

During World War II, many models of combat knives appeared:

In some sources you can find information that Japanese knives were used during World War II on the Japanese front. Indeed, traditional tanto knives were made in Japan for the needs of the army, but they were made using artisanal methods and do not represent any historical value.

Post-war combat and tactical knives

After the end of World War II, it became clear that the bayonet was practically unnecessary in modern wars. However, the armies of the whole world, which are quite conservative, have not abandoned bayonets to this day.

For example, Soviet designers tried to modernize the bayonet for the Kalashnikov assault rifle in the direction of multifunctionality. The first bayonet for the AK-47 was made in 1953, and was practically a copy of the bayonet for the SVT-40 rifle. Naturally, there could be no talk of any multifunctionality in this version.

A 1978 modernization turned the Kalashnikov bayonet into a multi-functional tool, although reviews of this model were mostly negative. Its blade does not cut well, the saw does not cut, the handle is uncomfortable, and so on. Although the combat functions of this knife are excellent, it inflicts deep wounds.

The 1989 modernization tried to correct numerous shortcomings of the previous model, although the low quality of the materials used in the production of the knife negated all the efforts of the designers.

Since 1964, the US Army has been armed with the M7 Bayonet bayonet. Its blade was 17 centimeters long, dagger type. This knife was intended for combat; using it as a tool was quite difficult.

Since 1984, the Ontario M9 bayonet has replaced the M7 Bayonet. The knife from Ontario is a multifunctional weapon and can perform various household and tactical tasks, including cutting wire (complete with sheath).

Although it seems that the versatility of combat knives provides great advantages, in fact, highly specialized knives cope much better with their specialized tasks.

Modern combat knives of Russia

In recent years, the demand for combat knives has increased sharply in Russia. Modern combat knives are often called tactical, since they are suitable not only for combat, but they can also be used as tools. This group of knives occurred through the unification of combat models with survival knives. Special forces combat knives are just such tactical models. For example, the combat knife of the GRU special forces “Punisher”, which was officially adopted for service.

In the development of modern combat knives, two branches of development can be traced:

On the one hand, they try to make all combat knives universal, for which purpose they incorporate into their design the most successful solutions from survival knives. Although these models can perform several functions, they do not do it as well as a specialized tool;
On the other hand, in the development of combat knives there is a simplification of the design. Nowadays, “skeleton” type knives are very popular (when the knife and handle are made of a single piece of metal), and the handle is often simply wrapped with a cord. Although such knives are quite light and durable, delivering powerful stabbing blows with such a handle is quite dangerous, and when using such a knife for household purposes, you can very quickly “bruise” your palm.

When talking about whether a combat knife can be folding, you should pay attention to several details:

Folding knives can be considered as fighting knives only if their blade is firmly fixed after opening;
A folding knife should be taken out and put into combat readiness in a couple of seconds;
The lock that secures the blade of a folding knife must be securely fixed and not fold in case of blows to the butt;
The shape of the knife blade should be quite aggressive and provide excellent penetration of the blade when stabbing.

Only if these nuances are observed, folding knives can be conditionally considered combat knives.

The most popular models of modern combat knives in Russia

The modern knife industry produces many models of knives that claim to be combat knives, both edged weapons manufactured for special forces of the Russian army, and civilian models, which are considered tourist and skinning knives according to GOST. Here is a list of the most popular models:

There are many more modifications of Russian-made combat knives, but you need to remember that the knife is used quite rarely in the modern army, and then only as a household tool. Ordinary citizens can purchase civilian versions of almost all models of Russian combat knives.

The best models of foreign-made combat knives

The knife industry of Europe and the USA has been producing various combat knives for decades. Unlike Russian models, foreign analogues are made of expensive powder steel (these knives cost several times more than Russian models). Let's try to briefly talk about several of the most popular models:

The variety of modern models of combat knives is amazing. The main thing to remember is that in the right hands, even a kitchen knife will be a deadly weapon (like the Finns’ pukko), and even the most eminent manufacturer will not help someone who picks up a knife for the first time.

About two million years ago, a particularly gifted member of the species Homo habilis, Homo habilis, needed to cut something and invented a knife. We've come a long way since then. In the last forty years we have seen something of a boom around the making of increasingly beautiful and high-quality knives. This article contains 20 of the best knives, beyond any competition.

Busse Battle Mistress

Battle Mistress doesn't feature any radical new design. It's a ten-inch blade with a regular shape, but it weighs almost 900 grams, and is literally razor-sharp. It is the combination of weight, strength and extreme sharpness that makes this knife unique. Want to behead a rhino? Want to cut down a telephone pole? Or maybe you have a burning desire to cut wood into pieces? You can do this if you have strong arms and Mistress.

RussellCanadianBeltKnife

In 1958, Dean Russell, a knife shop owner in Canada, sketched a knife and chose the Grohmann workshop in Pictou, Nova Scotia to make it. His creation had an oval blade and a slightly curved, graceful rosewood handle. He called his ingenious creation the Canadian Belt Knife. A Russell knife could be used for gutting or skinning. It fit comfortably in any hand, it was fashionable to hold it in any position, and it was also conveniently carried in a belt sheath. There are many copies of the Russell knife, most of them bad. None of them will surpass the original - a true genius of engineering.

D.E. Henry Bowie

In the early 1960s, Daniel Edward Henry, like other blacksmiths, began making replicas of the bowie, a long hunting knife that had been produced in the mid-19th century. The quality of Henry's work was excellent. He was light years ahead of his peers in terms of sharpening, grinding, coating and graceful lines. Today, only the most ardent knife collectors remember his name, but we can all touch his invention.

Marine combat knifeKa- Bar

In 1943, the US Marine Corps equipped its personnel with knives made at the Camillus workshop and marked with the Ka-Bar trademark. Its digital symbol was 1219С2. This knife had a 7-inch fin-type blade, a leather-lined blade, and a steel tip. This knife has become one of the most successful pieces of army equipment. The Navy had its own version, called the MK-2, and jealous soldiers tried to get their hands on both.

Leuku

One of the traditional knives of the Sami people who live in the northern forests of Europe. It is a wide-bladed tool designed to function as a hatchet, machete, and butcher knife. Its handle is always made of birch wood, and the knife fits almost completely into the sheath. Over the millennium, the leuku knife has not changed at all. The version with a seven-inch carbon alloy blade from Kellam Knives is quite good.

Leatherman Wave

The idea of a multitool is no longer new, but throughout its existence it has consisted of combining a knife with other tools. The result was usually something with a low-quality blade and a sparse set of tools. Tim Leatherman changed that 25 years ago when he used folding pliers as a base and put the rest of the tools in their handles, creating something new and amazing. There are many other Leatherman multitools, but the Wave is considered the best. It's hard to even imagine what he can't do.

LovelessDropPoint

In the late 1960s, R.W. Loveless put the entire bladed weapons community on edge. He made knives for a living since the 1950s and gradually developed a model called the drop-point hunter. This small knife (its blade is no longer than four inches) with a small handle and graceful contours created a real sensation. The butt gradually lowers towards the tip of the knife, making it easier to gut the game without piercing the internal organs. Before this, knife makers used simple metals. Loveless chose an alloy for his knives called 154CM, which was developed for use in jet engines. Virtually rust-free and very durable, it won't get dull for ages. The drop point made by Bob Dozier (pictured) is one of many knives inspired by Loveless' knife.

RandallModel 3

Randall Made Knives, founded in 1937, is the largest and most famous designer knife workshop in the world. There are more than 20 Randall models, but W.D. Randall, who founded the company, considers model number 3 to be his best design. During the designer knife boom, every aspiring smith felt it was his duty to copy the Model 3 for two reasons: because it was much more fun to copy something beautiful than something ordinary, and also because the Randall store sold a lot of these copies. It may not be the most copied knife in the world, but it's close.

Ron Lake folding knife

Compared to making a folding knife, making a regular knife is like hitting a finger. Folding knives are a true test of a blacksmith's skill, both his ability to design and his ability to make. For over 30 years, Ron Lake has been one of the leading manufacturers of folding knives. He developed the Inter-Frame concept - parts of the handle made of fragile materials, such as ram's horn, are inserted into a steel frame, which allows you to use the knife without fear of damaging them. Lake knives use Tail-Lock - a lever on the back of the handle holds the blade in place and then releases it. Many of Lake's knives are quite fancy, they are all incredibly durable and the quality of their craftsmanship can't be beat.

Marble's Ideal

Webster Marble first introduced the Ideal Hunting Knife in 1899, and it was perhaps the very first knife made for sport hunting. Marble's Ideal was, as the name suggests, ideal, made of superb steel. A deep notch was made in his blade to reduce weight. Ideal was produced for a long time, from 1899 to 1974. Then it was temporarily forgotten until 2007, when it was again introduced to the public. Old Ideals in good condition with original sheaths are very expensive, with collectors willing to pay $10,000 for some examples - not bad for knives that originally sold for just $1.25!

Ulu is an unusually shaped knife used by North American Indians. With its help it is very convenient to chop, scrape and skin prey. The crescent-shaped blade is 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) long and the handle sits just above the cutting edge. Once you get used to it, you won’t agree to part with it even for all the whale oil in Alaska. Most ulu knives released for sale are souvenirs and cannot be used. If you want real ulu, you can find it at Knives of Alaska.

Schrade Uncle Henry

The Uncle Henry line, named after Henry Baer, head of the Schrade company, appeared in the 1960s. Many types of knives have been released, but this three-blade folding knife has won the hearts of many knife lovers. It had a saber blade, a blunt blade and a spey blade. This is one of those amazing tools that will last you much longer than you would expect based on its price and size. Until the end, Schrade provided a guarantee for the Uncle Henry series - if it broke, they sent a new one.

Victorinox Swiss Champ

This knife, which has 30 tools in its handle, is the crown of evolution of the Swiss Army knife (the original version had only 4 tools). People usually laugh at these multi-functional things - until they timidly ask to use them.

GeorgeHerronModel 6DropPoint

George Herron began his career in the early 1960s copying Randall, then switched to Loveless's style and gradually developed his own style, which is now copied by many. In addition to practicality, Gerron had impeccable craftsmanship and an incomparable attention to line. The Model 6 is Gerron's version of the hunting drop point. You can see the Loveless influence, but the Model 6 is thinner and sleeker. The quality of Loveless's work varied, but Gerron's knives are not perfect.

DiamondBlade Goddard Traditional Hunter

If it weren't for the way it was forged, this knife would be just another decent hunting drop point knife. But he is not like the others. In 2007, Charles Allen, founder of DiamondBlade, introduced to the general public a series of knives treated with a process called Friction Forging, which he adapted for this purpose from welding technologies. The process involves placing steel under high pressure and high temperature, resulting in a blade that is harder, sharper and stronger than any other. The knives turned out to be so strong that the sheaths had to be redesigned so that the blades would not cut through them.

LoneWolfKnivesHarseyT3Ranger

Typically, folding knives are not used for hunting. Very few of them are large enough, strong enough, and quite difficult to clean compared to a regular knife. But this knife is different from them. The length of the drop point blade is almost 5 inches (12.7 cm), the handle is very large and comfortable. Plus it comes in the most comfortable tactical sheath in the world. With this, a regular knife is no longer needed.

Knife Nessmuk

Nessmuk is the pseudonym of George Washington Sears, a man who canoed the Adirondack Mountain Range and wrote a book about it in the 1880s. He was perhaps the first writer to pay attention to the development of light equipment, which was reflected in the tools he carried: a small double-bladed hatchet, a double-bladed jackknife, and a knife that he himself designed and which was later given his name. This five-inch drop point blade has a wood or horn handle. If you're interested in purchasing one, the Bark River Lil' Nessy (pictured), available through A.G. Russell Knives is a fine example of a Nessmuk knife.

Woodsman‘ sPal

This strange looking instrument dates back to 1941 when Fredrick Ersham put it up for sale after ten years of work on it. The original had a leather-lined handle and a D-shaped guard, like a dirk. The modern version has a hardwood handle and no guard, but otherwise remains unchanged. You can use it as a curved garden knife, a machete, just a knife, a shovel or an ax. There's hardly anything he can't handle. It is not very expensive, quite light and durable.

Knives of Alaska Brown Bear

Actually, Brown Bear is a butcher's ax, not a knife, but oh well. It can be used as a knife, as a butcher's ax, or simply as a hatchet. Its 6.5-inch (16.5 cm) blade has a couple of distinctive features: it is round and sharp at the front, and has a hole at the base for the index finger, making it an ideal skinning knife.

Buck Model 110

Knife expert Bernard Levine puts it perfectly: "The Model 110 was the idea that made knife maker Al Buck a household name, and the Buck Knife name as familiar (and misused) as a photocopier." Model 110 appeared in 1963 and immediately made a splash - this folding knife with a handle made of brass and ebony was so durable that it could be used to do the same as a regular knife. They were sold with black leather belt sheaths because they were too heavy to carry in a pocket. Since its debut, it has undergone changes to make it stronger, thinner, and more comfortable. Over the past 45 years, 14 million copies have been sold.

Combat knives (or sometimes tactical knives) are knives designed specifically for military purposes. Their main purpose is close combat. Since the last trench warfare, combat knives have become more multifunctional. They can be used to chop branches, open ammunition boxes, and more.

Daggers are a type of combat knives. Both sides of the blade are sharpened along the entire length. A combat dagger resembles a sword with a tip and hilt, and is used for stabbing. The blade, sharpened on both sides and thickened in the middle, distinguishes the dagger from general/household knives.

Top 10 deadliest combat knives and daggers

Combat knives vary in shape, sharpness, structure and purpose. Here are the 10 most “deadly” combat knives and daggers.

10.BC-41

BC-41- This is a combination of a combat dagger and brass knuckles. Used by British commandos of World War II for close combat and ambushes. This is a very rare combat knife. It was designed by Charles Clements and manufactured in Sheffield, England.

A “clip-point” blade (with a beveled spine) is securely attached to a brass knuckle-shaped handle made of hard plastic - bakelite. The length of the handle is about 12 cm. The length of the open part of the blade is about 13 cm inches. The total length of the knife is about 25 cm. The brass knuckle handle at its widest point is 12 cm. Knife BC-41 Suitable for small hands and considered one of the best today.

9. Push Dagger

Push Dagger(also known as a poke knife, push-dagger, “first knife”) is a short combat knife with a T-shaped handle. Designed to be held in a fist, with the blade facing forward, usually sticking out between the index and middle fingers. This is a separate type of combat knives, designed more for delivering sudden lethal injections rather than for conducting an open fight.

Carry the knife in a horizontal position. The middle part of the handle, which is held between the fingers, is made of cast aluminum, the tips on both sides are made of steel. The blade is double-edged and its cross-section resembles a flattened diamond. The total length of the Push Dagger (from the tip to the end of the handle) is 18.5 cm.

8. SOG Seal Knife 2000

SOG Seal 2000 designed for an elite military unit - "". Before becoming a member of such a unit, one must undergo a rigorous military training program. Only a few of the candidates turn out to be strong and prepared enough to be accepted into service and have the honor of wearing a trident on their chest - the distinctive sign of the Navy SEALs.

For this reason SOG Seal 2000- a special weapon. The total length of the knife is 30.5 cm. It is equipped with a powder-coated blade, an elongated blade and an ergonomic handle with grooves for the fingers, and a handle head with a glass breaker. The set also includes a nylon sheath.

7. Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife was created in 1941 for British commandos and a special unit of the US Marine Corps - raiders. This combat knife was used in surprise attacks to inflict cuts and puncture wounds.

The weapon's designers are William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes. The F-S is double-edged and resembles a combat dagger. The blade length is 19 cm. The knife is of interest to many collectors.

6.Fixation Bowie

Fixation Bowie- a combat knife that can be used for a wide range of tasks. Produced by SOG. Like other products of this company, it is one of the best representatives of this type of weapon.

A smooth insert between the blade and the crossguard, a textured handle that prevents slipping, fullers, a groove for the thumb on the butt, cutouts on the cross-shaped guard - everything indicates that the knife is as original as its owner. Excellent balance and proportions make it agile. The length of the blade is almost 18 cm, the total length is 31 cm. The handle is made of kraton, the sheath is made of nylon.

Weapons are constantly evolving, thanks to new technologies improved models appear. Knives are no exception; they have stood the test of time. History knows many different forms of knives, and many of them are not as simple as they seem at first glance.

“Kukri”, the symbol of the people of Nepal, became famous thanks to the Gurkha regiments. Nepalese warriors supported the British in gaining control of India during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, using their knife skills in close combat. The fighting prowess of the Gurkha soldiers gave them a reputation as fearsome and fearless warriors, and their support of British troops led to the formation of official Nepalese regiments in the English Army. The Gurkhas and their knives became so famous that the British used posters of warriors sharpening their famous knives as propaganda to instill fear in the Argentine army during the Falklands conflict. Today, soldiers of the Gurkha regiments continue to carry a “kukri” knife with them even after retirement.

Kukri knives were usually 40-46 cm long and were more like a machete, as they performed a chopping function. From an ordinary farming tool of the Himalayans, the knife turned into a weapon. An interesting feature is considered to be a groove near the handle, which directed the victim’s blood in the opposite direction, as a result the hand remained dry. The larger the knife used in sacrifices, the more luck and goodness there will be in the village. If the head of an animal is cut off in one movement, then this is a great success.

9. Dagger for blocking blows (Men-gosh)

During the 16th and 17th centuries, when firearms began to appear, bladed weapons became impractical. Light swords, rapiers, replaced the heavy swords of knights. Shields also became unnecessary and were replaced with daggers for blocking blows (men-gosh). The talented fighter masterfully used men-gosh and the shield hindered him. In addition, the dagger not only protected, but was also a weapon in itself. Over time, the daggers themselves and the skill of using them improved and became more complex.

There were many different types of men-gosh, but they were all designed to provide security, block enemy blows and deliver unexpected blows. The handle was supposed to protect the warrior's hand. For example, the “sword breaker” dagger had serrations along the blade that could snag an opponent’s rapier and tear it out of his hands. Another type was the “trident”, with a special mechanism, after pressing which the blade tripled.

The jambiya is a wide, double-edged knife that was worn as a symbol of belonging to a certain social class of the Yemeni population. Some men said they would rather die than let anyone see them without a dagger. Teenage boys receive their first dagger if they undergo circumcision. Nowadays jambia are used more as exhibits, but back in the 60s it was a formidable weapon. Yemeni warriors held their daggers with the point down and aimed at the base of the enemy's neck in order to rip open his chest in one motion.

Some knives are often decorated with gold. Islam, Yemen's leading religion, prohibits men from wearing gold jewelry, but since the jambiya is a weapon, it is considered an exception. The dagger handles are made not only from precious metals, but also from rhinoceros horns, which provokes poaching. Every year, 1,500 rhinoceroses are killed in Yemen. Knife handles are made from horn, and the remains go abroad to Asian countries as materials for alternative medicine.

Although sai is associated with Japanese martial art, it originated during the Ming Dynasty and was brought to Okinawa from China. This piercing weapon is similar to a stiletto without cutting edges. The saya blade is either round or hexagonal with a sharp tip. They used it to block blows from European “man-gosh” weapons. Sai was used to block blows from the Japanese katana sword. In addition, an experienced saiyutsu master could easily distract the enemy’s attention with its help and even strike them. When Okinawa came under the influence of the Japanese government, metallic tools and weapons required special permission. The craft of sai was prohibited and went into the shadows. Even today, Saiyutsu classes do not like noise around them, and the use of weapons in sparring is prohibited.

The trench knife was especially common during the First and Second World Wars. In close combat, the Germans used the Nakampfmesser combat knife, and the British used their domestic knives. The US military produced several types of trench knives. Mark 1 had a flat surface with a double-sided blade, a brass or bronze handle with brass knuckles and spikes, which can also injure the enemy. Knives were used by soldiers who did not have a bayonet in their arsenal, but not only in battle, but also in everyday life.

The "Kris", a Javanese dagger, looks like both a weapon and a ritual blade. It was believed that it had magical properties. Several ancient specimens were made from meteorites that fell on the territory of the Prambanan temple over the course of 200 years. It is not surprising that it was considered a sacred object. The twisting blade of the knife resembles a snake from mythology, and the patterns with which the knife is decorated were perceived as a talisman. The alloy of the knife resembled Damascus steel in composition, and the patterns applied by the blacksmith protected the knife and its owner from all sorts of troubles.

4. Misericord (“Blade of Mercy”)

In the 14th century, the misericord blade became popular among French knights - a long thin dagger that easily passed between the plates of armor. It was practically useless in battle; it was not even equipped with special protection on the handle. It was used to finish off the enemy. The name of the dagger comes from the Latin words for “act of mercy.” When a knight was knocked off his horse and he was seriously wounded, to alleviate his suffering, he was finished off with such a dagger. Many used the dagger to intimidate a wounded knight in order to induce him to surrender or demand a ransom.

The wrist knife was used by the Turkana people of Africa. Local residents believed that domestic animals, such as cows, were a gift from God. Herds of animals often became the cause of inter-tribal conflicts. In addition, each tribe tried to expand its territory. In such conditions, valiant warriors carried spears, shields, and various types of knives, including a wrist knife. In addition, it was forbidden to kill a fellow tribesman with a spear, so internal disputes were resolved brutally with the help of wrist knives.
It was made of steel or iron, which was heated and shaped by blows of stones. Turkana men most often wore such knives on their right hand, although in other tribes they were worn by both men and women. In addition to being a weapon, the knife was also used for other purposes, such as cutting down trees.

The sickle-shaped kuyan from the island of Java was considered a divine gift, a symbol of the harmony of the world and was popular among kings as God's viceroys on Earth. The kuyan was primarily used as a farming tool, but King Kudo Lalin stated that he saw the knife in a vision of the unification of Java. After the vision, he gathered all the blacksmiths and told them about the shape of the mystical knife. The result was a weapon in the shape of the island of Java, with three holes that symbolized the deities of the Hindu religion. After Islam began to dominate the island, weapons underwent a number of changes. Its shape was changed and became similar to the letter “shin”, and instead of three there were already five holes, as a symbol of the five postulates of Islam.

The kila is a ritual dagger that originated in ancient India and later became popular in Tibet, where it was called the phurba. Each element of the knife symbolizes something, and the whole thing symbolizes the incarnation of the Buddhist god Hayagriva, whose three faces are depicted on the handle. At that time, they believed that the god Hayagriva helps to cope with evil spirits. The handle can have different shapes, but the image of the deity must be present. The triangular blade symbolizes ignorance, greed and aggression. "Kila" was considered a sacred object of shamans, and some of the specimens were made of wood. It was a ritual weapon against evil forces. The shaman poked a dagger into the rice in front of the patient, reciting sutras, driving away illness and evil spirits. It is not surprising that it costs incredible amounts of money at auctions.

A combat knife is designed taking into account its priority function - destroying the enemy.

The design of these weapons varies depending on the requirements of a particular special unit, but, ideally, a combat knife should meet several basic requirements that allow a fighter to use it in the most effective way.

In this article we will present ten types of the most famous and most popular combat knives, which are still in service with some armies of the world.

1.Navaja

This Spanish knife became a real symbol of revenge - it was used by hot southern guys to explain to the enemy who was really right here. The navaja was invented by peasants in order to circumvent the existing ban on long blades. The knife is unfolded manually; there is a lock on the butt, which became the prototype of the modern backlock.

2.Bowie knife

A typical weapon of the modern redneck, invented by a veteran of the Texas Revolution, Colonel James Bowie. This huge cleaver, with a cross-shaped guard, was loved to be carried by Crocodile Dundee in the film of the same name. A knife is not very convenient to use as a combat weapon - unless you are suddenly transported to the Middle Ages, where you simply cannot do without a sword.

3.Machete

And another gift from sunny Spain: a machete - a wide, long cleaver with a one-sided sharpening. Such a thing is equally convenient for clearing a path in the thickets and cutting off the heads of enemies. During the Vietnam War, machetes were widely used by American soldiers: army cutlasses had a hollow handle for a ground strike and a serrated handle.

4.Karambit

The knife is designed to solve only one task - killing the enemy. The karambit is equipped with a sickle-shaped blade with internal sharpening. The correct grip is reverse; for convenience, there is a special ring on the handle for the index finger. The blade is not long, so it is convenient to carry this murder weapon in your pocket.

5.Balisong

The famous “butterfly knife”, an indispensable attribute of every yard guy from the 90s. In the Philippines, balisong is actively used in knife fighting schools. Opening a knife is a separate song, performed by some craftsmen with truly circus antics.

6.Bolo

During the Philippine Revolution, the bolo knife experienced a real renaissance. This agricultural tool, convenient for cutting down thickets, turned into a terrible nightmare for the soldiers of the American army. The bolo has a reverse sharpening and a curved blade - in appearance it is something between a machete and a kukri.

7.Kukri

The famous kukri, the military weapon of the Nepalese Gurkhas, looks more like a medieval instrument of mass murder. The blade has an internal sharpening and a reverse bend; the owner of a genuine kukri tries to never part with the knife. For Gurkhas, kukri is a specific symbol indicating that the owner belongs to the warrior caste.

8.Tanto

The history of this knife dates back to the beginning of the Middle Ages. Tanto remained the last argument of the samurai: a shortened blade, conveniently hidden in a bamboo case, often decided the course of the battle on its own. The usual length of the blade is 30 centimeters, sharpening can be either single-sided or double-sided.

9.Quaiken

The cutting edge of a quaiken blade can be compared to a razor blade. Quiken was and is carried for self-defense; the knife is ideal for concealed carry.

10. Spike knife

Most likely, the ancestor of the push dagger, or butcher knife, was the Indian Qatar. This weapon became popular during the Gold Rush - then the knife was considered the “last chance” of a gold miner. It's difficult to use for anything other than self-defense, but it does its job well.