Knives are in service with the armies of the world. 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 in the army or among 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. While good knife 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, by virtue of 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 of the world, but with the advent 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:
![](https://i1.wp.com/comp-pro.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/amerikanskij-nozh-kastet-1.jpg)
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:
![](https://i0.wp.com/comp-pro.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/nr-40-nozh-avtomatchikov.jpg)
In some sources you can find information that japanese knives used during World War II on the Japanese front. Really, traditional knives tantos 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 a bayonet-knife was practically not needed in conditions 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;
- The folding knife must be reached and brought 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:
![](https://i0.wp.com/comp-pro.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/rossijskij-nozh-rys.jpg)
There are many more modifications of combat knives Russian production, but you need to remember that the knife is in modern army It is used quite rarely and 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 steels (these knives cost several times more than Russian models). Let's try to briefly talk about several of the most popular models:
![](https://i2.wp.com/comp-pro.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/flotskij-nozh-ssha.jpg)
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.
The first knives appeared about two million years ago. Until now, this type of weapon has come a very long way in order to become faithful assistant person. Over the past fifty years, companies that create the best knives, without exaggeration, are constantly competing, producing the most beautiful and high-quality models.
Kitchen knives
For the kitchen, you need to choose a really high-quality knife that the housewife will have confidence in. At first glance it seems that this question is very easy, but it is not so. As a rule, cheaper options require constant sharpening; they wear out, which quickly becomes boring and inconvenient. In order to understand which knives are the best, you need to look into a specialized store. On this moment There is a huge assortment, which includes Japanese, Italian, German products.
How to choose a kitchen knife?
To please yourself with a good knife model, you need to choose according to certain criteria:
- The knife should be sharp and fit well in the hand.
- Non-eroding material from which the blade is made.
- The model must retain its appearance for a long time without being influenced by mechanical influences.
A real housewife never uses one knife, which she inherited from her grandmother. It is imperative to purchase a set of three or even six devices. The standard package includes a large knife, required for labor-intensive slicing, several universal ones, suitable for moderately complex work, and small ones, usually intended for peeling fruit. Additionally, you can purchase special devices for slicing bread, steaks, peeling potatoes, etc.
The best knives, or rather, some of the highest quality, are made in Italy. Del Ben uses stainless steel. Their products undergo special heat treatment, which allows them to achieve a strength of 56 Hrc. This is what guarantees the hardness of the blade and long-term operation. In the set, the manufacturer provides a special stand, with which the knives look more stylish and elegant.
However, which kitchen knives are the best is up to the housewives to decide; the main thing is to pay attention when purchasing to the quality of the material from which they are made, their appearance and convenience. After all, this device is selected for several years.
The best hunting knives
A hunting knife is a device with which a person will not only cut food, but also cut grass or even butcher prey. When buying a knife, you should pay attention to its blade. It must be of excellent quality so that it can cope with difficult tasks. Best hunting knife- the concept is individual: some are satisfied with models from well-known foreign companies, while for others an ordinary home-made forged device is suitable.
The main requirement: the blade must be made of high carbon steel. Its hardness is determined based on the amount of carbon it contains. A really good product has a hardness of over 55 Hrc. How to find out how much carbon the best hunting knife, made by the most... famous masters Europe? You need to look at the brand. For example, M 420 indicates that the carbon content is 0.5%, M 440A - 0.75%.
If you need to purchase an elastic knife, you should pay attention to the strength - it should not exceed 63 Hrc. A product coated with chrome will remain sharp for a long time, and it also has anti-corrosion properties, which is important for a hunter. Remembering right away, I would like to say that knives made from this material have a long service life and never let the owner down. The disadvantage of such a device is that with a hardness of 60 Hrc it practically does not wear off, but in a short period of time it begins to rust.
How to choose a good hunting knife?
The best knives, distinguished by their quality and pleasant appearance, have a very high price, which is why when purchasing you should never draw premature conclusions and opt for the first expensive device you come across.
First, you should clearly understand why you are buying a hunting knife, for example, for cutting meat or cutting wood. Once the final decision has been made, you can begin making your choice. It is necessary to pay attention to steel first of all. Its type, shape, length, manufacturer - all this also plays a significant role. Since the knife is not bought for kitchen work, it should be chosen with special care. It is best to choose a model manufactured by a proven company that has been known in this field for many years.
The length of the knife should be approximately 10 cm. A shorter device can be of little use, and a long one will be inconvenient to carry. For cutting game, you should prefer a device 15 cm long, but not too heavy.
It is recommended to avoid knives made from Damascus steel because it rusts quickly. In order to check whether it is made of high-quality material, you need to click on the blade with your finger, after which a drawn-out and very clear sound should appear.
The best knives for hunting
The best knives for hunters are made in the USA, Finland and Japan. These manufacturers have long taken a leading position in the world and are still not giving up their positions. The quality of the knives they produce is high, which allows you to use the device for a long time without additional sharpening.
The largest assortment that has and unique species, provided by the USA. Hunting is the second “friend” of the inhabitants of this state.
If there is no desire to use foreign devices or there are no funds to purchase them, then you should remember that Russian companies are no worse.
The best knives in Russia are Kizlyar. The products of this company are rightfully considered the highest quality in the country. Not far from it were "Air Zlatoust", "BASKo" and "Northern Crown". These manufacturers also provide the opportunity to purchase not only knives directly for hunting, but also special accessory devices that are designed to decorate walls.
Domestic companies use new technologies to manufacture products, which are also used by foreign companies. Therefore, perhaps in some situations it is better to emphasize them. According to some parameters Russian knives they even surpass American or Japanese ones, for example, in price.
Combat knives
A popular type of weapon is the combat knife. Oddly enough, with the advent and rapid development of pistols, machine guns and other firearms, the knife remains the most common melee weapon. It is universal: it can be used to obtain food for oneself, surviving in extreme conditions, and used for self-defense. However, like any other type of weapon, knives must be certified before they hit the counter. It is interesting that some models of combat knives may well not differ from household knives. But this only applies to appearance. The difference lies in the material of manufacture, length, thickness, hardness, etc. The best combat knives for each person will be different, it is impossible to make an unambiguous list. The selection criteria in this matter are purely individual. However, it should be noted that to purchase any knife for combat purposes, you must have a storage permit with you firearms and a certificate confirming the right to hunt.
The best combat knives
The ancestor of the modern one is considered to be khukri. This device was the weapon of the Gurkhas, who were considered the strongest soldiers in Britain. It had a blade that was slightly beveled forward. The handle resembled the handle of an ancient pistol; it was made from elephant bone.
The best combat knives are slightly reminiscent of khukri in appearance. It has little to compare with other models; its main and main competitor is firearms.
Scandinavian knives are considered the best option. They are difficult to counterfeit, which is why they have gained trust and popularity. Good devices are also products from Elka, Helle, Marttini. They are made from quality materials and have a low price.
Puma knives (a German company) are expensive, but their service life justifies these figures. There have been cases where one model was used for more than 30 years.
Russell Canadian Belt Knife
The best knives in the world are made by a large number of companies, one of them is Cold Steel. Most often in catalogs you can find unique-looking models, whose functionality suffers due to their unusual configuration.
The Canadian belt knife is affordable and high quality. It is designed for both regular everyday cutting and field work.
Despite the fact that this device is large in size, the best kitchen knives are from Cold Steel. Its size is about 20 cm, the blade is 8 cm. The price varies from 1500 to 2000 rubles. It is easy to use and will not leave anyone indifferent.
Knife "Nessmuk"
“Nessmuk” are the best knives in the world, and without exaggeration. This device was created for human survival in extreme conditions. The product received this name in honor of George Sears, who had the nickname Nessmuk. He is a famous writer, traveler and environmentalist. Sears is the author of the famous book “Woodcraft and Camping”, which talks about the rules. It has gone through several dozen reprints.
The Nessmuk style Hells Canyon Hunter knife has an antler handle. Moreover, it is not an ordinary universal device, but a set consisting of a small folding knife and a double-sided hatchet. At first, Americans did not admire such a weapon, but the knife quickly took root in the everyday life of Canadian travelers.
Ulu
Ulu is used by the Eskimos and other peoples of the North. The handle is located on the butt, the knife is intended for use by women; has a semicircular, moon-shaped shape.
Walrus or deer bone and wood are used to make the handle. Ulu are undoubtedly the best knives for northern women. As before, in the cold part of the planet there is an acute shortage of cutting objects, as well as high-quality materials for their manufacture.
This knife can simultaneously serve as a tool for cooking, processing animal skins, sewing, etc. Currently, the ulu is used in the USA and Finland. Moreover, they make it for tourists who are interested in such antique things.
It is almost impossible to name all the best knives. For each person, this rating will change and be supplemented. However, the most important thing is to purchase the highest quality option.
Find out about the ten most important exhibits of the “art of killing coldly”.
Hunting knife
It has a fixed blade with one or two blades. These knives are used during hunting. Although, it is possible for any other purposes. This is a universal solution for a lover of sharp weapons.
Source: defensetech.com
Bayonet knife
This type of knives is used as impact weapon at assault rifle. In most cases, the bayonet-knife has a mechanical device for mounting on the barrel. Used in hand-to-hand combat.
Source: defensetech.com
Butterfly knife
This is a folding knife, the handle of which is divided into two halves lengthwise. When these halves are thrown away, the blade is revealed. The knife borrowed this name from a butterfly, since the process of the blade appearing is similar to the opening of the wings of an insect.
Source: defensetech.com
Throwing Knife
Designed for throwing at a target. The knife has features. Its center of gravity is strictly in the center. The blade of such a weapon tends to widen towards the tip. Such knives are made by stamping. The handle is not equipped with pads or finger rests. Often holes are made in the handle to make the blade heavier. This makes the throwing knife more accurate.
Source: defensetech.com
Stylet
A stiletto is a dagger with a narrow three- or tetrahedral blade. This knife appeared in the 16th century in Italy. The stiletto is intended exclusively for stabbing strikes. Although, how are you creative person, you can try frying sausages on it.
Source: defensetech.com
John Rambo knife
A powerful thing, especially for its owner, who found himself in the impenetrable jungle for the first time. 40 centimeters of excellent stainless steel. A menacing saw on the back of the knife. The handle contains a set of devices for survival in difficult conditions. A compass is mounted on the end.
Source: defensetech.com
Indiana Jones Blade
The length of this knife is impressive - 61 centimeters with a 45 centimeter blade. This knife is almost impossible to dull. Just a little wipe is enough to make the blade shine like a mirror. Has beautiful copper inserts on the handle and back of the blade. The tip of the handle is shaped like an eagle's head.
A combat knife is designed taking into account its priority function - destroying the enemy.
The design of this weapon 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 is 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 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 massacre. 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 sheath, 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.Quiken
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.
I would like to start a review of the most interesting foreign knives of the past with a triangular combat knife, which in medieval Germany had a purely practical significance- tear the chain mail links of a knight clad in armor. This dagger was called German word“panzerbreaker” and was most often used to finish off a defeated enemy.
The legendary dagger misericorde (misericord or misericordia), which translated means “dagger of mercy,” served the same “noble” purpose in France. Unlike the panzerbrecher, the misericordia did not pierce chain mail, but with a thin and narrow blade they stabbed a knight lying on the ground and unable to stand up on his own, pushing the blade into the cracks between the plates plate armor. Other daggers were also common - the Swiss basselard, the Spanish rondel, the Italian stiletto and a dagger with special teeth for gripping the sword blade.
In the era of chivalry, a thin and durable dagger was an indispensable attribute of a knight. If wearing armor, you can finish off the vanquished in battle; if without it, you can fight off enemies in a cramped room where you can’t turn around with a sword. By the way, a short combat knife tanto or a sword slightly longer than a tanto - wakizashi - served the same purposes in medieval Japan.
However, with the advent and spread of firearms, the knights had to abandon the useless heavy armor. The need for “daggers of mercy” automatically disappeared. They were replaced by light daggers for the left hand - dags, which were very popular in the era of the musketeers. They could not only deliver an unexpected blow or deflect the enemy’s sword, but sometimes even break a blade caught in a special trap on the guard. There were even special dags with three blades - a kind of fork into which fencing masters captured the sword blades of their opponents.
In the 17th century, in Western European armies, swords were gradually replaced by more functional weapons - the saber or its heavier variety - the broadsword. And the daga loses its luxurious guard, little by little turning into a combat knife, the “weapon of last chance” of a private and an officer after the saber is broken and all the cartridges are shot. And also as an everyday tool soldier's life, necessary both on a hike and at a rest stop.
In this article we will not consider in detail the evolution of combat knives. different countries world, such work would take many volumes. Here we will focus only on the most interesting combat knives of some countries - and interesting not only to the collector, but also to the ordinary reader who first touched upon the topic to which this article is devoted.
Bowie knife
Perhaps the most famous and legendary type of American knife, dating back to the times of the Wild West. Designed in the 1930s by plantation owner Reason Bowie, the knife gained popularity thanks to Reason's younger brother, James. Being a desperate adventurer by nature, James Bowie sent many white competitors and redskins to the next world with the knife that bears his name. Thanks to this, he received the rank of Colonel of the Texas People's Militia and glorified his brother's knife throughout America.
The knife, with its large sword-like blade, served as a great asset to the American military in the age of muzzle-loading rifles and pistols that required a lot of time to reload after firing. During the American Civil War 1861–1865. The Bowie knife was considered one of the main types of personal weapons. Subsequently, with the advent of multi-shot firearms, the huge “Bowie knife” loses its relevance, but thanks to novels, and subsequently films, it does not lose its legendary status. The successful form of this knife is embodied to this day in the smaller descendants of the famous ancestor - many American combat and tactical knives. For example, in the famous “Ka-Bar” knife, which will be discussed below.
U.S. Mark I Trench Knife
Since the First World War, there has been a need to supply combatants with melee weapons. The bayonets available at that time did not allow fighting at a short distance due to their large geometric dimensions.
At this time, so-called trench knives appeared, acting as melee melee weapons. Then a certain hybrid of brass knuckles and a dagger, the so-called Knuckle Knife, became widespread among American military personnel.
The photo shows a standard US Army dagger-knuckle of the 1918 model “U.S. Mark I Trench Knife”.
This is a fairly versatile weapon that allows you to combine strikes metal part a handle reinforced with conical protrusions to inflict puncture wounds on the enemy. The back of the handle ends in a conical pommel, which can also cause serious injuries.
The Ka-Bar knife is an American classic of combat knives with a Bowie blade. United States Marine Corps (USMC) standard combat and traveling knife, housings Marine Corps USA during World War II. First produced by Union Cutlery, the knife was subsequently produced by such well-known manufacturers as Case, Camillus and Ontario. The Ka-Bar blade is made of carbon steel and is predominantly coated black to prevent corrosion. The handle is inlaid, leather, brown. The shank is a steel head, the purpose of which, like many combat knives, is double - “brass knuckles-hammer”. The sheath is traditionally made of brown leather with embossed USMC and the US Marine Corps crest.
Combat knife of the American special forces First Special Services Forse (FSSF) during the Second World War. The joint US-Canadian FSSF unit was created in 1942 to conduct special operations and is equipped with the new V-42 Stiletto combat knife from Case Cutlery, the concept of which belongs to FSSF commander Lt. Col. Robert T. Frederick, close combat instructor Dermot O'Neal and Colonel Orval J. Baldwin.
In some ways, the V42 is a reimagining of the F-S, the British commando dagger. The hilt of the dagger, instead of cast bronze or brass, was made of leather, which increased the reliability of the grip. A large plate of skin was placed on the inside of the guard, which reduced the pain the owner felt when being pricked. The unsharpened base of the blade made it possible to throw a finger over the guard and pull out a knife stuck in the enemy’s bone. To increase the effectiveness of a piercing blow, a “thumb print” with transverse notches is applied to the unsharpened part of the blade (ricasso), on which the pad of the thumb is placed when gripping the knife directly. This grip with a horizontal blade is preferable when thrusting between the ribs and should ensure the dissection of a larger number of blood vessels. On the back of the handle there is a “skull crusher” - a metal cone for delivering crushing blows to the head and joints of the enemy.
Currently, the image of the legendary combat knife is part of the SOCOM (Special Operations Command) emblem; US Special Operations Command; American special forces, the famous Green Berets, Canadian special forces JTF (Joint Task Force 2). Also, the image of V42 was part of the emblem of the famous Operational Detachment Delta, which fought in Vietnam.
Camillus Jet Pilots" Survival Knife
The Camillus Cutlery Company is one of the oldest American companies, producing knives for the military since the First World War. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt several years ago and all its property, including equipment and trademarks, was sold at auction. So there remains hope for the resumption of production in another place, by other people, but under the same brand.
"Camillus Jet Pilots" Survival Knife" is a combat knife of US military pilots since 1957. Ideal both for placement on the belt and on the pilot’s unloading and life vest. Thanks to the special design of the sheath, it can be worn both in a normal and inverted position. “Bolt” - a counterweight on the top of the handle allows you to deliver crushing blows to the enemy’s head and joints, and also use the handle as a hammer. A wonderful survival knife in case of a pilot landing in an unfamiliar area, repeatedly tested in extreme situations by USAF (United States Air Force) pilots. , US Air Force).
A.S.E.K. Survival Knife System (Ontario)
With all the positive properties that the previous model of survival knife for military pilots (Camillus Jet Pilots" Survival Knife had), it had a number of disadvantages due to the fact that the level of its production technology corresponded to the 50s of the last century.
Problems such as the low corrosion resistance of the blade, the leather on the handle and sheath, which is prone to deformation, and the ineffective (for new materials) saw on the butt, did not allow this knife to be successfully used in modern conditions.
In 2003, a new knife was adopted, called A.S.E.K. Survival Knife System, manufactured by Ontario. This is not even exactly a knife, but rather a set of tools that provide the ability to leave the plane after a plane crash and survive in any conditions.
The knife has a saw blade that allows you to successfully cut both aircraft-grade aluminum and wood. The blade is sharpened half serrated. At the end of the handle there is a massive pommel that can be used as a hammer. In addition, the pommel has a conical protrusion for easier breaking of glass and plastic. In addition, the sheath contains a special tool for cutting belts and a small diamond stone for straightening the blade in the field.
There are holes on the guard with which you can tie a stick using a knife as a spear tip.
A.S.E.K. The Survival Knife System is mounted on elements of equipment or on the pilot’s shin.
M7 Bayonet
The American M7 bayonet was developed in 1964 for the M16 rifle. It became one of the last examples of bayonet knives, which were primarily a weapon, a means to defeat the enemy, and not a multi-purpose tool.
A whole series of American bayonet knives from the Second World War and post-war times, such as, for example, M4 (for the M1 carbine), M5 (for the M1 Garand rifle), M6 (for the M14 rifle) and the M7 described here, have one thing in common the progenitor is the M3 Trench Knife, a combat knife widely used by the American army since the early 1940s and produced by many companies, both in the USA and in other countries. All of the listed bayonet knives inherited the blade from the M3, differing in fact only in the handles and attachment points to the weapon.
An interesting fact is that the geometry of the M3 blade allows us to consider its ancestor as a knife made by order of the German Luftwaffe, which in turn is only one of the many variants of “trench” knives that appeared in the trenches of the First World War. Such borrowings are not uncommon in the weapons industry, because during war, efficiency rather than originality is paramount. And a successful model that has proven its effectiveness can live a long life, embodied in many copies and imitations, often in different sides front.
As mentioned above, the M7 is a fairly traditional design. At first glance, it is clear that his dagger blade, more than 170 mm long, is intended for piercing blows. This is facilitated by the symmetrical profile of the blade with one-and-a-half sharpening. There is a sharpened area on the butt, reaching almost half the length of the blade. This factor significantly increases the penetrating ability of the bayonet both in the user's hand and in the position attached to the rifle.
The developed guard has a ring in the upper part intended for fastening to the barrel of a weapon, and in its rear part there is a massive metal part with spring-loaded elements that fix the bayonet on a special lug in front of the rifle fore-end. In addition to performing its main function, the butt plate can be used to strike - both as an ersatz hammer and in hand-to-hand combat, since the successful arrangement of the latch parts does not allow them to be damaged by a blow.
The handle of the bayonet knife is assembled from two plastic halves, secured to the shank with two screws. These pads have a deep notch, which ensures reliable and comfortable holding of the bayonet in the hand.
The sheath used with the M7 bayonet is a standard design used with all bayonets in the series, including the M3 knife. This interchangeability is caused by the identity of the blades of these samples. The sheath is made of hard green plastic, equipped with a metal mouth and a flat spring that securely fixes the bayonet blade inside. There are two versions of such sheaths, differing in the suspension. The M8 scabbard has only a regular loop for attaching to any belt, while the M8A1 has a suspension equipped with a wire hook for a pistol belt, a standard item of US Army uniform. In recent years, a new type of sheath for the described bayonet knife has been adopted for supply to the US Army - M10. This scabbard is black in color, it is noticeably narrower than the M8, and is easily recognized by its widening at the mouth. The M10 scabbard suspension is made of cordura; it is similar in design to the M8A1 suspension and is also designed for mounting on a pistol belt.
20 years after the start of production, the M7 ceased to be the main bayonet of the US Army. It was replaced by the M9, which is described below. However, the M7 is still produced in several countries including the United States and supplies their armies. Based on the M7, the Ontario Knife Company created its modern version with a spindle-shaped handle and a blade made of 1095 carbon steel.
*nozhi*
Ontario M9
This is a bayonet-knife, whose appearance has already become canonical in the world of combat knives. The Ontario M9 was born quite late - in 1984. It was designed by Qual-A-Tec owner, Charles "Mickey" Finn (1938-2007), who previously had a hand in the development of such striking knives as the Buck 184 Buckmaster. According to the results of state tests, this bayonet became the best among other contenders and was adopted for service under the designation M9, partially replacing the previous main bayonet of the American army, the M7, produced since 1964.
The M9 was produced by several companies, the first of which was Phrobis (also founded by Finn), followed by manufacturers such as Buck, LanCay and Ontario. At the moment, over four hundred thousand M9 bayonets have been produced, and these are only official deliveries. The number of commercial versions, copies and “spiritual successors” of this knife, produced by a variety of companies from Smith & Wesson to nameless Chinese manufacturers, cannot be counted.
The fundamental motive for the design of this knife was the desire to obtain a bayonet-knife that is more of a tool than a weapon. Time bayonet attacks passed irrevocably, and the predatory elongated M7 was replaced by the thicker and longer M9. This is a massive knife, a rough and absolutely “indestructible” universal tool that allows you not only to cut - surprisingly well, given the thickness of the blade and low slopes - but also to chop, stab, open boxes and zinc with ammunition, cut through barbed wire, including and under voltage, and perform a variety of other types of work.
The blade shape of the M9 is somewhat reminiscent of the Buckmaster. This is not the M7 dagger blade and earlier US bayonet knives, but a clip point, also sometimes called a “Bowie”. Finn only slightly adapted the overly “cinematic” appearance of his previous brainchild for practical use. Also, a saw with excessively large teeth and a serrator were removed from the butt. They were replaced with a metal saw section, similar to those used in the survival knives of American pilots.
The guard and buttplate of the handle became standard for American bayonet knives. They are completely identical to similar elements on the M7. The ring in the upper part of the guard is used for fastening to the rifle's flash suppressor, and the design of the buttplate includes a spring-loaded fixation unit on a special lug under the rifle barrel. The bayonet fits all versions of the M16 rifle, the M4 carbine, a number of shotguns used by the US Army, as well as many commercial models small arms offered on international market. The thick shank of the blade passes through the entire handle to the butt plate, where a nut is screwed onto it, tightening the entire structure.
The handle of the bayonet-knife is spindle-shaped, traditional for American combat knives. Both it and the M9 scabbard are cast from heavy plastic, reminiscent of Bakelite.
The scabbard has a metal pommel with a protrusion that acts as a flat screwdriver with a peg, which can be used to hook a hole in the M9 blade, turning the bayonet and scabbard into wire cutters. This feature was seen in Soviet bayonet knives, but in this case it is slightly modified - the design of the suspension allows you to detach the sheath for ease of use with wire cutters and attach it back in seconds.
The M9 bayonet is still in production. In 1998, on its basis, the M11 knife was created for sapper units, differing in its configuration, and most importantly, the inability to attach it to a weapon. Subsequent developments, such as the OKC-3S bayonet adopted by the US Marine Corps, also bear the M9's family traits.
Ontario Mk.3 Mod.0 Navy Seal Knife
In the US military, as in every other military force around the world, there is unspoken rivalry between the various military departments. It is expressed even in the way the models of weapons and equipment adopted by one or another department are designated. In the designations of “land” weapons and equipment, the letter M is always present - model, and sailors, including the US Marine Corps, as well as various special forces units (for example, US SOCOM - Special Operations Forces Command) designate their models with the two-story code “Mk, Mod." When you see a designation like this, you can always assume that the item is related to the Navy, USMC (US Marine Corps) or US SOCOM.
All this applies to this knife. Even its manufacturer, Ontario Knife Co., specifically notes on its own website that this knife is used exclusively in the navy.
The Mk.3 blade is more reminiscent in shape and design of the AK bayonet than its immediate predecessors, the USN Mk.1 and USN Mk.2 Ka-Bar, the previous two models of American naval knives used during World War II. But with similar dimensions to the above-described 6x3 and 6x4 bayonets and an almost identical blade shape, the Mk.3 even has a sharpened bevel of the butt, a “pike,” which, together with the sharp predatory tip of the blade, gives the knife the highest piercing efficiency. Moreover, it must be taken into account that such a sharp and thin tip requires careful handling - opening cans with a knife would be somewhat reckless.
On the butt of the knife there is a saw, similar to the saws on the M9 or AK bayonet knives, but with noticeably larger teeth than on the Soviet counterparts. The Mk.3 guard is straight, equilateral, designed primarily for working with a glove, since its edges can easily crush your hand during power work. The handle is plastic, made of two halves, fastened together with a screw. The notch on the handle is aggressive, which prevents the knife from slipping out of the hand when working in extreme conditions. A lanyard passed through a hole in the end of the handle also serves the same purpose. The handle ends with a flat, massive butt plate, capable of performing the functions of a hammer and skull crusher.
The Mk.3 sheath is made of plastic, with a powerful flat spring that perfectly fixes the blade and prevents the knife from falling out of the sheath even in an inverted position with strong shaking. The scabbard suspension is made of cordura, it has a strap securing the handle of the knife and a bent wire fastener designed for attachment to a pistol belt - a standard piece of ammunition for the American army.
As a result, judging by the totality of its characteristics, we can say that the Mk.3 is a competent and reliable knife that can serve the user both as a tool and as a weapon.
Ontario SP15 LSA
This representative of the SP series, along with the previously mentioned SP3, can be considered the heir to the famous Fairbairn-Sykes and V-42 combat daggers of the Second World War. The abbreviation LSA stands for Land, Sea, Air, which can be loosely translated as “on land, on water and in the air.” This name, according to the manufacturer, should speak about the versatility of this knife and the breadth of its application. Unlike its predecessor, the SP3 dagger, the SP15 is officially purchased by the US Army and is assigned an NSN number. This allows us to consider the differences between the two daggers as changes in the design of the SP3 to please the government customer and gives an idea of the requirements of the military.
The SP15 blade is flatter and more cutting oriented than the SP3 dagger blade, which is derived from the M7 bayonet. It is not symmetrical to provide higher slopes on the cutting side of the blade. On the butt side of the blade there is a large serrator, occupying more than half of the blade. The false blade on the butt is not sharpened in the basic version, but bringing it together makes it possible to do this, increasing the effectiveness of the piercing blow.
The SP15's double-sided ambidextrous handle is derived from the SP3, with one major difference. The cone-shaped skull crusher, repeating the shape of a similar part on the legendary V-42, has been replaced with a flat pommel. Less effective in hand-to-hand combat, it is significantly more useful due to its ability to be used as a hammer. This small detail once again shows that in a modern army a knife is primarily a tool, not a weapon.
The sheath of the SP15 is similar to the sheath of other knives in this series. They are made of two parts - the base is made of thick leather, the upper half is made of cordura. At the bottom of the sheath there is a cord for fixing it on the leg; the suspension is classic, vertical, made of leather. The sheath has two safety straps with buttons, one of which secures the knife by the guard, and the second by the handle in the area of the butt plate, ensuring stowed position a tighter fit of the handle to the body and not allowing it to cling to branches and objects during active movements in combat conditions.
Scuba/Demo
The Scuba/Demo is not only one of the rarest American Special Forces knives, but also one of the rarest military knives of all time. As a matter of fact, today there is only one original knife. Initially, 39 knives were made, and 38 of them were sent to Army special forces on the coast of North Vietnam. 36 of them were lost during military operations, the remaining two knives were never seen again. SOG UBA/Demo completely recreates unique character the rarest knife of all time.
Another batch of these knives was released only once, for the 20th anniversary of the knife manufacturer, the SOG company, whose name, in fact, comes from that very legendary knife"SOG" (Special Operations Group), issued for the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the US Marine Corps. SCUBA/Demo is currently no longer in production.
Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife (F-S)
The British Commando Dagger, traditionally used by the Royal Marine Commandos today. Created in the 30s of the twentieth century by former police officers, British instructors of commando squads in shooting and close combat with and without weapons, Captain William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes, who gained their experience in real hand-to-hand combat on the streets of Shanghai, a southern Chinese port city, former colony of the British Empire.
The twelve-inch blade was based on decommissioned Metford rifle bayonets, and the spindle-shaped handle was copied from a rapier handle. The handles of the first daggers were wooden with brass knobs, allowing them to deliver crushing blows. The scabbard provided for wearing the dagger with the hilt both up and down. In November 1940, Fairbairn and Sykes began collaborating with the Wilkinson Sword company, which resulted in the production of a dagger named after its creators, Fairbairn-Sykes (F-S), in January 1941. Based on this dagger, many other combat knives appeared, including the V-42, Marine Raider Stitiletto and others.
To this day, “F-S” is the symbol of the commando units of the Marine Corps and airborne troops special purpose in the British armed forces.
OSS A-F First design
In 1942, Colonel Rex Applegate developed the first version of a new combat knife, which was called OSS A-F and was a kind of intermediate link between the F-S and A-F combat knives. More than half a century has passed, and Boker hired the famous knife manufacturer Hiro from the Japanese city of Seki to recreate the famous knife, of which very few of the originals remain. Boker produced only 600 of these knives, which are now rare collector's items, one of which is shown in the photo.
The OSS A-F blade is wide, closer in shape to the A-F knife, made of stainless steel. The handle is spindle-shaped, made of inlaid leather, similar in shape knife F-S, but more voluminous. The guard and pommel are made of polished brass.
Later, changes were made to this design, as a result of which the well-known A-F combat knife appeared.
Boker Applegate-Fairbairn Fighting Knife (A-F)
The combat use of the legendary British commando dagger "F-S" during the Second World War revealed a number of shortcomings in the latter, which subsequently one of the creators of the "F-S" William Ewart Fairbairn and Colonel Rex Applegate decided to eliminate by creating a more modern variant of a combat knife. The F-S blade, which was too long, was shortened to 15 cm. The tip of the new knife, which was too thin and easily broken off, became more massive. The round handle, which rotates in the hand, has become flatter and more comfortable. If during World War II the F-S sometimes had to be made from decommissioned bayonets, then for the new knife they began to use 44 °C stainless steel, one of the best knife steels, which sharpens well and at the same time holds an edge for a long time. Thus new dagger The Applegate-Fairbairn knife, due to the rich practical experience of its creators, has become one of the most famous and popular combat knives in the world. Currently, in the form of a modification with a black blade and a black guard, it is in service with GSG 9 (Grenzschutzgruppe German - “Border Protection Group”), the anti-terrorist special forces unit of the German Federal Police.
Boker Smatchet
The next knife Fairbairn created after the F-S was the so-called Smatchet - a chopping knife with a wide leaf-shaped blade that could be used both as a weapon and as a tool. A similar knife was put into service with the OSS service, the secret American Bureau of Strategic Services (OSS).
The model shown in the photo is the brainchild of Colonel Rex Applegate, one of the authors of the famous A-F knife, who put a lot of effort into promoting it to the market. As a result, Boker produced a pilot batch of 2,200 knives with micarta handles, and after its commercial success, it began producing the Boker Smatchet with a plastic handle.
Boker Titanium dive knife
This diving knife was designed by famous designer Dietmar Pohl and German champion diver Jens Ho:ner. After testing several prototypes made of steel and titanium, final goal– the optimal knife for scuba diving.
The Boker Titanium dive knife comes in several versions - with a simple double-edged sharpening, with a truncated tip, and also with a blade equipped with a double serrated blade, which is convenient for cutting ropes, nets and breathing hoses of enemy scuba divers. This is a compact and lightweight knife with a large handle, the sheath of which is made of Kydex and is optimized for attachment to the diver's forearm or leg.
Trench knife
In 1915, Heinrich Boker & Co. from the German “city of blades” Solingen received a government order to construct a knife with a thin blade made of high-quality, elastic steel for trench hand-to-hand combat. As a result, the famous trench knife of the First and Second World Wars appeared, with minor variations produced by several companies and used by German saboteurs and intelligence officers during special operations, as well as in close combat, which, due to its tightness, precluded the use of a rifle with an attached bayonet
Also, from a historical point of view, another version of the German “trench” knife, intended for close combat, may be interesting. The photo shows a boot knife that was manufactured during World War II by Puma from Solingen. The knife has a thin blade made of elastic steel with the manufacturer's mark. The handle is made of bakelite, the sheath has a clip for attaching to a belt or clothing. A purely combat knife without any frills, intended for trench hand-to-hand combat, but, unlike the HP-40, it is far from being a companion weapon of Victory, but only a military trophy of the winner.
Bundeswehr Kampfmesser
Even shackled by numerous restrictions after defeat in World War II, the German army needed a knife. The presence of folding multi-item knives in the army was not a solution to the problem - the young Bundeswehr needed a full-size knife that combined the functions of a combat knife and a tool.
However, such a knife appeared only in 1968. It was adopted by the army under the designation Kampfmesser - “combat knife” - and was a fairly simple and reliable design, reminiscent of the trench knives of the world wars.
The knife blade has a one-sided sharpening with slopes from the middle of the blade, which, with a thickness of 3.5 mm, gives it good cutting properties without sacrificing strength. The steel guard of the knife has a developed one-sided stop, bent towards the handle, which allows you to apply significant effort to a stabbing blow and at the same time reliably protect the fighter’s hand. The blade's shank is long, running along the entire length of the handle; two halves of the handle, molded from impact-resistant plastic, are attached to it using two screws. Moreover, the rear screw has a through hole, allowing you to pass a lanyard or safety cord through it.
The sheath is practically no different in design from the sheath of bayonets from the First and Second World Wars. It is an all-metal design with a flat spring inside and a mushroom-shaped peg on the outside of the sheath. A leather suspension with an additional fixing strap at the level of the upper screw of the handle clings to the peg.
Eickhorn Kampfmesser 2000
After the Kampfmesser combat knife was adopted into service in 1968, the German army and intelligence services could not make do with this model alone. Thanks to new German laws, various units could purchase equipment and weapons to suit their needs, which led to the emergence of large quantity variety of knives. These were both knives developed by German companies (Boker, Puma) and foreign ones (Glock, Ontario). Plus, the army successfully used a bayonet-knife for the main Bundeswehr rifle H&K G3 produced by the famous arms company Heckler & Koch, a rather successful design with a dagger blade and one-sided sharpening. And after the collapse of the GDR, there were also variants of bayonet knives for AKs made in East Germany, inherited from the NVA (Nationale Volksarmee, National People's Army of the GDR).
Many companies developed and offered the Bundeswehr their designs of combat knives, both created independently (for example, the rather successful Eickhorn ACK) and developed based on existing samples. Modifications of Boker Applegate-Fairbairn knives were proposed, as well as variants of bayonets for AK and H&K G3 without attachment points to the rifle. All of them, for one reason or another, failed the tests.
Finally, following the results of a competition held in 2001, a knife produced by Eickhorn-Solingen Ltd. was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr. under the traditional name Kampfmesser 2000.
The blade of this knife is interesting. Many researchers and collectors agree that the “American tanto” shape was chosen by the KM2000 designers largely because of its popularity, and not because of its real practical advantages. But one way or another, this knife became the first of the combat knives adopted by the army (and also accepted to supply NATO troops) with a similar blade shape.
A straight spine, a wedge-shaped profile, straight slopes as high as a third of the blade - all this gave the knife a predatory and aggressive appearance. At the same time, KM 2000 fully complies with the requirements of the technical specifications. It cuts perfectly (adjusted, of course, for the properties of the blade material, 440C stainless steel) and chops well. The weight of the knife is about 300 grams with a blade length of 170 mm. Approximately half of the cutting edge of the KM 2000 has a serrated sharpening, which is not very pronounced so as not to interfere with normal work, but quite allows you to cut a cable or rope in one movement. The thickness of the blade of 5 mm is quite enough to pry off manhole covers, and, if necessary, to support the weight of a fighter’s body when used as a support. The tang, which runs the length of the handle, protrudes from the back of the handle and allows it to be used as a hammer, glass breaker or “skull crusher”. At the same time, its flat surface does not interfere with the use of the second hand in situations where additional force is required.
The KM2000 sheath is made of plastic and is equipped with a flat spring that holds the knife inside. On their front side, covered by one of the belts, there is a section of abrasive material coated with diamond, which is used for straightening the cutting edge in the field. At the tip of the sheath there is a hole with a cord threaded through it, which serves for additional fixation on the leg when hanging the KM2000 on the belt. This suspension option is not the only possible one - on the back of the cordura base of the scabbard there are fasteners that allow you to attach them to any piece of equipment.
La Vengeur 1870
French dagger of the 1916 model, the name of which translates as “Avenger 1870”. An infantry weapon of the French army during the First World War, created specifically for trench combat.
With the beginning of the war, it became clear that the long bayonet of the French Lebel rifle was not suitable for close hand-to-hand combat. In connection with this, the French command in 1916 began hastily arming the infantry with a new dagger, the name of which reflected the aspirations of the French government to recoup their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. However, despite its practicality, the dagger was not officially adopted for service and was produced by many private companies, which explains the differences in the size, finish and quality of these daggers that have survived to this day.
Mod XSF-1
The knife was designed by Canadian Armed Forces veteran, sapper, diver, mine clearance instructor and martial arts specialist Brent Beshara. An interesting feature of the knife of a former special forces soldier is both the original shape of the double-edged blade and its “chisel” sharpening. An expert in hand-to-hand combat, Brent Beshara created an extremely durable combat knife, designed both for delivering powerful thrusts that, with a certain amount of strength and dexterity, can pierce body armor, as well as deep cuts to the neck and limbs of the enemy with the tip of a long blade. The design of the sheath allows you to place the knife in almost any position on the body. Currently, the XSF-1 knife is produced by Masters of Defense (MOD).
Strider SMF Marsoc
The Strider SMF Marsoc folding knife was the first tactical folding knife in 60 years designed specifically for the US Marine Corps' First SOCOM (Special Operations Command) unit.
The combat version of this knife, manufactured by Strider Knives of San Marcos, California, features a 100mm long camouflage-coated blade made from high-carbon CPM S30V knife steel. The part of the handle on which the frame lock is made is made of titanium, the second half is made of G10 fiberglass.
The latest version of this knife includes the Hinderer Lockbar stabilizer, a mechanism designed by knifemaker Rick Hinderer and licensed for use in the Strider. The Lockbar stabilizer is a metal disc designed to prevent the lock plate from bending outward. The original knife, developed for the Marine Corps by SOCOM in 2003, does not include this feature, but subsequent versions do.
Before this, a special knife for the Marine Corps unit was produced as early as 1942, when a version of hand-to-hand combat with the Fairbairn-Sykes (F-S) knife was adapted by Lieutenant Colonel Clifford Shuey. The knife was manufactured by the Camillus Cutlery Company of Camillus, New York. It was called the United States Marine Raider Stiletto, or USMC Stiletto, and was produced for the Marine Corps until 1944. In fact, this knife was a copy of the famous Fairbairn-Sykes combat knife, of which 14,370 units were produced.
When First Squad was created, it was decided not to use the traditional Marine Corps combat knife, the Ka-Bar. Instead, we chose the Strider's SMF folding knife, which is more compact and easy to carry.
The combat version of the Strider SMF Marsoc knife has a mark on the handle indicating the date of creation of the First SOCOM Marine Detachment (“030620”, or June 20, 2003), as well as the inscription “DET-1”. In addition, the combat version bears the insignia of the Marine Raiders, an elite unit of the US Marine Corps created during World War II to conduct amphibious operations.
Glock Feldmesser 78
One of the most famous combat knives of the second half of the twentieth century has so many “parents” and habitats in its pedigree that it would be enough for an adventure novel. It was developed by the old Austrian company Ludwig Zeitler in the second half of the 1970s as a development of the popular American combat knife of the Second World War - M3 (in turn, a rethinking of the German Luftwaffe knife), but at a new technological level and using modern materials. Soon the company ceased to exist, and its brainchild was never adopted by the Austrian army.
Then it was the turn of the Germans. The company A.Eickhorn GmbH is developing the design and producing a number of commercial knives that are further development knife Zeitler 77. Differences from the prototype consisted of a slightly different blade shape, a more developed guard, which became double-sided, as well as a different form of plastic parts - handle and sheath. This knife was also not destined to have a long history.
Further traces of the knife again lead to his native Austria, to the Glock company, which was then engaged in the manufacture of sapper blades, various tools, grenades, etc. - the Glock company became known for its pistols a little later. And only now the Austrian military finally paid attention to the knife, adopting a model called Glock Feldmesser 78 to supply the army.
Feldmesser, which means "field knife", comes in two main variants. The 1978 model knife is the basic military version, and the 1981 model differs from it only in the presence of a saw on the butt.
The clip-point blade, 165 mm long and 4 mm thick, is made of carbon steel, which is specified by the manufacturer as “spring.”
The steel is hardened to 55 HRC, which is quite enough for a working knife and greatly facilitates its sharpening in the field. To protect against corrosion and prevent unmasking glare, the knife blade of both modifications is phosphated, which gives it a matte black color. The knife guard is double-sided, its upper protrusion is bent towards the blade, forming an opener for cartridge boxes or bottles. This fact is sometimes questioned, but the information is confirmed by the manufacturer.
Another fact that raises questions among knife lovers is the possibility of attaching a Glock knife as a bayonet to the Austrian Steyr AUG rifle. This option was indeed considered when developing the knife, and it was for this reason that a cavity was left in the handle, which is mistakenly considered to be a container for the NAZ (carryable emergency supply). A special adapter was inserted into this cavity, which served as a fastening element for attaching the knife to the rifle. The Austrian army abandoned the project, and on commercially produced Glock knives, the cavity for the adapter is closed with a lid.
The handle has a comfortable shape and dimensions, all this allows you to confidently hold the knife both with a glove and with your bare hand. The center of gravity of the knife is located directly between the blade and the handle, which allows you to use a knife with a relatively short blade quite effectively for chopping. But the structure of the blade and the design of the handle of this knife dictate the predominantly piercing technique of knife fighting.
The handle itself is spindle-shaped with five belts and is cast from plastic on a shank that extends about halfway into it. Despite the apparent fragility of this connection, numerous tests of the knife show that the force required to break the knife is unlikely to be possible in real conditions. For example, cases of a knife piercing a metal frying pan have been recorded. In this case, the knife was not damaged, with the exception of the coating that was torn off at the tip.
The sheath is plastic, made by injection molding. The latch that secures the knife by hooking onto the guard and suspension is made integrally with the sheath as its element. At the end of the sheath there is a drainage hole and a loop through which you can pass a strap to secure the sheath on the leg.
The sheaths and handles of Glock knives of both modifications can be green (military version), black (commercial version and used in some special services), sand color (commercial version).
Glock knife and his various modifications They are widely used in the world as combat knives, combining the functions of a tool and a weapon. In addition to the Austrian army, they are in service in a number of European countries. Without becoming the main combat knife of the Bundeswehr, they are still used to a limited extent in Germany, for example by the famous anti-terrorist unit GSG9. Glock knives are also widely available on the commercial market. Lightweight, comfortable, reliable - it is no exaggeration to say that Glock knives occupy a place among the best combat knives in the world.
Extrema Ratio Fulcrum S
One of the most famous Italian combat knives. Extremely reliable, the blade can withstand point loads of up to 150 kg. Time-tested form Japanese tanto involves long-term use of the knife in extreme conditions without compromising its cutting qualities. The center of gravity shifted forward and the significant weight of the blade provide the possibility of delivering effective chopping blows. Used as standard equipment by Italian Army Nibbio units in Afghanistan. It was part of an experimental project by the headquarters of the Alpine troops, one of the goals of which was the selection of a universal multi-purpose knife for infantry.
Testing of the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum was so successful that it was used to create the Fulcrum Bayonet, a bayonet mounted on a rifle instead of a guard. Which, by the way, on the knife shown in the photo was cut down by the seller, which automatically transfers the standard weapon of the Italian military into the category of household knives.
The Fulcrum S knife shown in the photo is a shorter version of the Fulcrum knife, which has almost the same characteristics, but is slightly lighter.
Extrema Ratio Col Moschin
Col Moschin was officially adopted in 2002 by the Ninth Incursori Regiment (Italian Special Forces). “This model is the quintessential combat knife,” says Extrema Ratio, whose designers were inspired by the asymmetrical blade daggers used by the Arditi (Italian for “Brave”) stormtroopers of the Italian army of the First World War.
The blade of the Col Moschin combat knife, unlike the civilian version shown in the photo, is sharpened on both sides, which allows you to make cuts with the butt when the knife moves back. The anti-reflective coating of the blade has a very military name Testudo, which means “turtle”, the battle formation of the Roman legionnaires. The blade bears the logo of the Ninth Regiment - parachute, wing, torch, crossed gladius (Roman swords) and the number "9".
Guards are kept to a minimum so as not to interfere in close combat. The center of gravity of the knife is shifted towards the handle, which is designed in such a way that it is possible to dose the impact force and inflict both lethal and controlled light damage.
Extrema Ratio. Praetorian II
Combat knife from the famous Italian company Extrema Ratio. Two versions are available - Praetorian II and Praetorian IIT, differing in the shape of the blade. The handle of this dagger allows you to use both a forward and reverse grip in battle with equal success, and it is possible to place the guard between the fingers with partial placement of the palm on the ricasso (the unsharpened part of the blade). This grip turns the knife into a kind of enlarged javara, one end of which is a sharpened blade, and the other is a skull crasher. The handle is made of foamed polymer, reminiscent of large pumice. In the bare hand it feels overly aggressive, since the knife is supposed to be used with a hand protected by a glove.
The knife was created as part of the Praetoriana project, during which new types of blades were developed, the guard of the knife was rounded, and the handle, borrowed from the Tuscania knife, was modified to be compatible with the new solid sheath.
An interesting alternative to the Praetorian II is the II T version, in which the classic dagger point is modified and shaped to resemble a Roman gladius. This design solution turns the knife into a multi-purpose tool that can be used in the most difficult situations without the risk of deteriorating the cutting and piercing properties of the blade.
Extrema Ratio Suppressor Knife
That dagger with an unambiguous manufacturer's characteristic contained in the name - Suppressor Knife, "suppression knife", was developed for "GIS" (Gruppo Intervento Speciale), a team of elite anti-terrorist special forces of the Italian police.
It is a modern reimagining of the V42, an American special forces combat knife from World War II, with a modified guard and modern materials. In addition to the dagger blade itself, there is a steel skull crasher at the end of the polyamide handle. Just like the previous knife, the handle is made of foamed polymer, reminiscent of large pumice. The knife requires use by a gloved hand.
Tactical sheaths can be mounted in various positions, including on the leg. Inside they contain a hard case with the function of automatically fixing the knife in the sheath. One of the owners of this combat knife gave a brief but succinct description of the Suppressor Knife: “A laconic solution to complicated problems.” You can't say more precisely.
Chris Reeve Green Berett
The creator of the Chris Reeve Green Berett and Chris Reeve Pacific Bowie knives was born and raised in South Africa, served in the army, and was a professional hunter. In 1989 he moved to the USA, where he opened his own knife manufacturing company.
The Green Berett was Chris Reeve's first combat knife model to be tested by US Special Forces. American advertising positions this knife as follows: “The Green Beret knife, like the men for whom it is intended, is effective, brutal and uncompromising.”
The Chris Reeve Green Berett is currently issued to graduates of the Special Forces Qualification Course. They know it as “The Yarborough”, for others it is “The Green Berett Knife”. By the way, Yarborough is the surname of American Lieutenant William Yarborough, an officer of the 504th Parachute Battalion, who in 1941 proposed a characteristic insignia for the headdress of American special forces: a parachute framed by the wings of an eagle.
Sog Navy Seal 2000
This model won the state competition of knives for reconnaissance and sabotage units in 2000 Navy USA "SEAL" (Sea Air Land), better known by the nickname "Navy Seals". Designed on the basis of another popular model this company, Bowie. However, it differs in dimensions, materials from which it is made, as well as a number of design features that are worth discussing in detail.
The knife blade is made of AUS 6 steel, hardness 56–58 HRC, processed by deep freezing and coated with a light gray anti-reflective coating. The sharpening is one-sided; on the other side there is a false blade, stretched almost the entire length of the blade. This design significantly increases the piercing properties of the knife. In the root part of the blade there is a serrator, starting immediately from the cheil (the unsharpened part of the blade near the guard). The knife is also quite suitable for powerful slashing attacks.
The guard is massive, with a smooth transition to the handle, made integrally with the handle using injection molding.
The handle is made of kraton and covered with notches; for ease of holding there are finger grooves, but not too deep, so their practicality is questionable. The cross-section of the handle is rectangular, widening in the middle. In general, the shape of the handle makes it comfortable to hold with any grip.
The sheath is made of Kydex and secures the knife tightly with the mouth; however, for insurance there is also an additional safety strap with a button. The scabbard has holes and eyelets that allow it to be attached to uniforms in almost any position. There is also a belt way of wearing it.
Gerlach M 92
Standard combat knife of the Polish airborne troops, similar to the American M3 Trench Knife or the Austrian Glock Feldmesser. Of the features, it is worth noting the method of fixing the knife in the sheath and the uncharacteristic bend of the guard, which is associated with the technique of using the knife. At the mouth of the sheath there is a spring tongue that fits into the slot of the guard and secures the knife. The knife is simple, effective and inexpensive to produce.
An oxidized blade 175 mm long, on the ricasso of which there is a stamp with a crown and the name of the manufacturer “Gerlach”, the handle is made of hard rubber. The sheath is designed with the ability to attach the knife in any position, including on the leg
Corvo
The Chilean commando knife is interesting primarily because of its unusually shaped blade. For example, the famous knife expert Dietmar Pohl believes that the hook-shaped knife originates from a primitive tool for working in the field.
However, this “primitive tool” is in service with the Chilean special forces and is manufactured by the official state-owned company “Famae”, which demonstrates the functionality of this double-edged knife, time-tested, like, say, the Japanese tanto form. But it is clear that fighting with such a knife requires special skills.
Although the Chilean special forces have such skills. For example, there is information that in the battle for the city of Arica on June 7, 1880, Chilean warriors in hand-to-hand combat actually destroyed about a thousand Peruvian defenders with just Corvos. That is, the knife has quite a rich historical tradition of real combat use. It should be taken into account that there is a version of an even more ancient origin of this knife - some researchers believe that the Corvo was used in the Inca Empire, which included part of the territory of modern Chile.
Translated from Spanish, “corvo” means “curved.” In literature, the knife was first mentioned in the Spanish heroic poem “La Araucana” by Don Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga, published in 1578 and telling about the Spanish conquest of the lands of the Araucanas, the indigenous inhabitants of Chile.
World War
Kukri is a combat knife of the Gurkhas, Nepalese highlander mercenaries who have served in the British forces since the beginning of the 19th century and took part in all armed conflicts in which Great Britain was involved during this period. It was thanks to the Gurkhas, who fought both in the First and Second World Wars, and later in Hong Kong, Malaya, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan as part of rifle, parachute, engineering and special units, that the kukri became widely known all over the world.
There are cases when Nepalese commandos cut off the heads of opponents with one blow with their kukris. Well, it is quite possible that this is not a legend. The feeling of holding a kukri in your hand is unambiguous - an ax with a very unusual blade, which is convenient for chopping twigs and branches, and, if necessary and with proper dexterity, can be used as a sapper shovel. In short, a universal tool for survival.
The technology for making the original Nepalese kukri is interesting. The knife is made by hand from start to finish. The heavy blade is forged from high-carbon steel, the handle is made from buffalo horn.
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