Some military forces issued knives for individual campaigns or for specialist troops such as pioneer or field engineer detachments, but these cutting tools were not primarily designed for use as combat knives. However, privately purchased knives were often carried by foot soldiers for use both as auxiliary weapons and as utility tools. The rise in use of firearms led to a decline in the use of combat daggers and knives as military-issue weapons. The English and Scandinavians introduced a combat knife known as the ' bollock dagger' into military service around 1350, while the French poignard and the Scottish dirk were daggers designed from the outset as military weapons.

French and Italian military daggers of the 14th century were the first to introduce the acutely tapered, sharply pointed and double-edged blade as a response to improvements made in armor design and the need to exploit weaknesses in armor protection. The adoption of combat daggers made of iron was a significant milestone in combat knife development, and such weapons were highly prized in the ancient armies of the Middle East.

Since the end of trench warfare, most military combat knives have been secondarily designed for utility use (clearing foliage, chopping branches for cover, opening ammunition crates, etc.) in addition to their original role as close-quarter combat weapons, and may be referred to as 'fighting-utility knives.' On the other hand, military knives that are intended primarily for use in a role other than combat are typically referred to by their primary role, such as ' utility knife' or ' survival knife'.ĭaggers designed for military usage in close combat engagements have been carried by soldiers for thousands of years. Knife designed for military use for hand-to-hand combat ’F-S Fighting Knife”, the famous Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife, developed for Commandos during World War 2 and adopted by numerous Special Forces post-war.Ī combat knife is a fighting knife designed solely for military use and primarily intended for hand-to-hand or close combat fighting.

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