Combat knife

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USMC KA-BAR knife, standard model

Combat knives are mainly used in close combat.

US Marines practicing with knives attached to their rifles.

KM2000 of the German Army

Modern combat knives come in many shapes and sizes. Most militaries today have standardized the types of combat knives issued to infantry soldiers.

In the United States Marine Corps, the standard issue combat knife is the KA-BAR, and has been since World War II. A typical KA-BAR knife has a 7" clip-point blade. It is made of 1095 carbon steel and features a leather-washer or synthetic handle made of Kraton (a substitute for rubber, non-slip grip).

The famed Gurkha regiments favor the Kukri, a bladed weapon that more closely resembles a machete or Filipino bolo sword than a knife. With quick, chopping blows, a well trained Kukri wielder is devastating in close combat.

One famous combat knife is the British Fairbairn-Sykes, which is very much like a dagger in its thin, double-edged design. Its specific purpose is silently killing an unprepared sentry or other foe, or knife fighting.

Large knives meant for combat are also used extensively in jungle or swamp conditions, and are useful for actions such as cutting vines or roots, and can very well save one's life in an unfamiliar situation.