Knife

The knife has played a vital role in human history since earliest days. Already since the Stone Age, primitive people used stone, bone or wood materials that served as knives. With these other materials were processed, animals are killed and processed.

With the advent of the Bronze Age and the use of this material for the production of tools and weapons, the knives were also produced accordingly and received the most still preserved form today.

During the first millennium BC, tools and weapons made of bronze were gradually replaced by iron materials. These were much more stable, stronger and harder than those made of bronze.

In the 12th century, steel could be made by adding various iron additives. From this material weapons and tools were later manufactured again and will still be there today.

 

 

 

The different types of knives:

There are different types of knives that are mainly distinguished according to their design or use:

• bayonet
  Bayonets are single- or double-edged knives that are attached to a rifle barrel in order to be able to slash or push against the enemy. As a rule, these knives have an eyelet on the handle, through which the gun barrel is pushed.
• Boot knife / boot dagger
  These knives are smaller types, which are fastened in a sheath on or in the boot. Also on belts an attachment is possible.
• Dagger / dagger knife
  Daggers are equipped with a fixed or hinged blades and this only the passing. With daggers the place lies in the middle, with dagger knives not
• hunting knife
  Hunting knives have a single or double-edged fixed blade and are designed for outdoor use.
• Military knife
  Military knives are single- or double-edged knives which can be equipped with a serrated blade and are designed for use in military units that do not have a bayonet.
• Folding and pocket knife
  These knives are equipped with a single or double-edged blade, which is stored in a hinge for protection and must be folded or folded by hand.
• Survival knife
  These knives usually have a wide blade, on one side of which is usually a saw back. Some designs also have a full grip to create storage space for smaller items
• switchblade
  Jumping knives act similar to the folding knives, except that the blade pops out of the side of the handle.
• Faust dagger
  In these knives, the blade is mounted at a right angle to the handle, with the grip of the anatomy of the fingers adapted so that the knife can be held in a closed fist, the blade can be seen between the fingers and thus stitch movements are performed.
• guillotine
  In fall knives, the blade is located with a spring tension inside the handle. Pressing the shutter button causes the blade to pop out. These knives are also referred to as automatic knives
• butterfly knife
  With these knives, the blade disappears inside the split handles.
• throwing knives
  In the case of throwing knives, the blade is heavier than the handle, so that when the knives are thrown the blade points forwards.
• pocket knife
  As a pure pocket knife knives are referred to, which have one or more blades that can be folded in a housing and are usually installed in conjunction with other utensils such as pliers, loupe, bottle opener, etc.

 

 

 

 

Blade shapes:

The blade shape is mainly from the regional point of view. Thus, in the different regions of the world, with the beginning of the production of bronze knives, the blade forms typical of these regions were developed and remained until today, so that the designations were assigned not to the purpose but to the origin of the form:

• Californian form
• Turkish form
• Scandinavian sword

 

Other blade shapes:

• standard form
• Schaffuß blade
• Drop-Point-Blade
• Speyblade

 

 

 

Applications:

For the military sector knives are used in 2 forms:

bayonet

The bayonet has been used since the middle of the 17th century as a weapon in connection with rifles. These were developed in France and then spread throughout Europe.

The first bayonets were still inserted directly into the gun barrel, so that the soldier could either shoot only or use the bayonet. 1669 Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban developed a system to attach the bayonet with a grommet on the side of the barrel. The spread of the bayonets and thus the possibility to substitute simple infantrymen as spearmen accelerated at the same time the extinction of the pikemen.

From the 19th century, the bayonet form developed, which had a handle and thus could be used without a rifle.

At the beginning of the First World War, bayonets were still used by most of the armed forces involved in the conflict and some had a length of 50cm. Some of these were still being fought in the first trench fights. However, with the arrival of the stormtroopers, the handling of the long bayonets quickly proved unfavorable. The battles were instead conducted with the fixed feldspar. As a knife replacement then the dagger was introduced, which was also used in the Second World War.

After the Second World War, bayonets were rarely used in conflicts, as they are barely used.

 

 

 

 

Military Knife / Combat Knife:

Combat knives are designed to be used as a weapon in close combat and to kill the enemy or at least to incapacitate them. For this purpose, the early development was designed to make the knife narrow and pointed, so that it can penetrate better into the body and thus possibly destroyed vessels or veins.

Modern combat knives are less focused today on the fight but serve mainly as a tool for cutting through wires or cutting wood and sheet metal. The knife as a melee weapon has almost completely lost importance since the beginning of the First World War, partly and after the Second World War, because today's weapons systems and military tactics are no longer designed for man-to-man combat.

 

 

 

 

 

List of some combat knives used today:

Balbach fighting knife

Knife art	Fixed knife
blade length	Individually
handle length	Individually
overall length	Individually
handle material	Thongs of Australian silver fir
blade material	Torsionsdamast
mechanism	none
mass	Depending on the production
sheath	Precious wooden box

 

Bares dagger

Knife art	dagger
blade length	155mm or on request
handle length	120mm or on request
overall length	275mm or on request
handle material	leather
blade material	Stainless steel
mechanism	none
mass	320g or on request
sheath	leather sheath

 

Benchmade AFO Modell 9000 SBT

Knife art	switchblade
blade length	95mm
handle length	120mm
overall length	215mm
handle material	aluminum
blade material	ATS
mechanism	Switchblade mechanism
mass	137g
sheath	none

 

Benchmade Mel Pardue Design Modell 850

Knife art	jackknife
blade length	70mm
handle length	98mm
overall length	171mm
handle material	Micarta
blade material	ATS
mechanism	Linerlock
mass	74g
sheath	none

 

Benchmade Reflex

Knife art	switchblade
blade length	81mm or 102mm
handle length	107mm or 132mm
overall length	188mm or 234mm
handle material	aluminum
blade material	ATS
mechanism	Switchblade mechanism
mass	68g oder 145g
sheath	none

 

Böker Paratrooper

Knife art	Sliding knife
blade length	85mm or 135mm
handle length	90mm or 105mm
overall length	175mm or 240mm
handle material	Stainless steel
blade material	Stainless steel
mechanism	hinge mechanism
mass	87g or 193g
sheath	none

 

Camillus Marine Combat / Combat II Knife

Knife art	fixed knife
blade length	178mm
handle length	127mm
overall length	305mm
handle material	leather
blade material	Carbon steel
mechanism	none
mass	320g
sheath	leather

 

Cold Steel Black Bear Classic

Knife art	fixed knife
blade length	210mm
handle length	133mm
overall length	343mm
handle material	Micarta
blade material	AUS
mechanism	none
mass	360g
sheath	leather

 

Cold Steel Oyabun

Knife art	fixed knife
blade length	191mm or 229mm
handle length	129mm
overall length	319mm or 358mm
handle material	Kraton
blade material	AUS
mechanism	none
mass	216g or 235g
sheath	leather

 

Cold Steel SRK-Survival Rescue Knife

Knife art	fixed knife
blade length	152mm
handle length	111mm
overall length	263mm
handle material	Kraton
blade material	Carbon steel
mechanism	none
mass	233g
sheath	leather

 

CRKT Sealtac I

Knife art	fixed knife
blade length	163mm
handle length	137mm
overall length	300mm
handle material	GfK
blade material	AUS
mechanism	none
mass	272g
sheath	Kydex-Cordura

 

Elsen S.A.S.

Knife art	fixed knife
blade length	175mm
handle length	125mm
overall length	300mm
handle material	Micarta
blade material	ATS
mechanism	none
mass	As desired
sheath	leather

 

Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Covert Folder

Knife art	jackknife
blade length	95mm
handle length	125mm
overall length	216mm
handle material	GfK
blade material	ATS
mechanism	Linerlock and Interlock
mass	113g
sheath	none

 

Halcon Camboyano

Knife art	Fixed knife
blade length	190mm or 210mm
handle length	139mm
overall length	329mm or 349mm
handle material	rubber
blade material	Stainless steel
mechanism	none
mass	310g or 350g
sheath	leash

 

 

 

 

 

You can find the right literature here:

 

Bladesmithing: Beginner + Intermediate + Advanced Guide to Bladesmithing: Knife Making Compendium for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Bladesmiths

Do you want to make your first knife but don't know where to start?Does your pride in your bladesmithing skills motivate you to take them to the next level?Do you want buyers to come begging to buy your knives?Are you constantly inspired by popular bladesmithing TV shows, and want to improve and compare to the master bladesmiths present on them?I, Wes Sander, will share the secrets of creating knives and swords that are easy to make yet strong and sharp.

Click here!

 

 

The Total Knife Manual: 141 Essential Skills & Techniques

A good knife is an essential tool for camping, hunting, fishing, self-defense, cooking, and so much more. A great knife is a thing of beauty to be used and treasured for a lifetime. Using one takes knowledge and skill, and Eddie Nickens, author of the bestselling Total Outdoorsman Manual, is your expert guide.

Whether you’re hunting, fishing, camping, cooking, or facing a life-or-death survival situation one thing is certain: you need a good knife. In this authoritative book, Eddie Nickens, Field & Stream editor at large and author of The Total Outdoorsman tells you everything you need to know about choosing the right knife for the job, using it correctly, keeping it sharp, and more.

Detailed “design workshops” provide an in-depth education in what makes a great knife, as well as how to choose the right knife for the job. Hands-on practical tips detail how to use your knife in a wide range of everyday, on-the-go, and even life-and-death situations, from whittling a tent peg to dispatching a wild hog.

Special features celebrate the greatest knives ever made, and the craftsmen who changed the game forever. For everyone from the casual camper looking to find the right all-around tool to carry on his belt to the connoisseur and collector who can tell a Victorinox from a Wenger at 100 paces.

Click here!

 

 

The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Knives, Swords, Spears & Daggers: Through History In Over 1500 Photographs

This encyclopedia traces the fascinating history of knives, daggers, bayonets, swords, sabres and lances, from their Palaeolithic origins through to the 21st century. Weapons from around the world are examined, such as the decorated daggers of Persia and the exquisite knives of Japan. A superb directory features 750 examples of sharp-edged weapons, describing the origins, capabilities and specifications of each one. With 1500 photographs and illustrations, and written by leading experts in the field, this beautiful guide is an indispensable resource for the serious collector and amateur enthusiast alike, and will fascinate anyone with an interest in historical weapons.

• An authoritative guide to sharp-edged weapons, from their origins in the Stone Age through to the 21st century, with 1500 color photographs

• Describes ancient and modern weapons, such as the first flint daggers, the spears of ancient Greece, Samurai swords, knightly swords, fencing blades, and the bayonets of World War II

• Includes a comprehensive visual directory of over 750 blades arranged by period, with expert descriptions and details of origin, date and length

Click here!

 

 

 

 

 

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