Combat knife

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KM2000 of the German Army

A combat knife is a large knife designed for military or paramilitary use. A common misconception is that "combat knives" are specialized for close combat. However since the end of trench warfare, combat knives have been primarily designed for utility/tool use (clearing foliage, chopping branches for hiding vehicles or for sniper cover, opening ammo crates, etc). Modern military forces have limited use for close quarters knives. An example of a knife designed for close combat is the trench knife.

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

In the United States Marine Corps, the standard issue combat knife since World War II is the KA-BAR.

The Gurkha regiments favor the Kukri, a bladed weapon that more closely resembles a machete or Filipino Bolo than a knife.

One well-known combat knife is the British Fairbairn-Sykes, which is better classified as a dagger with its double-edged design. This dagger is one of the only modern combat knives designed for fighting instead of for field use.