Trench knives were designed for close combat during WWI and are still issued today. They have a short, sharp blade and a heavy pommel for punching. They were used for silent attacks in cramped trenches and are sometimes banned due to blade length or knuckle guards.
A trench knife is a knife that was specially designed for close quarters combat such as that characterized trench warfare of World War I. In fact, the trench knife design was born during this conflict and proved so useful that the military continued to issue trench knives long after the days of trench warfare were over. Suppliers of knives and military equipment often carry trench knives, including replicas of famous WWI and WWII designs.
The key feature of a trench knife is that it is short, allowing a soldier to use it in confined spaces, and also extremely sharp. The blade is classically straight and can be fluted with only one channel. Early trench knives were simply personal weapons or modified bayonet blades and swords, but military strategists quickly realized that it would be highly advisable to produce a special trench knife.
In addition to having a rather wicked blade, many trenching knives also have a heavy, solid pommel that can be used very effectively for punches, especially for skull pounding. Some trench knives also have a hand guard that can theoretically double as another surface that can be used for punching. These “knucklebuster” trenching knives sometimes have handles shaped like brass knuckles, providing a solid grip and offering hand protection to the user.
Soldiers used trench knives when they went over the wall into the opposite side trenches. The blades could be used safely in crowded and cramped trenches, and also had the advantage of being silent weapons. Scouts and other individuals who cleared the wall first often used trench knives to remove sentries and guards so that the enemy would not notice the approaching attack. Silent weapons were often preferred for trench raiding missions, because they did not attract attention, reducing the risk of alerting the enemy.
In some regions, civilians are not permitted to carry trench knives. Blade length can become a factor, with people unable to carry blades beyond a certain length in public. The presence of brass knuckles can also be a problem, as finger weapons have been specifically banned in some areas due to concerns about their use in criminal activity. In these situations, people may be allowed to display a trench knife in the home, especially if it is an artifact of military service, but may not carry the blade in public.
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