Combat knife: Difference between revisions

{{Ratings}}

{{Era|H2|H3|H3R|HW|RE|FOR|TF|FS|GOO|LE|}}

[[Image:CombatKnife.jpg|thumb|The Combat Knife.]]

The '''Combat Knife''', occasionally referred to as the '''Close Quarters Combat Weapon System''' in technical manuals, is a infantry-sized knife used mainly for close combat kills and self defense by the [[United Nations Space Command]].

The '''multi-purpose combat knife''' has a 20 centimeter (7.9 inches) blade made of high carbon steel, coated for corrosion resistance and is 43.3 centimeters (1.42 feet) when sheathed, and although rarely used by any average soldier, all [[UNSC]] troops are issued with a combat knife for close quarters combat or in situations when ammo is scarce.<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], Spartan mission to capture Watts</ref> It is also balanced for throwing. It appears in the novels and on the backs of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]'', and in [[The Babysitter]], but not ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. One was used in cutscenes in ''[[Halo Wars]]'', and another was used in cutscenes in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''. The combat knife will play an active role in gameplay in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', where it will be used for stealth kills.

== History ==

Knives have been used in battle almost since the dawn of warfare, first as a sharp piece of rock, and then metal proved effective during a period of time where projectile weapons were not readily available. The combat knife later branched off and became a sword, while others used daggers. For thousands of years, knives and swords have been a weapon of choice for soldiers. Even after the invention of the firearm, knives were still used as bayonets for close-quarters-combat. Sabers were still issued in World War I. As war tactics shifted from trench warfare to attrition warfare, knives became last-resort weapons or simple tools. By 2553, the [[UNSC]] still uses knives, showing that such an easily accessible and created weapon still runs strong even thousands of years later. Even the Covenant (especially Brutes) uses variants of the basic knife.

One of the few times a combat knife can be seen in game is in to a sheath on an ODST's back or in some cutscenes in the video game series [[ODST]]s or on the left chest of the [[CQB]] chest plate [[Armor Permutations|armor permutation]], though they are never used in combat. In Halo Wars, Sergeant Forge used a combat knife which he named "Lucy" to wound the Arbiter and kill him with his own energy sword. It also has a serrated edge like other combat knives as mentioned in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''. It currently represents certain difficulty levels in the Halo Trilogy. Normal has a single knife, Heroic has two crossed knives, and Legendary is represented by a shot Elite skull with two crossed knives. All of these symbols are placed over a shield with the [[Marathon]] logo engraved into it, and Easy is represented by the shield alone.

*The ODST [[Action Figure]], made by Joyride Studios, has a Combat Knife that can be held by the action figure's hand.

*It was [[Frederic-104]]'s trademark weapon, after the [[MA5B Assault Rifle]].

*In ''[[Halo 3]]'' Concept Art for EGM, a [[Spartan-II]] is shown with a Combat Knife on his/her right leg, however this was just an artistic look for the ODST armor.

*A larger version of the combat knife, called the [[Machete]], was intended to be used in the early ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' build, but was cut before it made it into the final game, replaced with the game's use of melee attacks from any weapon.

*The Spartan [[CQB]] chest permutation in ''Halo 3'' multiplayer has a combat knife and its holster attached to the left chest section. It cannot be drawn or used, and is purely ornamental.

*In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', Sergeant [[John Forge]] has a combat knife named "Lucy", which he used to wound the [[Ripa 'Moramee|Arbiter]] before killing him with an [[energy sword]].

*In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', the character [[Buck]] can be seen wearing a combat knife on his chest plate, which he uses to kill a Brute Chieftain by stabbing him in the neck.

*In the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' world premiere cinematic, [[Emile-A239]] is sharpening a combat knife using his shoulder plate. It has been confirmed that knives will be usable in-game to perform special stealth kills from front and behind.

*In the ''[[Halo Legends]]'' episode ''[[The Package]]'', Frederic-104 uses a combat knife distinctly different than previous incarnations. The blade itself is similar in terms of shape, but the handle has three circular holes cut out of it, most likely to reduce overall weight. Also the back edge is serrated. It should also be noted that they are stored in the shoulder pauldrons of his [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV]].

Image:Buck Knife.png|[[Buck]], wielding a combat knife, as he is about to stab a [[Brute Chieftain]] in the neck.

Image:ODST Knife.jpg|A smaller class combat knife holstered on an ODST's shoulder.

File:Grenadier (Noble Team).jpg|[[Emile-A239]] with a combat knife.

== Sources ==

==External Links==

*[[wikipedia:Bayonet|'''Wikipedia'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s article on '''Bayonet''']]

{{UNSC Infantry Weapons}}

[[Category:Melee Weapons]]

[[Category:Weapons]]