Edged and bladed weapons

Anedged weapon,^[1]orbladed weapon,^{[citation needed]}is amelee weaponwith a cutting edge.^[2]^{[better source needed]}Bladed weapons includeswords,daggers,knives,andbayonets.Edged weapons are used to cut, hack, or slash; some edged weapons (such as many kinds of swords) may also permit thrusting and stabbing. Edged weapons contrast withblunt weaponssuch asmaces,and with thrusting weapons such asspears.

Many edged agricultural tools such asmachetes,hatchets,axes,sickles,sling blades,andscythes,have been used asimprovised weaponsbypeasantry,militia,orirregular forces– particularly as an expedient fordefence.

Edged weapons and blades, as well as othercold weapons,are associated with the premodern age but continue to be used in modern armies. Combat knives and knife bayonets are used forclose combator stealth operations and are issued as a secondary orsidearm.^[3]Modern bayonets are often intended to be used in a dual role as both acombat knifeandknife bayonet.^[4]Improvised edged weapons were extensively used intrench warfareof theFirst World War;for example, anentrenching toolmight be modified to take an edge and be used as a melee weapon.^[5]^[6]

References[edit]

^Francis Andrew March (1902).A Thesaurus Dictionary of the English Language.London: Historical Publishing Company.Blade: The flat, cutting part of an edged weapon.
^The Macquarie Dictionary(1st ed.). Sydney: Macquarie Library. 1981.Anedge toolis defined as a tool with a cutting edge. Abladeis the flat cutting part of a sword, knife, etc. It is also a synonym for a sword.
^Peterson, Harold L.,Daggers and Fighting Knives of the Western World,Courier Dover Publications,ISBN 0-486-41743-3,ISBN 978-0-486-41743-1(2001), p. 80: "Right at the outset trench knives were introduced by both sides during World War I, so that the common soldier was once again equipped with a knife designed primarily for combat."
^Brayley, Martin,Bayonets: An Illustrated History,Iola, WI: Krause Publications,ISBN 0-87349-870-4,ISBN 978-0-87349-870-8(2004), pp. 9-10, 83-85
^Beith, Ian H. (Capt.),Modern Battle Tactics: Address Delivered April 9, 1917,National Service (June 1917), pp. 325, 328
^Ian Drury (1995).German Stormtrooper 1914–18.Osprey Publishing. p. 61.ISBN 978-1-85532-372-8.

[March1902-1] Francis Andrew March (1902).A Thesaurus Dictionary of the English Language.London: Historical Publishing Company.Blade: The flat, cutting part of an edged weapon.

[Macquarie-2] The Macquarie Dictionary(1st ed.). Sydney: Macquarie Library. 1981.Anedge toolis defined as a tool with a cutting edge. Abladeis the flat cutting part of a sword, knife, etc. It is also a synonym for a sword.

[Peterson2001-3] Peterson, Harold L.,Daggers and Fighting Knives of the Western World,Courier Dover Publications,ISBN 0-486-41743-3,ISBN 978-0-486-41743-1(2001), p. 80: "Right at the outset trench knives were introduced by both sides during World War I, so that the common soldier was once again equipped with a knife designed primarily for combat."

[Brayley2004-4] Brayley, Martin,Bayonets: An Illustrated History,Iola, WI: Krause Publications,ISBN 0-87349-870-4,ISBN 978-0-87349-870-8(2004), pp. 9-10, 83-85

[Beith1917-5] Beith, Ian H. (Capt.),Modern Battle Tactics: Address Delivered April 9, 1917,National Service (June 1917), pp. 325, 328

[Drury1995-6] Ian Drury (1995).German Stormtrooper 1914–18.Osprey Publishing. p. 61.ISBN 978-1-85532-372-8.

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