Military Tools with an Edge

In addition to the bayonets and fighting knives used by the U.S. military, there are specialized blades that are important tools. Some of these are designed for survival or very specific tasks while others are quite general in application.

Mobile machine gun unit getting practice under simulated war conditions in British West Indies, 1942. Machete on belt of gunner.
Mobile M-1917 machine gun unit getting practice under simulated war conditions in British West Indies, 1942. Machete on belt of gunner.

Today in WW II: 8 Jul 1940 Tea rationing begins in Britain.  More ↓
8 Jul 1941 Jews living under German occupation in Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ordered to wear a Jewish Star.
8 Jul 1942 US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Chester Nimitz orders invasion of Guadalcanal, Solomon islands, to seize a strategic Japanese airfield.
8 Jul 1944 US forces on Saipan mop up after surviving a 15-hour banzai charge, one of the largest ever, defesting over 3000 Japanese soldiers plus wounded and civilians who participated.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Bolos, Machetes and other Military Edged Tools

Military bolos, machetes and similar blades are used as tools to clear the heavy vegetation of the jungle, to cut and trim poles for tents or load carriers, as well as for general use. Other specialized blades serve functions in medical or air crew survival. The U.S. Army does not consider these edged tools as weapons, although they certainly have been used as both offensive and defensive weapons.

Some of the most significant edged weapons/tools in the U.S. military are further discussed on these Olive-Drab.com pages:

U.S. Marine Raiders gathered in front of a Japanese dugout on Cape Totkina on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, January 1944. Machete on belt of Marine second from the right
U.S. Marine Raiders gathered in front of a Japanese dugout on Cape Totkina on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, January 1944. Machete on belt of Marine second from the right.

Find More Information on the Internet

There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.

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