Military Edged Weapons

Military edged weapons include bayonets, fighting knives, folding knives, working blades and tools such as machetes and bolos, and swords. Most interest centers on fighting knives and bayonets, especially those used in World War II or later.

u.s. army m-1917 machine gun position, rhine 1945. note english billhok and m3 trench knife and m-1 carbine
U.S. Army M-1917 machine gun position overlooking Rhine River, 1945
Note English Billhok and M3 trench knife on pistol belt of left soldier, M-1 Carbine on floor and other details. Thanks to Frank Trzaska for correct ID on the knives.

Today in WW II: 8 Nov 1939 Hitler narrowly escapes a bomb planted in Munich at the site of his annual speech commemorating the failed 1923 Beer Hall putsch; 7 killed, 63 injured.  More ↓
8 Nov 1942 Operation Torch begins, 125,000 US-British troops land at Casablanca, Oran and Algiers.
8 Nov 1942 French Resistance in Algiers neutralizes the Vichy-supporting French Army command, preventing interference with Operation Torch.
8 Nov 1944 Operation Infatuate, the liberation of the Dutch Island of Walcheren, concludes with end to all German resistance.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Recommended Books about Military Knives

Refer also to the Olive-Drab.com page of Books About Military Knives, Bayonets and other Edged Weapons.

Military Edged Weapons on the Internet

Military knives, bayonets, and other edged weapons are very popular with collectors. There are many websites and forums devoted to edged weapons, some of the best collected on the linked page.

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.

For good results, try entering this: military bayonet or knife. Then click the Search button.