Types of Combat Knives Used by Military Around the World

Military forces around the globe carry a combat knife as an essential part of their attire. Let's explore the most common types of combat knives used in different countries around the globe.

1. United States Military (US Armed Forces)

• KA-BAR USMC Fighting Knife
• Ontario M9 Bayonet
• M7 Bayonet
• USN Mark 3 Navy Knife
• Gerber Mark II
• SOG SEAL Team / SEAL Pup
• Chris Reeve Green Beret Knife (Yarborough)
• Ontario OKC-3S Marine Bayonet (modern USMC bayonet)

2. United Kingdom (British Armed Forces)

• Fairbairn–Sykes Fighting Knife (SAS iconic dagger)
• British Commando Knife (WWII onwards)
• Royal Marines Commando Knife (modern version)
• MOD Survival Knife (British Army issue)
• British Standard Issue (BSI No. 1 and 2 for the Gurkhas in the British Military)

3. Russia (Russian Armed Forces)

• NR-40 “Black Knife” (WWII, still influential)
• AKM/AK74 Bayonet (very distinctive multi-use design)
• Spetsnaz Ballistic Knife (historical, no longer standard)
• HP-43 and HP-40 Special Forces Knives
• Ratnik Combat Knife (modern issue)
• Finka NKVD (classic Soviet knife style)

4. China (PLA – People’s Liberation Army)

• PLA Type 65 Dagger
• Type 85 Combat Knife
• Modern PLA Fixed-Blade Combat / Survival Knife
• Chinese AK Bayonets (Type 56 variants)

5. India (Indian Armed Forces)

• Gorkha Khukuri (official for Gorkha regiments; best-known)
• Indian Army Standard Combat Knife (modern pattern)
• INSAS Rifle Bayonet
• AK-series Bayonets (for units using AK rifles)
• IKS MK-1 & MK-2 Combat Knives (Special Forces issue)

6. Nepal (Nepal Army)

Unlike many countries in the list, which have many different variants of combat knives, Nepalese people only have the Kukri as a combat knife.

• Sarkhari Service Kukri for the Nepal Army

7. European Countries

Germany

• Eickhorn KM2000
• KM3000 (modern Bundeswehr issue)
• G3 / G36 Bayonets

France

• Couteau de Combat F2 (French Army issue)
• MAS Rifle Bayonets

Italy

• NOCS Combat Knife
• Italian Stiletto (historical, not modern issue)
• Beretta & Extrema Ratio combat knives (modern SF)

Finland

• Puukko (traditional military knife)
• Sissipuukko M95 / M07 (Finnish Army issue)
• Sweden

• Mora Military Knife (MORAKNIV model)

Poland

• Polish wz. 92 and wz. 55 knives
• AK bayonet variants

Spain

• Aitor Jungle King Combat Knife
• CETME Bayonets

8. African Combat Knives

• Ethiopian Shotel (curved sword/knife)
• Somali Billao Knife
• Tuareg Takouba (short sword/knife)
• Central African throwing knives (tribal war knives)

9. Other Asian Countries

Japan

• JSDF Combat Knife
• Tanto & Wakizashi (historic)

Philippines

• Bolo Knife
• Ginunting (official Philippine Marine Raider knife)

Indonesia/Malaysia

• Kris
• Golok Knife
• Rencong Knife

If you are looking for a sturdy Kukri combat knife with a legendary history and the Himalayan heritage, we at Yuna Handicraft have more than a dozen variants of this iconic blade.