You are an infantryman on the Western Front during World War I. To your left, a soldier clutches a locket containing a photograph of a child and wife, pressing it to his lips and whispering, “Soon,” as if making a fragile promise to return. To your right, another man trembles uncontrollably, muttering prayers and begging for God’s mercy. The exhaustion from days without proper sleep weighs heavy, and the deafening thunder of artillery pounding German positions has become a relentless backdrop, shaking the very earth beneath your boots.
Officers move among the troops, inspecting equipment, ensuring bayonets are secured, and offering words of encouragement that sound hollow even to them. Then, the piercing blast of a whistle shatters the tense stillness, followed by the captain’s command: “Over the top, lads!” His voice is loud but laced with unmistakable fear.
You haul yourself out of the trench into the chaos of no man’s land. Barely 15 feet forward, your boot catches on the sling of a discarded Lee-Enfield rifle. The stumble saves your life as a shell obliterates the man ahead of you, showering you with mud and blood. Shaking, you untangle yourself and press onwards, navigating the shattered landscape of craters, barbed wire, and scattered bodies.
Ahead, the captain who gave the order lies screaming in agony, his lower half missing. His cries are primal, searing into your memory, but there’s nothing you can do for him. You force yourself forward. In the distance, you see comrades pinned down in a crater under relentless machine-gun fire, their desperate cries drowned out by the bursts of enemy weapons. You sprint toward the remains of a stone wall, its jagged edges offering scant cover. Hugging the wall, you risk a glance around its edge and witness the machine guns cutting down five men in your company with brutal efficiency.
Crawling to a vantage point near the bodies of fallen comrades, you steady yourself in the mud, their blood mingling with the rain-soaked earth. Your Winchester rifle feels solid in your hands, an anchor in this maelstrom. Pressing the stock firmly into your shoulder, you steady your breath, aim, and pull the trigger. The first German machine gunner collapses. The second panics, fumbling to redirect the gun toward you, but he doesn’t stand a chance. Rifle fire from your surviving comrades finds its mark, silencing the nest for good.
Pushing forward, you spot an opening in the enemy trench where the barbed wire has been cut—a grisly path marked by a mountain of bodies from previous assaults. As you rush through the breach, you hear faint cries and moans beneath your boots, the realisation that some are still alive clawing at the edges of your mind. You shove the thought down and leap into the German trench, drawing the weapon you’ve kept ready for close quarters.
Bayonet
A bayonet is a blade, spike, or dagger-shaped melee weapon designed to attach to the muzzle of a rifle, carbine, musket, or similar firearm. This configuration allows the firearm to double as a spear for close-quarters combat.
The name “bayonet” originates from Bayonne, a town in southwestern France, where the weapon is believed to have been first used by Basques in the 17th century. From the early 1600s to the early 1900s, bayonets were standard infantry weapons, employed in both offensive and defensive strategies, particularly during mass charges and human wave assaults.
In modern times, the bayonet is primarily considered a secondary or last-resort weapon and is rarely used in combat. However, it remains a staple in ceremonial displays and military traditions.
Billhook
A billhook, or bill hook, is a multipurpose cutting tool commonly used in agriculture and forestry for trimming woody materials like shrubs, small trees, and branches. Unlike a sickle, it has a distinct design. The tool has a rich history in Europe, with numerous traditional regional variations. It was also independently developed in regions like the Indian subcontinent and introduced to areas such as the Americas, South Africa, and Oceania by European settlers During World War I, armies were issued billhooks primarily for practical, non-combat tasks such as clearing woodlands to make room for trenches and fortifications. These versatile tools were essential in the early stages of the war, helping soldiers clear brush, cut trees, and create defensive structures. As trench warfare took hold, the need for such tools grew, with billhooks also being used for gathering firewood and other logistical tasks.
However, as the war progressed and the frontlines became more entrenched, the role of the billhook shifted. While still useful for construction and clearing tasks, many billhooks were left over and adapted for alternative uses. In close-quarters combat, soldiers could use these tools as makeshift weapons, utilising their sharp hooks and curved blades in hand-to-hand fighting. Thus, what was initially a tool for survival and construction became a versatile, if unconventional, weapon in the brutal realities of trench warfare.
Brass Knuckles
Brass knuckles are melee weapons primarily used in hand-to-hand combat, designed to be worn around the knuckles of the hand. Despite the name, they are often made from materials such as other metals, plastics, or carbon fibre, rather than exclusively brass.
Their design focuses on amplifying the force of a punch by concentrating it on a smaller, harder contact area, which increases the potential for tissue damage and bone fractures in the target. Additionally, the rounded palm grip helps distribute the counterforce across the attacker’s palm, reducing the risk of damage to the fingers and minimising the chance of self-injury.
Due to their ease of concealment, brass knuckles have been a subject of controversy and are banned in many countries. Brass knuckles were not standard-issue equipment in military forces, largely due to their controversial nature as melee weapons. Instead, they were more commonly personal items that soldiers brought with them or received as gifts. Compact and effective in close-quarters combat, these weapons found a place in the trenches of World War I, where soldiers often relied on improvised or personally acquired tools for self-defence.
The brutal and confined nature of trench warfare made brass knuckles a practical choice for hand-to-hand fighting. Their ease of concealment and devastating effectiveness likely contributed to their popularity among soldiers, even though they were not officially supplied. This blending of personal and standard-issue equipment underscores the resourcefulness of soldiers adapting to the harsh realities of war.
Claymore Sword
The claymore (/ˈkleɪmɔːr/)—from the Scottish Gaelic claidheamh-mòr, meaning “great sword”—refers to two legendary types of Scottish blades. The first is the mediaeval two-handed sword, used between the 15th and 17th centuries, distinguished by its cross hilt with forward-sloping arms ending in quatrefoil shapes. The second is the basket-hilted sword, which became prominent during the 18th century.
Initially, “claymore” referred to the massive two-handed great sword, but by the 18th century, it was more commonly associated with the basket-hilted design. These broad-bladed swords became standard military weapons across Europe, but they held a unique significance in Scotland. Even after the Acts of Union in 1707, which merged Scottish and English regiments, Scottish officers proudly wielded these swords. They symbolised physical strength, martial skill, and a deep connection to Highland heritage, standing in contrast to the slender sabres favoured by their English counterparts.
By the time of World War I, the claymore’s role had become largely ceremonial, but it was still reserved for officers in Scottish regiments. A Scottish officer leading his men across the treacherous expanse of No Man’s Land could well have carried such a sword—a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of the Highland warrior spirit.
Entrenching tool
An entrenching tool, also known as an E-tool or trenching tool, is a versatile digging implement originally designed for military use. It serves various purposes in the field, such as digging trenches or defensive positions. Beyond military applications, it has become a valuable tool for survivalists, campers, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Modern entrenching tools are typically lightweight, collapsable, and made from durable materials like steel or aluminium.
While primarily intended for digging, the entrenching tool was a standard issue for all non-commissioned ranks, making it a widespread item on the battlefield. Its sturdy design and availability meant it could be used as an improvised weapon in desperate situations. Many grim encounters saw such tools used to break skulls and defend positions, highlighting their brutal effectiveness in close combat.
Hatchet
A hatchet, derived from the Old French Hachette (meaning “little axe”), is a single-handed tool with a sharp blade on one side for cutting and splitting wood, and a hammerhead on the other side for driving nails or other tasks. Some hatchets, designed specifically for creating flat surfaces on logs, are known as hewing hatchets.
While “hatchet” and “hand axe” are often used interchangeably today, they historically referred to distinct tools. In 19th- and 20th-century catalogues, manufacturers and retailers consistently classified them separately. A hand axe, also called a “camp axe” or “belt axe,” is a short-handled tool for general woodwork. In contrast, a hatchet is designed for construction trades, with a multipurpose head and a straight handle that allows users to switch easily between its functions.
Common types of hatchets include the carpenter’s hatchet, roofing/shingling hatchet, and lathing/drywall hatchet.
Although not designed as a weapon, the hatchet, like many tools, found grim utility in the chaos and brutality of World War I. In bloody and confused trench warfare, soldiers often used such tools in hand-to-hand combat, hacking at enemy soldiers in desperate close-quarter struggles.
In Middle English, “hatchet” also referred to a small battle axe. The phrase “burying the hatchet,” meaning to make peace, comes from an Iroquois tradition of putting away a tomahawk as a symbol of ending conflict.
Fascine knife
The fascine knife was a versatile sidearm and tool issued to light infantry and artillery units from the 17th to 19th centuries. It served as both a personal weapon and a practical implement for cutting fascines—bundles of sticks used to reinforce trench walls or earth ramparts protecting artillery positions. These knives came in various designs, with blades that could be straight or curved, single or double-edged, and often featured a sawtoothed back for added functionality.
French nail
French nails were makeshift weapons created by modifying bayonets, knives, and stabbing tools for use in World War I. These were basic stabbing spikes made by adding a pointed tip to a steel stake, with the rear end heated and bent to form a simple handle.
A more refined version of this weapon was the Poignard-Baïonnette Lebel M1886/14, developed by Lt. Col. Coutrot of the French Army. This weapon became a standard infantry tool. It featured a long, needle-pointed blade with a stiletto profile, a wooden handle, and a steel knuckle guard. The Poignard-Baïonnette Lebel was based on the French Épée-Baïonnette Modèle 1886 bayonet and was designed for offensive combat. It used a portion of the M1886 Lebel bayonet’s long, narrow stiletto blade, intended for delivering a quick, deep thrust to kill an enemy soldier. Up to three trench knives could be made from a single M1886 Lebel bayonet.
Due to wartime shortages, the French industry had to improvise, often relying on subcontractors and even mobilizing former cutlery workers to mass-produce knives for the army. Because of these challenges, even officially issued trench knives varied widely in design. As the war continued, newer and more versatile designs like the Couteau Poignard Mle 1916 (also known as Le Vengeur) began to replace the earlier French nails and stiletto-style knives.
The United States closely followed France’s lead in trench knife development, creating their own versions, including the M1917, M1918, and Mark I (1918) models, which were influenced by French designs.
Trench raiding clubs/Trench maces
A mace is a blunt weapon, essentially a type of club or virge, designed with a heavy head attached to the end of a handle for delivering powerful strikes. It typically consists of a sturdy wooden or metal shaft, often reinforced with additional metal and a head crafted from materials such as stone, bone, copper, bronze, iron, or steel.
The head of a mace is often designed with flanges or knobs to concentrate the force of an impact onto a smaller area. This feature increases the pressure on the target and prevents the weapon from sliding off metal surfaces, making it especially effective against armoured opponents. Such designs allowed maces to exploit weak points in armour, and dent plate armour, and even disrupt overlapping plates, restricting the movement of the wearer. Medieval historian and re-enactor Todd Todeschini (also known as Todd Cutler) demonstrated these effects in a series of tests using historically accurate equipment.
While often associated with knights or barbarians, maces found practical use beyond medieval battlefields. During World War I, both the Allies and Central Powers adapted the mace as an effective trench-raiding weapon, particularly for silent nighttime raids. Inspired by medieval designs, these trench maces were typically made of wood with a metal object affixed to the striking end. Some variations included a stave with the end drilled out to hold a lead weight, surrounded by rows of large hobnails. Many featured leather straps to secure them to the user’s wrist, ensuring they wouldn’t be lost in combat. These makeshift weapons were often produced in bulk by regimental carpenters and metalworkers behind enemy lines.
Today, maces are rarely used in combat but remain prominent ceremonial symbols of authority. Institutions such as the British House of Commons, the U.S. Congress, and various universities use ceremonial maces in academic, parliamentary, and civic rituals and processions, preserving their historical significance.
Machete
A machete (/məˈʃɛti/; Spanish: [maˈtʃete]) is a broad blade used for both agricultural tasks, like chopping plants, and combat, similar to a long-bladed knife. The blade typically measures between 30 and 66 centimetres (12 to 26 inches) in length and is usually less than 3 millimetres (1/8 inch) thick.
The term “machete” may come from the Spanish word macho, which was once used to describe sledgehammers. Another possible origin is the Greek and Roman word machaera, which referred to the falcata, a curved sword. In English, a similar term, “matchet,” exists but is rarely used.
In the English-speaking Caribbean, including countries like Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago, the machete is commonly called a “cutlass” and is primarily used as an agricultural tool.
Pickaxe
A pickaxe, also known as a pick-axe or simply a pick, is a T-shaped hand tool primarily used for prying. Its head is typically made of metal and is attached perpendicularly to a longer handle, which is traditionally wooden but can also be made of metal or, increasingly, fibreglass.
A standard pickaxe, similar to a “pick mattock,” features a pointed end on one side of the head and a broad, flat “axe” blade on the opposite side. The head usually has a gradual curve along its length. Another common variation includes two spikes, with one slightly longer than the other.
The pointed end is designed for breaking and prying, while the flat axe blade is useful for hoeing, skimming, and chopping through roots.
Originally developed as agricultural tools in prehistoric times, pickaxes later evolved into specialized tools such as the plough and the mattock. Over time, they were also adapted for use in construction, mining, and even warfare. Although not originally intended as weapons, pickaxes were sometimes used in combat during emergencies. as it was far better than fighting unarmed against an opponent wielding a deadly mace.
Push Dagger
A push dagger, also called a punch dagger, punch knife, push knife, or occasionally a push dirk, is a short-bladed weapon with a distinctive “T” handle. It is designed to be gripped in a closed fist, with the blade extending forward between either the index and middle fingers or the two central fingers, depending on the handle’s design and symmetry.
Originally developed in the early 19th century as a close-combat weapon for civilians, the push dagger was later used in trench warfare during World War I.
Stiletto Dagger
A stiletto is a specialized dagger with a long, slender blade and a needle-like point, primarily designed for thrusting and stabbing.
The stiletto’s blade features a narrow cross-section and a sharply tapered tip, allowing it to penetrate deeply with minimal resistance. While some classify the stiletto as a type of dagger, most stilettos are specifically designed as thrusting weapons and are not intended for cutting or slashing, even in cases where the blade has edges.
Over time, the term stiletto has also been used to describe various knife blades with narrow profiles, limited cutting surfaces, and needle-like points, such as the U.S. V-42 stiletto. In American English, the word can also refer to switchblade knives with stiletto- or bayonet-style blade designs. Additionally, the term stiletto may describe any exaggeratedly thin and pointed feature, such as stiletto heels.
trench knife
A trench knife is a combat knife specifically designed for close-quarters combat, such as in trenches or other confined spaces. It was originally developed during the First World War to enable soldiers to engage enemies in close combat while attacking enemy trenches. One notable example from this era is the German Army’s Nahkampfmesser (close combat knife).
By the Second World War, the trench knife had evolved into a combat knife, featuring updated designs. The German Army widely issued the Nahkampfmesser and similar knives to ordinary soldiers for combat and utility purposes. In contrast, Allied forces primarily provided trench knives to elite infantry units and soldiers not equipped with bayonets.
Bowie knife
A Bowie knife is a fixed-blade fighting knife originally designed by Rezin Bowie in the early 19th century for his brother James Bowie, who gained fame for wielding a large knife during the Sandbar Fight duel.
Over time, the Bowie knife has come to embody several distinct design features. However, in general usage, the term often refers to any large sheath knife with a crossguard and a clip point. The Bowie knife remains popular among collectors, with both knife manufacturers and custom makers producing a wide variety of styles and designs using different types of steel.
Webley Revolver
The Webley Revolver (also known as the Webley Top-Break Revolver or Webley Self-Extracting Revolver) served as a standard-issue service revolver for the armed forces of the United Kingdom, as well as nations within the British Empire and the Commonwealth, from 1887 to 1963. The Webley Revolver was primarily issued to commissioned officers, certain NCOs, and specialized roles such as tank crews, aircrew, and artillery units. Standard infantry soldiers typically did not receive sidearms, as their primary weapon was the rifle or bayonet. This revolver features a top-break design, where opening the revolver activates an extractor mechanism that ejects spent cartridges from the cylinder. The first model, the Webley Mk I, was adopted in 1887. The Mk IV gained prominence during the Boer War (1899–1902), while the Mk VI, introduced in 1915 during World War I, is the most iconic version.
Chambered for the powerful .455 Webley cartridge, Webley revolvers are among the most robust top-break revolvers ever produced. While the .455 calibre Webley is no longer in military service, its legacy endures. As recently as 1999, the .38/200 Webley Mk IV variant was still used as a police sidearm in several countries.
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