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Edged weapons and blades, as well as other cold weapons, are associated with the premodern age but continue to be used in modern armies. Combat knives and knife bayonets are used for close combat or stealth operations and are issued as a secondary or sidearm . [ 3 ]
Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 cm (18 to 31 in) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70 cm (28 in) blade-length would weigh about 700 to 900 g (1.5 to 2.0 lb). [20] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts.
The blade is made of non-rustproof carbon steel, blue-plastered by hand and finely forged from the base to the tip of the knife. The 90 mm (3.5 in) long blade shows patina (dark spots) caused by decades of use. It can easily be sharpened to a shaving sharp edge. Carbon steel is a popular choice for rough-use knives and cheaper options.
The stiletto blade's narrow cross-section and acuminated tip (that is, a tip which tapers to a sharp point) reduce friction upon entry, allowing the blade to penetrate deeply. [ 2 ] [ 4 ] Some consider the stiletto a form of dagger, but most stilettos are specialized thrusting weapons not designed for cutting or slashing, even with edged examples.
Electric épée fencing: Diego Confalonieri (left) and Fabian Kauter in the final of the Trophée Monal While the modern sport of fencing has three weapons — foil, épée, and sabre, each a separate event — the épée is the only one in which the entire body is the valid target area (the others are restricted to varying areas above the waist).
Scalpel blades are also offered by some manufacturers with a zirconium nitride–coated edge to improve sharpness and edge retention. Others manufacture blades that are polymer-coated to enhance lubricity during a cut. Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. Re-usable scalpels can have permanently attached blades that can be ...
A serrated cutting edge has many small points of contact with the material being cut. By having less contact area than a smooth blade or other edge, the applied pressure at each point of contact is greater, and the points of contact are at a sharper angle to the material being cut. This causes a cutting action that involves many small splits in ...
The third and final category refers to blade width. The width of the blade is defined as the distance between the back of the blade and the cutting edge. It is expressed in units of eighth of an inch. [30] The sizes vary from 3 ⁄ 8 in (9.5 mm) up to 7 ⁄ 8 in (22 mm), rarely 8 ⁄ 8 in (25 mm). [30]