Editing Close Quarters Combat Weapon System

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[[Image:CombatKnife.jpg|thumb|The Combat Knife]]

The '''Close Quarters Combat Weapon System''', otherwise known as the '''Combat Knife''', is a multi-purpose infantry-sized knife used by the [[United Nations Space Command]].

==Overview==
The '''multi-purpose combat knife''' has a 20 centimeter (7.9 inches) blade made of high carbon steel, coated for corrosion resistance and is 43.3 centimeters (1.42 feet) when sheathed. All [[UNSC]] troops are issued with a combat knife for close quarters combat or in situations when ammo is scarce.<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], Spartan Mission to capture Watts</ref> It is also balanced for throwing. It only appears in the novels and on the backs of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]'', and in [[The Babysitter]] but not ''[[Halo: CE|Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.

== History ==
Knives have been used in battle almost since the dawn of warfare, first as a sharp piece of rock, and then metal proved effective during a period of time where projectile weapons were not readily available. The combat knife later branched off and became a sword, while others used daggers. For thousands of years, knives and swords have been a weapon of choice for soldiers. Even after the invention of the firearm, knives were still used as bayonets for close-quarters-combat. Sabers were still issued in World War I. As war tactics shifted from trench warfare to attrition warfare, knives became last-resort weapons or simple tools. By 2553, the [[UNSC]] still uses knives, showing that such an easily accessible and created weapon still runs strong even thousands of years later.

==Appearance==
One of the few times a combat knife can be seen in game is on the lower backs of [[ODST]]s or on the left chest of the [[CQB]] chest plate [[Armor Permutations|armor permutation]], though they are never used in combat. It also has a serrated edge like other combat knives as mentioned in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''. It currently represents certain difficulty levels in the Halo Trilogy. Normal has a single knife, Heroic has two crossed knives, and Legendary is represented by a shot Elite skull with two crossed knives. All of these symbols are placed over a shield with the [[Marathon]] logo engraved into it, and Easy is represented by the shield alone.

It also appears in a cutscene in [[Halo Wars|''Halo Wars'']] where John Forge stabbed the [[Ripa 'Moramee|Arbiter]] with the combat knife, giving him the chance to kill him with his own Energy Sword. It makes another appearance in a cutscene in [[Halo 3: ODST]], when [[Buck]] uses it to stab a [[Brute Chieftain]] in the neck. SPARTAN-141 Cal uses one in [[The Babysitter]] to take out a grunt quietly.

== Trivia ==
*The ODST [[Action Figure]], made by Joyride Studios, has a Combat Knife that can be held by the action figure's hand.
*It was [[Frederic-104]]'s trademark weapon, next to the [[MA5B Assault Rifle]].
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'' Concept Art for EGM, a [[Spartan-II]] is shown with a Combat Knife on his/her right leg, however this was just an artistic look for the ODST armor.
*A larger version of the combat knife, called the [[Machete]], was intended to be used in the early ''Halo: CE'' build, but was cut before it made it into the final game.
*The Spartan CQB chest permutation in Halo 3 multiplayer has a combat knife & it's holster attached to the left chest section. 
*In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', [[John Forge]] has a combat knife named "Lucy", which he used to wound the [[Ripa 'Moramee|Arbiter]] before killing him.
*In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', the character [[Buck]] can be seen wearing a combat knife on his chest plate.
*In the [[Halo: Reach]] world premiere cinematic one of the [[Spartans]] is sharpening a Combat Knife using his shoulder plate.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Buck Knife.png|[[Buck]], wielding a combat knife, as he is about to impale a [[Brute Chieftain]] in the neck.
Image:ODST Knife.jpg|A smaller class combat knife holstered on an ODST's shoulder.
File:Grenadier (Noble Team).jpg|A Noble team member using the knife.
</gallery>

== Sources ==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[[wikipedia:Bayonet|'''Wikipedia'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s article on '''Bayonet''']]
*[[wikipedia:Combat_Knife|'''Wikipedia'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s article on '''Combat Knife''']]
[[Category:Human Weapons]]
[[Category:Melee Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons]]