Edged and bladed weapons

[2] Bladed weapons include swords, daggers, knives, and bayonets.

Edged weapons are used to cut, hack, or slash; some edged weapons (such as many kinds of swords) may also permit thrusting and stabbing.

Many edged agricultural tools such as machetes, hatchets, axes, sickles, sling blades, and scythes, have been used as improvised weapons by peasantry, militia, or irregular forces – particularly as an expedient for defence.

Combat knives and knife bayonets are used for close combat or stealth operations and are issued as a secondary or sidearm.

[4] Improvised edged weapons were extensively used in trench warfare of the First World War; for example, an entrenching tool might be modified to take an edge and be used as a melee weapon.