KGB knife. Forbidden ballistic knife

- ballistic knives
  
  Ballistic knives. Continuation
  
  Potentially good damaging capabilities of throwing weapons are very difficult to implement in practice. The probability of a lethal defeat is small, and one cannot count on such a knife as a serious weapon. Another thing is if the strength and dexterity of a person is replaced by a mechanism, for example, to make a blade shoot. Such a knife has a clear tactical advantage. The enemy simply does not expect that the blade can fly into him. In addition, it is not convenient to throw a knife from any position. For example, it is quite clear that throwing while standing is much more effective than throwing from a prone position. But you can shoot from a knife with the same success from any position. It all depends on the convenience of aiming, since damaging factors, range, and the force with which the blade strikes the target is constant. Knives from which the blade flies are usually made like spring crossbows. This design is the simplest, and therefore more reliable. The secret Chinese weapon, consisting of a bamboo tube, a powerful spring, an arrow and a trigger mechanism, can be considered the historical prototype of shooting knives. It was worn in the sleeve and allowed to hit the target suddenly and at some safe distance. Conceptually this design almost no different from a modern shooting knife. It remains to replace the arrow with a blade, more precisely, to increase the size of the arrowhead so that it can also perform the functions of a knife. Attracts the versatility of such weapons. This is an ordinary knife that can both stab and cut, and if necessary, instantly and suddenly for the enemy turns into throwing weapon. In use, this knife is relatively silent, although a spring knife can hardly be called a completely silent weapon. The clanging of metal on metal, the ringing of a straightening spring serve as unmasking factors, but against the background of natural noises, such a shot is almost indistinguishable. Undoubtedly, a spring-loaded shooting knife is much more effective than a throwing one, although it is much more complicated in design. Why spring knives have not received much distribution? The answer is that their scope is special operations. Similar knives were in service with many countries of the world: the USSR, the USA, Czechoslovakia, France, Switzerland and many others. Little is known about the design: the secret services are not very fond of revealing their secrets. The shooting spring knife could be either single-shot or multi-shot. The maximum range of destruction is no more than 5-7 m, although rumor ascribes the ability to hit the enemy at a distance of 25-30 m. The discrepancy is from a misunderstanding that the range of the blade and the range of destruction are different distances. At a distance of 5-7 m, the blade, with a successful hit, will enter its full length and inflict a serious injury, and a hit from a distance of 25 m leads only to slight damage to the skin. Hence, one of the drawbacks of such knives is the short range of defeat, but these are melee weapons. Much more significant is that at first the knife shoots, the blade flies away, and then, in hand-to-hand combat, only the handle remains in the hands of the fighter. In order to reload the knife with a spare blade, there may not be enough time. They try to solve this problem in different ways. The simplest option is to use the handle itself as a weapon. To do this, it is docked with a massive metal scabbard to be used as a short club. In addition, the strong metal scabbard is an additional safety feature that increases the safety of using this weapon. In other knives, the blade is put on a sharpened pin. After the shot, the pin, rigidly fixed in the handle, can be used as a stylet. At the same time, the pin serves as a guide for the mainspring.
  In multi-shot knives, the problem is solved easier. The last blade is not fired, but remains in the handle, and the knife becomes normal. For example, when a double-bladed knife with one mainspring is fired, one blade flies forward under the action of the spring, while the other simply extends and locks in the firing position. Naturally, these blades have a different design. In practice, one blade is more often used, the design of which allows it to be used both for shooting and for hand-to-hand combat. But this decision is not so much constructive as economic. A knife with a universal blade is a little cheaper. In single-shot designs, a special non-firing blade is used, which can be mounted on the handle, made more massive and long. But in order to put the blade, it takes a certain time. But the biggest problem is the small stopping effect of such a knife, which is very important for weapons that are fired almost point-blank. The spring-loaded shooting knife is a very controversial design. On the one hand, it must have a relatively small size and weight, and on the other hand, it must have the necessary fighting qualities. Too powerful a spring is difficult to place in the knife handle and difficult to cock, as physical abilities man is not unlimited. Recall that such a knife is almost no different from a crossbow, on which special devices are used for cocking. A tighter spring is not only more difficult to compress, but the total reload time also increases. That is, the already low rate of fire of the knife is further reduced. In addition, a spring knife is potentially dangerous: it is always loaded, and when it performs its normal functions, there is a danger of an unauthorized shot. Therefore, they are supplied with reliable fuses, the simplest of which is a check with a ring, like on a hand grenade.

Did you know that there are knives that can fire pistol bullets? Surprisingly, they do exist. Moreover, they are produced in Russia, in this article we will get acquainted with the most popular and technologically advanced of them - the NRS-2 knife. This abbreviation stands for "shooting reconnaissance knife." Such a specific type of weapon is intended for self-defense of intelligence fighters and some structures of the armed forces. The blade allows, in the event of the loss of the main weapon, to hit the enemy both in close (hit or throwing) and long-range (shot) combat. The word "long" means a fight at a distance of no more than 25 meters. Aimed shooting at more significant distances is impossible, since the product sits in the arrow’s hand much worse firearms.

Now we will find out how the NRS-2 shooting knife was created and what model was its prototype.

First developments

As you can understand from the name, the subject of our conversation was not the first model of shooting edged weapons created in Russia, or rather, back in the USSR. In the 70s, the Ministry of Defense, together with the KGB, initiated the start of work on the creation of a knife that could shoot pistol cartridges. And so the NRS project was born. Its leader was the creator of the silent pistol SME - Rafail Khlynin.

The knife was designed specifically for the cartridge SP-3 with a caliber of 7.62 mm. This silent cartridge, developed back in the 60s, was equipped with a bullet from a 7.62-mm automatic cartridge of the distant 1943 model and a telescopic pusher piston located inside the sleeve, between the powder charge and the bullet. When fired, the pusher piston, having given energy to the bullet, stopped at the bevels of the sleeve, thereby cutting off the powder gases, as a result of which neither flame nor sound occurred.

New complex

In 1983, a new silent weapons complex was put into service with the units of the USSR Ministry of Defense and the KGB, including a PSS pistol with a caliber of 7.62 mm and an SM-4 cartridge. replaced other silent models powered by SP-2 and SP-3 rounds. When the special cartridge SP-4 appeared, the question arose that a new shooting knife should be created for it. The task was very difficult, because the SP-4 significantly exceeded all previous versions silent cartridges in terms of their energy characteristics. Work on the modernization of the NRS was carried out by the best engineers of TOZ: G. A. Savishchev, I. F. Shedlos and V. Ya. Ovchinnikov.

The firing device, located in the handle, was adjusted to the new cartridge. The front sight began to be made of metal and was able to be adjusted in height. Holes appeared on the handle of the wire cutters mounted in the sheath for crimping the detonator cap. Simultaneously with the development of the HPC-2, on the instructions of the customer, a regular (non-shooting) version of the knife was also developed, called the HP-2. Both models were put into service in 1986.

Shooting NRS-1 differed from the new model mainly in the following parameters:

Using the SP-3 cartridge.
The blade is similar in shape to the bayonet-knife from AKM.
At the end of the handle there is a plastic ledge-front sight.
There is no screwdriver on the scabbard.

How the NRS-2 knife works

This product is a knife, in the handle of which a single-shot firing device is mounted. It consists of almost the same elements as a pistol, namely: a three-dimensional barrel, a locking device, a box, a trigger, a cocking lever, a flag-type safety and a trigger.

Handle

The barrel is located at the back of the handle. The muzzle is located at the end of the handle and is covered with a split rubber curtain. On the crosshairs-limiter (guard) there is a slot that performs the function of the rear sight. Accordingly, there is also a front sight, which is located at the end of the handle. It can be adjusted in height. On the other hand, there is a petal with a hole on the crosshair, which is needed to remove the used cartridge case from the chamber. The handle is made of green or brown (less common) color and has a large mesh corrugation.

Blade

The blade is made of steel 25X17N2BSh and covered with black chrome. The blade has a smooth bevel at the tip, popularly called "pike". It allows you to pierce thick clothing and pierce a steel sheet 1 mm thick. A saw is located on the butt of the knife, which is capable of sawing a metal rod with a diameter of 1 cm.

Sheath

The sheath performs not only the main function - the insulation of the blade during transportation - but also a number of auxiliary ones. On their side, wire cutters are installed that can cut through a two-core steel wire with a diameter of 2.5 mm, which is energized at 380 volts, or a 5-mm telephone cable.

At the end there is a short flat screwdriver that allows you to unscrew screws with a diameter of more than 6 mm. In order for the blade to be more tightly fixed in the sheath, a wide leaf spring is installed in them.

Knife set

The shooting knife comes with a number of accessories. The kit includes:

Pencil case for accessories.
Handle insert. Replaces the firing device in the handle. Allows you to work out techniques without worrying about the risk of deformation of mechanisms.
2 pendants to wear. One waist, and the second - hip.
Obturator. It serves to prevent the breakthrough of powder gases through the gap between the bore and the projectile belt, at the beginning of the shot.
Ammo bag.
Spring.
Sheath.

Preparing to shoot

To charge the NRS (shooting reconnaissance knife), you need to move the locking device and, turning the barrel, remove it from the handle. Then a cartridge is inserted into the chamber. After that, holding the barrel with the chamber up, you need to insert it back into the handle so that the protrusions on the barrel fit into the grooves carved on the box of the firing device. Then you need to turn the barrel and return the locking device to its place. It remains only to cock the USM. To do this, turn the cocking lever all the way up and release it. The fuse box must be set to the "fire" position.

Shot

To aim, you need to take the shooting knife with the blade towards you so that the index finger right hand was on the trigger. The blade is clamped between two palms, and the crosshair (guard) rests against thumbs. In this case, the palm of the left hand is superimposed on top of the palm of the right hand. In no case should you put your fingers on the muzzle, for obvious reasons. Aiming occurs with the help of a slot on the guard and a front sight at the end of the handle. Now you can shoot with a smooth descent of the hook.

The shot has recoil, but its strength is no greater than that of the PSS pistol. At the same time, the reconnaissance knife shooting produces a quieter shot, since there are no moving parts in it, and fired cartridge case doesn't fly.

Recharge

After the shot is fired, you need to remove the barrel from the knife handle again and pull out the used cartridge case using the hooks on the guard. During the shot, the sleeve heats up and presses against the walls of the chamber. Then everything goes the same way as described above. An experienced user of a shooting knife can reload it in 20 seconds.

Cartridge SP-4

The cartridge was created specifically for silent fire from PSS pistols and other types of special weapons, including knives. It is considered a closed-type ammunition, since the powder gas after the shot is locked in the sleeve thanks to a special piston that pushes the bullet. Complete cutoff of gases and subsonic initial provide noiselessness. A cylindrical bullet is installed in the cartridge, which weighs exactly 10 grams and has a brass leading belt. Its hardness ranges from 53 to 58 HRC, which provides high penetration ability. The cartridge itself has a length of 42 mm, of which 41 mm is occupied by the extractable sleeve.

Western counterparts

Western special forces also widely use this kind of knives. Moreover, there are quite a few manufacturers that produce them, ranging from the simplest products of the EK company to the high-tech products of the Ka-Bar, Puma and Cold Steel companies. Knives are of the highest quality and quite solid cost. However, they are presented in in large numbers executions, from stiletto versions, in which cutting properties are practically reduced to zero, to hunting blades, which are of little use as firearms, but are convenient for domestic needs.

To date, there is a tendency to simplify shooting knives and give them more unified functions. The blade becomes longer and wider, and the guard gradually disappears as a separate piece and is increasingly replaced by blade projections or handle extensions. The rear pommel is also becoming obsolete, yielding in practicality to the protrusion of the shank.

Blade shooting knife

In addition to the firearm, there is also a knife that shoots with blades. This type is easier to manufacture and operate, but less suitable in combat conditions. He shoots with his own blade, after which only one pen remains in the hands of the fighter. How to make a shooting knife of this type? Very simple. A spring is installed in the hollow handle, on which the blade is placed. Then the blade is fixed with a detail resembling the pin of a grenade, and the knife is ready. If necessary, the pin is pulled out, and the blade flies out.

The use of the HPC-2 knife

Before we talk about the practicality of a product of this type, we present the full range of its combat and operational characteristics. The shooting knife NRS-2 has the following parameters:

The mass of the product with a sheath, without hangers - 570 g.
Weight of the knife without sheath - 360 g.
Product dimensions in sheath - 330/64/32.5 mm.
Dimensions without scabbard - 285/52.5/32.5 mm.
Blade length - 160 mm
Blade width - 28 mm.
The thickness of the butt is 3.4 mm.
Effort of extraction of a knife from a scabbard - 4-15 kg.
Sighting line length - 10.5 cm.
Sighting range of fire - 25 m.
Bullet speed - 200 m / s.
Rate of fire - 2 shots per minute.

Thus, NRS-2 (second-generation reconnaissance knife) fully justifies its name. It is really suitable for reconnaissance operations due to its small size and wide functionality. With this knife, you can:

Cutting or planing a tree.
Sawing steel rods with a diameter of up to 1 cm.
Cut wire.
Cut electrical wires that are energized.
Loosen and tighten screws.
Crimp detonator caps.
Effectively strike in a knife fight.
Shoot at close targets with a powerful cartridge.

Conclusion

Shooting knives, the photo of which is given above, are a rather specific type of weapon that is constantly evolving. They are interesting, but completely impractical in a real combat conflict. Considering that the NRS-2 knife, which has become the main subject of today's conversation, can fire at best twice in a minute, it is designed for an accurate shot and does not give room for error. Preparation for the shot and the shot itself takes too much time to conduct active fire resistance. The use of such knives as firearms is possible only in emergency cases, when a fighter has lost the ability to fire a pistol or in guerrilla operations when there is a need for conspiracy.

A ballistic knife is a knife with a firing blade that can be released from the handle using a spring mechanism.

Originally designed for use by special forces and operatives, this spring-loaded knife is virtually silent. The dagger-like blade is great for stabbing. It can be used as a normal slashing weapon, or as a stabbing weapon that can be fired with an internal spring.

What is a ballistic knife

In its spring form, the blade of a ballistic knife is theoretically capable of firing up to an effective range of about 5 meters at a speed of 63 km/h. Knives using compressed air or a gas engine to fire the blade can be made somewhat more powerful and not subject to spring fatigue over time.

In addition to the spring, air, or gas mechanism, the blade of a ballistic knife can also be driven by an explosive charge, such as an empty pistol cartridge.

History reference

It is believed that ballistic or "firearm knives" first appeared as part of the equipment issued for special forces units of the USSR and the countries of the Eastern Bloc. By 1985, spring-loaded ballistic knives were advertised for sale in the United States in Shotgun News, Soldier of Fortune, and other publications.

First mentions

The prototype of a knife that shoots blades was an ancient Chinese invention. AT Medieval China such weapons were common. A special strong spring was installed in the bamboo tube. A shortened arrow with a long tip served as a projectile.

American propaganda

Most of the information about ballistic knives and their developments appeared thanks to the propaganda of the American media. It was they who claimed the presence of special Russian developments of ballistic knives. There are myths that such knives can even destroy concrete masonry. Most of this information appeared in the period shortly after the end of World War II. However, American propagandists were never able to present documents proving the existence and use of such developments.

Russian developments

Ballistic knives were originally conceived by Soviet military planners as an improvement in knife throwing as a weapon. basic training for new students of special forces. Great amount people recruited into the armed forces Soviet Union, led to restrictions on available time training, even for elite forces, and knife throwing required many hours of study and practice.

The ballistic knife, which was relatively easy to operate and manufacture, requires much less practice than learning how to throw a knife by hand. Its main advantage was the element of surprise. The blade can remain attached to the handle and be used as a regular fixed blade combat knife, or launched as a projectile by pulling the pin and pressing the button.

In reality, ballistic knives have never been produced or used in special forces units. Their closest weapon is the HPC-2 knife with a built-in firearm in the handle. Information about the Soviet company "Ostblok", mentioned in many American sources, does not exist in Russian sources.

Under the heading secret

At all times, military developments different countries were kept strictly secret. The same is true with ballistic knives. This type of weapon is often mentioned in various films and computer games. In cinematography, such a knife is an integral attribute of the KGB and GRU officers. However, there is no reliable information on development and use. Perhaps such developments are really being carried out in our time. However, in this case it will be an absolutely secret military secret, which ordinary citizens should not be interested in.

Always need guarantees

For more efficient operation of a shooting knife, you must be absolutely sure of its serviceability. A similar weapon is the well-known throwing knife. The only difference between these two blades is that in a throwing knife the blade and handle are not separated, but the whole structure flies at the target. Otherwise, they are very similar. Most of the technical requirements for them also do not differ. The most important of them are mass, sharpening, balancing and others.

Knife design

Why does this knife have such a name? The fact is that the flight of the blade is carried out according to ballistic trajectory. Modern types the designs of this product were equipped with springs. In later versions, they were already equipped with special devices that fired the blade with pressure obtained from compressed gas. The weapon functioned thanks to the following principles:

the blade is fixed in a hollow handle;
the combat mechanism is a powerful spring or piston;
in models with gas exposure, the gas cylinder is placed in the handle;
the trigger mechanism has a lever that locks the blade in a hidden position;
it is necessary to check or pin the fuses that will keep the blade from accidentally starting;
pressing the lever releases the latches, after which the mechanism is activated.

Combat use

Home distinctive feature of this knife is its noiselessness in combat. His task is to eliminate the enemy without the noise that a firearm can create. In this case, there is no need to let the enemy get too close, as when using conventional melee weapons. A knife will be more effective if it is aimed at areas of the body that are not protected by armor.

What prevents an alternative solution

For all positive characteristics ballistic knife, it can be said that it is much more effective in combat to use firearms with a silencer. However, if external factors are taken into account, then small knife draws much less unwanted attention than a gun. At the same time, knives with a blade length of up to 9 cm are allowed in Russia. And if we consider a situation where the use of weapons under water is required, then it is worth giving preference to a ballistic knife.

Is it possible to buy a similar knife in Russia? Yes, if you wish, you can order a similar knife on the Internet in the Russian Federation. It is worth recalling that in many countries, especially in the United States, ballistic knives are illegal, and their use can lead to criminal liability.

Advantages and disadvantages of ballistic knives

Doesn't exist at all perfect weapon. Knives with a shooting blade have a number of their disadvantages and advantages:

as long as the blade is fixed, the knife acts like a normal knife. It can be used for any household needs;
the spring mechanism is much quieter than the firearm version, but is not as accurate at long range;
the main advantage of using is the effect of surprise;
the principle of operation, as well as the design of this type of weapon is quite simple;
in combat, there is no need to let the enemy close to you to strike. At the same time, the impact force is much greater than with conventional knife throwing;
The disadvantages of this knife are the sound of the spring mechanism itself and the fact that after the shot reuse knife is no longer possible;
the spring mechanism requires regular discharge, so such a weapon requires constant cocking and descent. Otherwise, the spring is deformed and loses its dynamic qualities;
another disadvantage for shooting with knives is the potential for inadvertent injury;
In case of improper handling and operation, the products are very sensitive to contamination and corrosion.

About the shape and correct sharpening

It is extremely problematic to create such a type of weapon with your own hands, since many details must be taken into account. Such a knife has its own easily recognizable shape. Since its main property is flight along a certain trajectory, the shape of the blade should provide good aerodynamic properties. Therefore, the blade is slightly curved and resembles a huge claw in shape.

In order for the properties of the blade not to deteriorate over time, it is worth paying more attention to its sharpening. A prerequisite is uniform sharpening of the blade on both sides. The sharper the blade, the better will be its flight along the trajectory and the removal of obstacles. It is necessary to strictly observe the angle of sharpening the blade. It should not exceed 40 degrees near the handle.

Rare weapons

Each country has a special weapons museum. They contain historical specimens of blades, as well as developments that have not entered service with the army, and many others. Among these you can find ballistic knives with several blades. As well as ballistic systems that work not with the help of a spring, but on powder gases, etc.

Pneumatic knife

One example of a ballistic knife is an air knife. Instead of a spring that ejects the blade, it uses a cylinder with compressed air. For armament, such a knife is inconvenient, because it has an oversized design due to the air tank. But as an experimental idea it is of great interest.

Device 2 in 1

After the idea of a ballistic knife, the developers went further and came up with a special shooting knife. Roughly speaking, it is a hybrid of a knife and a pistol, since special cartridges can be used in it instead of a blade. Most often, such a knife shoots due to powder gases.

A ballistic knife is a special knife with a detachable blade. Moreover, he does not just separate, but is fired from high speed(about 16 m / s), causing serious damage to the enemy at distances up to 10 meters. A normal knife strike has a much lower speed.

The idea of the inventors of the knife is quite simple and understandable: to create a weapon that could be used not only in close combat, but also to defeat (and silently) the enemy at a distance.

Agree, a blade-shooting knife looks too "cinematic" to be truly effective. Few other edged weapons are surrounded by such a halo of rumors, speculation and insinuations. But at the same time, ballistic knives do exist, moreover, there is information that at one time special services of the USSR and the USA worked on improving these weapons. In 1986, ballistic knives were even officially banned in the United States. Indeed, their effectiveness practical application raises a lot of questions. However, let's talk about everything in order.

What is a ballistic knife? How does this "miracle weapon" work? Is it used in the army or special units?

Description

The secret of the ballistic knife device is quite simple. Inserted into its handle special mechanism, which is a very powerful spring or a container of compressed gas, due to which the blade with great strength flies in the right direction and hits the enemy. On the handle of a ballistic knife are different kind fixing devices with which the blade is held. To throw a ballistic knife, you usually need to press a button or pull a lever on the handle (depending on the design of a particular knife). All ballistic knives have symmetrical dagger-shaped blades with double-edged sharpening, often they have various cuts made on them, probably to improve them. ballistic performance. In general, blades similar weapons in their form they resemble throwing knives, which, however, is not surprising. It is believed that the blade of a ballistic knife can hit the enemy at a distance of 6-10 meters and enter the board to a depth of 100 mm.

This is where the questions begin. How is the spring installed, how does it compress when the ballistic knife is “loaded”? How reliable is the locking mechanism, does it provide the necessary security to the owner of this “device”?

Story

For the first time in significant quantities, ballistic knives appeared in the United States around the beginning of the 80s. Very quickly they became fashionable weapons. After all, a ballistic knife could be used as a regular one, and if necessary, hit the enemy at a distance. It all ended with the fact that the Americans banned the sale and carrying of such weapons.

It still remains a mystery who first thought of making a knife of this design. Most sources report that these weapons were created for employees of special services or units, Soviet or American.

English-speaking authors usually claim that ballistic knives were first made by the Soviet company Ostblok, although in this case it is not clear how they could get to the West in the midst of cold war. In addition, an enterprise under that name never existed in the Soviet Union. And the very word “ostblok” seems, to put it mildly, strange: the “Eastern bloc” in the United States and Europe was usually called the USSR and the countries of the Warsaw Pact.

In service Soviet army such a weapon never stood, special units they weren't used either. It is possible that some work in this direction was carried out, but no information was found on their application. And the reason for this is not the closeness of the archives, but the very controversial effectiveness of these weapons, which will be discussed below.

Soviet military intelligence (subdivisions of the GRU of the General Staff of the USSR) was armed with standard bayonet-knives, the reconnaissance knife "Cherry", adopted back in 1943, and the NRS-2 shooting knife, which probably became the source of the legend about the "terrible" ballistic knives of the Soviet special forces. The only problem is that the NRS-2 fired at the enemy not with a blade, but with a bullet (special cartridge SP-4) from a special device mounted in the knife handle. The Soviet special forces were armed with a sufficient number of silent weapons, which, in terms of their characteristics, were significantly superior to any ballistic knives.

On the Internet you can find information about the Soviet (or Russian) "terrible" shooting knife "Scout", the design of which is not entirely clear, but its combat properties are simply amazing. It is reported that this ballistic knife is capable of crushing brick and even concrete. But the evidence base in this case is not thick.

There is information (again, unconfirmed) that Tula gunsmiths were engaged in the development of a shooting knife in the mid-80s. However, in their project, the blade was supposed to fly out of the handle not due to the expansion of the spring, but using the energy of powder gases. For this, a special cartridge was installed in the knife handle. It seems that this project ended in success, but the blade was never put into mass production. In this case, we are probably dealing with the usual distortion of information: we are talking about the Soviet shooting knife NRS-2, which really existed and was put into service. Both its creation and production were really engaged in Tula. But he did not shoot with a blade, but with a special cartridge from the handle.

Domestic sources, as a rule, attribute the invention of the ballistic knife to US special services, which can be read on many sites dedicated to this topic. It is reported that such a weapon appeared thanks to the development of the US military department, which began in the mid-70s of the last century. Allegedly, the ballistic knife was supposed to enter service with the American special forces and be used by them as a silent weapon.

Advantages and disadvantages of ballistic knives

The idea of a blade flying out of a knife looks really nice and quite tempting, and it is likely that this weapon gives its owner some advantages in a duel. Why are ballistic knives still not the usual weapons of spies and saboteurs of various stripes and calibers?

One of the main advantages of this weapon is its great versatility compared to a conventional knife. Not every knife is suitable for throwing, and throwing it correctly is a whole science. And here he pressed the button and “filled up” the adversary. In this regard, the ballistic knife looks much more attractive.

The second advantage of this type of weapon is its power. According to various sources, a blade fired from a ballistic knife can pierce a board to a depth of 40 to 100 mm. This is more than enough to damage the vital organs of the human body. Yes, and the range of destruction of a ballistic knife is also quite impressive, in different sources 6 and even 10 meters are indicated.

Another advantage of a ballistic knife can be called the "surprise effect" for the enemy. Such a weapon is not very well known and widespread, so it is unlikely that your opponent will be ready for a blade flying out of a knife and, therefore, will not be able to react to it in time.

On this, probably, the advantages of this type of melee weapons end. The disadvantages begin. There are not so many of them, but the quality of the cons of shooting knives fully explains why they are still not in service with the army or special services.

First of all, there are big doubts about the reliability of the knife mechanism, which, judging by the declared characteristics, should be quite powerful. At the same time, the creators of such weapons need to ensure its safety for the owner and reliability during use, which is not so easy to achieve. Using the energy of a compressed spring to fire a blade is not a very good technical solution. The fact is that the spring, being in a compressed state for a long time, loses its properties, and it needs to be changed. And the use of various compressed gases for firing seems rather complicated and not very reliable. Many questions are raised by reloading such weapons. When using such a powerful spring, putting a new blade in the handle is a serious problem that only a physically strong person can solve.

In addition, the ballistic properties of such blades are highly questionable. The accuracy of this weapon seems highly questionable. In this regard, the design of the Soviet NRS-2 knife, which fires special cartridges, looks much more reliable and efficient.

It is also unknown how sensitive the ballistic knife is to various contaminants, and whether they affect its "shooting" functions.

And finally. One of the main disadvantages of a ballistic knife is its "disposability". A single shot - and you don’t have any knife at all, neither conventional nor ballistic. In this regard, the same NRS-2 looks much more preferable.

In the twentieth century, the military experimented a lot with edged weapons, trying to give it a "new breath". The Americans, for example, worked for quite a long time on the creation of small crossbows for the needs special forces. These developments ended quite successfully: they resulted in the creation of several models of crossbows, which can be used in practice. However, despite the use of the most modern technologies and materials, they were significantly inferior to existing models of silent firearms. And we are talking about a crossbow - a weapon proven by centuries of practice. The same curiosity as a ballistic knife, in terms of its effectiveness, cannot be compared with a conventional silent pistol at all.

According to the stories of a war veteran who served in intelligence, they were already used at the end of the Second World War. Several blades were inserted into the handle, as if into a holder, with the help of which it was possible to silently and remotely remove sentries. The last blade was not fired, but was fixed in the handle for hand-to-hand combat.

It was such a handle, but without a knife, that my father kept in a drawer of a bookcase, which was locked with a key.

In the 80s, a ballistic knife appeared in the USA, which, if necessary, could fire a shot with its blade. This edged weapon was intended for the army, but it was soon abandoned and even banned. american soldier not accustomed to hand-to-hand combat, he fights exclusively by bombing, including atomic bombing, like on Hiroshima. And with a knife, and even with a spring, he can cut his finger or something else.

The knife had an extremely simple design. There was a powerful spring in its handle, which, if necessary, pushed the blade out.

These knives were designed as silent weapons. They can be used as normal ones without removing the blade from the handle or as throwing ones. To throw a knife, pull the lever and press the button (other options are possible depending on the design of a particular knife).

The spring inside it is capable of throwing a blade 6-7 meters at a speed of 60 km / h (~ 16 m / s).

Advantages

The advantage of this type of knife is that it can be used at a distance, and with a force more powerful than just a blow or throw of a knife, however, after firing the blade, the fighter remained unarmed, so you must have at least two knives in stock. The blade of a ballistic knife, when fired, can go deep into a wooden board by 35-40 mm, this is more than enough for the blade of the blade to reach the vital organs of a person.

Combat use

Army special forces use a ballistic knife to silently destroy enemy manpower. Since the goal of army special forces is to eliminate the enemy without unnecessary fuss and fuss, the enemy must be hit in the most vulnerabilities. The shot is usually made in the neck area for two reasons:

The neck, as a rule, is not protected by personal protective equipment (bulletproof vest, unloading vest, or even just tight clothing).

A hit in the neck will at least paralyze the enemy, preventing him from raising the alarm.

If a shot to the neck is difficult or impossible, other weak spots on the opponent's body are used. This can be the chest - usually this is the area of \u200b\u200bthe heart, however, even a direct hit in the heart with a knife blade does not give a 100% guarantee that the enemy will die immediately and will not be able to scream. Can be shot at solar plexus, in the area of the lungs if the enemy is without means of protection.

Experts note that, due to the unstable flight of the blade, the effectiveness of such weapons is limited to close combat, where a reusable knife will come in handy.

At one of the arms markets in the United States, the seller of ballistic knives from the Czech factory Mikov (photo above) (which either belong to or are not in service with the special services) pressed the wrong button and drove the blade into his eye. And then he squinted - in every sense of the word. This is equivalent to a grenade in the paws of a monkey.