Asmatchet is a short, heavyfighting knife 16.5 inches (42 cm) in overall length (including grip). It was designed byWilliam E. Fairbairn duringWorld War II.[1][2]
Though described in theOffice of Strategic Services catalogue as a cross between amachete and abolo, it was actually based on theRoyal Welch FusiliersTrench Knife ofWorld War I, and was designed as a purecombat knife. It has a broad, leaf-shapedblade sharpened the full length on one side, and from the tip to half of the other side. The entire blade is coated with a dullmatte finish to prevent detection at night from stray reflections.[3][4][5]
According to Fairbairn, the smatchet was an ideal close-combat weapon for those not armed with arifle andbayonet:[6]
The psychological reaction of any man, when he first takes the smatchet in his hand, is full justification for its recommendation as a fighting weapon. He will immediately register all the essential qualities of a good soldier – confidence, determination, and aggressiveness. Its balance, weight and killing power, with the point, edge orpommel, combined with the extremely simple training necessary to become efficient in its use, make it the ideal personal weapon for all those not armed with a rifle andbayonet.
The smatchet was used by British and American special forces (Special Air Service andOffice of Strategic Services, respectively) duringWorld War II.
In the late 1980s, Col.Rex Applegate licensed a modified version of the smatchet he and Fairbairn designed late in World War II. He called it the "Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Smatchet".
