The NR-40 (, nicknamed as Finka) was a Soviet combat knife introduced in 1940 and used throughout World War II.
History
The Winter War revealed a number of deficiencies in Soviet weaponry; among other issues, the Soviet infantry lacked a good combat knife.
As a result, in 1940, the Soviet Army adopted the NR-40.
"Black knife" division NR-40 was mostly produced at the ZiK () factory in Zlatoust, Urals.
Once the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps was formed in 1943, all its soldiers and officers were supplied with a special issue of NR-40 (also known as "black knife").
The formation was later named by Germans as "Black Knife Tank Division" (). The unofficial divisional anthem mentioned the nickname as well ().
Design
The NR-40 has a blade with a clip point, a large ricasso, a black wooden handle, and an S-shaped guard.
The guard is "inverted" (unlike most S-shaped guards, it curves towards the edge) because standard Soviet Army grips called for holding the knife with the edge upwards.
Modern variants NR-40 is no longer used by the army, but modern remakes and almost exact replicas of NR-40 are produced in Zlatoust to this day. A knife of exactly the same proportions would be legally a weapon, thus prohibiting free sale. To circumvent that, producers either use a thinner blade or remove the guard.
Users
Former
See also Puukko KA-BAR Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife Kampfmesser 42 Ballistic knife NRS-2
References Нож разведчика (НР-40) "Shtrafbat", a modern remake of NR-40 by A&R "Black knife", an almost exact replica by Zlatgravura