Facebook: http://facebook.com/XboxAhoy Twitter: http://twitter.com/xboxahoy In this episode we're covering the first special weapon, the ballistic knife. It's a single shot weapon, unlocked at level 15. Originating from the Soviet Union, it was first seen in the hands of Spetznaz forces operating in Afghanistan around the late 1970s. A largely impractical weapon, intended to extend a fighter's reach and capability in close combat, although its exact usage is unknown Although deadly when launched, the weapon is only truly effective within a very short range - a role in which a full-tang fixed blade may have been better suited. The weapon rose to some prominence in the United States, though - its reputation as the Soviet elite's close quarter weapon of choice made them quite the collectible, and in the early 1980s were a popular novelty. As collectable as they were deadly, it's little surprise that the spring-loaded blades were banned outright in 1986. In-game, The Ballistic Knife has a supply of just two blades - one ready to fire with another to spare. The blades have a cutting edge 5 inches long, and the entire assembly with handle measures about ten inches in length. The blades are spring loaded and are fired by pulling the safety pin and pressing the button on the handle, releasing a simple latch and decompressing the spring. This launches the blade at quite some velocity - typically some 60 feet per second, more than enough to embed deeply in flesh should it come into contact with the enemy. In-game, The Ballistic Knife will kill in just one hit, at any range, anywhere to the body. Unfortunately landing a hit is quite tricky, given that the blades follow a parabolic trajectory - this means at a distance you'll need to aim above your target to hit. The travel time of the blade also makes aiming difficult, particularly on a moving target - in many cases you'll need to aim ahead of the enemy, anticipating their movement.