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I read that the Imperium had chain knives from Warhammer 40k wikia, but this is the only source I've found, and I've never seen any instance where those were mentionned anywhere else. Anyone knows if chain knives are a common weapon within the Imperium? I know warhammer 40k wikia isn't always a super trustworthy source so I prefer to be sure.
(I don't mean chainsword but shorter ones the size of a combat knife, hence the name, sounds super obvious but I'm just making this clear so there is no misunderstanding)

Nope, never seen them before, in model or book iteration. As you've said, 40k wikia is pretty unreliable source material; I use Lexicanum since they always cite their stuff

Yes they are. Chain daggers are generally found among Khornate cultists, but tend to be pretty rare. They are available for purchase in Black Crusade.

They also appear in the Dark Heresy games (specifically, in the hive world section of The Inquisitor's Handbook). I would assume the FFG RPGs count for canon

The RPG is as canon as any other source, which is to say it isn't, but it is, as there is no "true canon" to the 40k setting.

 Psienesis wrote:
The RPG is as canon as any other source, which is to say it isn't, but it is, as there is no "true canon" to the 40k setting.

Until about 4th edition, most fluff was written in an "in universe" style, taking advantage of the unreliable narrator.

As for chain knives/daggers, I'd imagine they'd be pretty ineffective. Even if you find chainswords viable, they're clearly at their best for slashing/hacking, while a knife is going to be used heavily for stabbing. Vibroblades sort of take their place in a lot of fluff.

Chain-knives do exist though (after all, that is what is basically affixed to a chain-fist).

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Chain_Weapons

There's even a chain-bayonet attachment for the rifles of the Imperial Guard (which, again, is basically a knife on the end of a gun).

They are also the most grimdark method to butter your toast.

They exist, but the question is. Are there Chain Forks? Or Chain Spoons? For when you need to purge your lunch in the emprahs name.

Mentioned specifically in one of the Gaunt's Ghosts novels. During the siege of Vervunhive one of the survivors has a chain knife she uses to cut into crates and through a fence. She then keeps it after she is inducted into the ghosts.

In addition to chain knives, the Gaunt's Ghosts series also introduce a chain fist, but its a non standard weapon used mostly by hive gangsters.

I don't really read into the fluff, but I assume it's a non-mainstream/non-military thing. Never seen it on a guardsman, space marine, catachan, etc. but I can imagine a cultist or chaos dude using one.

Chefs in the 40k universe probs have one for cooking lol.

You can pick one up as standard regimental equipment in Only War (the Guardsman RPG) if you want. You can also get one as an attachment for a lasgun to make a chain bayonet.

There is a picture of one in the old Index Astartes article on the Flesh Tearers.

Don't the dark eldar have a few of those modelled on their mini's

Can you think of the dumbest, crazy, most impractical weapon?

If you can, it exists in 40K. So yeah, chain knives/daggers do exist.

 Griddlelol wrote:
Can you think of the dumbest, crazy, most impractical weapon?

If you can, it exists in 40K. So yeah, chain knives/daggers do exist.

Indeed. The chain-butterknife is essential for making a platoon's butties quickly, and the power-spoon for heating soup as you stir.

The assorted RPGs include:

Chainsword
Chainaxe
Chainknife
Chainspear
Chainhammer (hammerhead with two opposed chainblades)
Chain gauntlets

Only war has the chain bayonet

Necromunda had a chainscythe on the spyrer matriarch.

It makes sense that the 'chain' family of weapons is so large if you think about the kind of enemies a human is likely to face.

Flak and carapace armoured humans would require you to stab around the armour with a regular blade.
You could push a regular knife into an ork to the hilt and just make him mad.
The alien Eldar use skin tight armour suits with overlapping plates and scales- same problem as fighting a stormtrooper with a knife but made worse by the tight seams and speed of the target.
Power armoured Astartes or Sororitas will break your knife against the plate on one arm and beat you to death with the other.

Combine this with a galaxy where most armour is optimised to defeat energy weapons like your lasgun and yes, you'll need something to help you at close quarters.

Now someone needs to design a chain-mace/hammer, for all my bludgeoning rip and tear needs.

I think they use one in Necropolis, one of Dan Abnetts Gaunt's Ghost books.

In the 30K books Sevatar of the Night Lords used a chain-halberd.

SomeRandomEvilGuy wrote:
In the 30K books Sevatar of the Night Lords used a chain-halberd.

They're even available in 30k as Nostraman Chainglaives, which a lot of Night Lord units get access to.

They might be but why ever would you want to carry one? The additional weight and bulk from the mechanism would surely outweigh any actual combat benefits.

 Flinty wrote:
They might be but why ever would you want to carry one? The additional weight and bulk from the mechanism would surely outweigh any actual combat benefits.

The length of the Chainglaive is a good advantage, and suits well with jump pack equipped troops who can swoop over and not get too close due to the Chainglaive's length.
Plus, in game, they function more like power weapons (+1 Str, AP3, two handed, Rending, at the same price as a standard Legion PW)

Chain scythe? That makes no sense lol.

 Griddlelol wrote:
Chain scythe? That makes no sense lol.

it makes as much sense as any chain weapon!

 Sgt_Smudge wrote:

 Flinty wrote:
They might be but why ever would you want to carry one? The additional weight and bulk from the mechanism would surely outweigh any actual combat benefits.

The length of the Chainglaive is a good advantage, and suits well with jump pack equipped troops who can swoop over and not get too close due to the Chainglaive's length.
Plus, in game, they function more like power weapons (+1 Str, AP3, two handed, Rending, at the same price as a standard Legion PW)

I meant chain knives.

 Flinty wrote:

 Sgt_Smudge wrote:

 Flinty wrote:
They might be but why ever would you want to carry one? The additional weight and bulk from the mechanism would surely outweigh any actual combat benefits.

The length of the Chainglaive is a good advantage, and suits well with jump pack equipped troops who can swoop over and not get too close due to the Chainglaive's length.
Plus, in game, they function more like power weapons (+1 Str, AP3, two handed, Rending, at the same price as a standard Legion PW)

I meant chain knives.

Ah, never mind then.

Chain knives would pretty much be used like a standard close-quarters holdout knife, probably good at dealing with exposed flesh. However, they would require a power system and might become clogged up and useless if used incorrectly.

Dunno about 40k, but they certainly exist in fallout.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of chain knife / ripper tool used by butchers.

Butchers seem to prefer beter control from nice sharp knives. Youd probably spoil the meat using a tiny chainsaw to make cuts with. Abbatoirs are more liely to use powered things. I tried looking but even te sales sites made me feel a little queasy :p

locarno24 wrote:
The assorted RPGs include:

Chainsword
Chainaxe
Chainknife
Chainspear
Chainhammer (hammerhead with two opposed chainblades)
Chain gauntlets

Only war has the chain bayonet

Necromunda had a chainscythe on the spyrer matriarch.

Only War also, I think, has the chain flail. Yea. Have fun with that one. The flavor text even basically calls out how ridiculous it is.