Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I believe I already know the answer to this, but I thought I should ask anyway, just to make sure I've not misunderstood anything. I've finally begun to assemble my MKIV Calth Space Marines, and the kit includes enough attack knives to equip 10 Marines. I would like to know if I can use them, but I'm assuming I can't. The 30k rules probably allows them to be armed with bolter, bolt pistol and CCW, and that's why the kit includes a lot of knives.

My other 40k armies are Imperial Guard armies, and I've been playing 40k for more than 15 years. CCWs are compulsory in IG armies, and they usually don't add anything, unless the model is also armed with a pistol. Which is why they're often left out on the IG models. I was under the impression that all armies in 40k always have a free, inconsequential CCW, but I guess I was wrong.

Tactical Space Marines specifically have pistols, but CCWs aren't mentioned, which leads me to assume they can't have them, aside from the advantage they would have had if they could have switched to bolt pistol and CCW.

It would be a pity if I can't put the attack knives on my models, because it would look really good, but I don't want to give them an advantage they're not allowed either.

Most Marines are pistol-whipping opponents, they are holster ingredients their Pistol and drawing a combat knife or punching/kicking their opponents.

The knives are there for 30k, where it is an option. Or some chapters, like the space sharks.

Unless you are being ultra strict with the WYSWYG, you can just treat them the same as pouches, spare mags, etc. Just there to pretty up the model. For Tac squads, the general assumption is that all the bolter boys are basic, you just need to make sure the special/heavy/sarge have what they should.

I’ve built two tac squads from the BaC box. On one, every marine has a pistol modeled. The other squad they all have knives. Helps keep them separate on the table.

 Nevelon wrote:
The knives are there for 30k, where it is an option. Or some chapters, like the space sharks.

Unless you are being ultra strict with the WYSWYG, you can just treat them the same as pouches, spare mags, etc. Just there to pretty up the model. For Tac squads, the general assumption is that all the bolter boys are basic, you just need to make sure the special/heavy/sarge have what they should.

I’ve built two tac squads from the BaC box. On one, every marine has a pistol modeled. The other squad they all have knives. Helps keep them separate on the table.

Thanks! I might do something like that, as in giving them either pistols or knives.

I say the knives and whatnot are decorations.

In the past marines came with pistol holsters but there wasn't an option for Tacticals to have bolt pistols back then (combat back then didn't require you to have any CCWs of any kind and Tacticals were suppose to have the drawback of not being able to shoot and charge).

 Zingraff wrote:
It would be a pity if I can't put the attack knives on my models, because it would look really good, but I don't want to give them an advantage they're not allowed either.

If you can't buy CCWs you're not giving the unit any advantage by gluing on the knives. What matters is what you have spent points on.

Ofc, in case your opponent is unfamiliar with marines he might assume those guys have pistol+ccw combo - so the thing to do is always point out the pretty knives are only there for decoration since they came with the kit.

Spetulhu wrote:

 Zingraff wrote:
It would be a pity if I can't put the attack knives on my models, because it would look really good, but I don't want to give them an advantage they're not allowed either.

If you can't buy CCWs you're not giving the unit any advantage by gluing on the knives. What matters is what you have spent points on.

Ofc, in case your opponent is unfamiliar with marines he might assume those guys have pistol+ccw combo - so the thing to do is always point out the pretty knives are only there for decoration since they came with the kit.

Yeah, that's what I decided to do. If only about 1/3 of them have the knives, I don't think it's going to confuse anyone, and it looks great. It makes sense that some of them would carry knives, so they don't appear out of place.

The Krieg artillery crews also include a holstered pistol for the commander, and he's not technically allowed to be armed with a laspistol, but that's what you get in the kit. I've also given my rapier gunners a holstered pistol as a side arm, and I've modelled my demo charge armed combat engineers with pistols they're not technically allowed to use, - but not giving them side arms looks completely bonkers. It would be madness to go into combat with a bomb strapped to your back, without even a pistol to defend yourself with.

So yeah, I'm used to having a couple of miniatures that aren't completely WYSIWYG.