Privately acquired knives, on the other hand, were frequently carried by foot soldiers for use as supplementary weapons as well as utility items. Some armed forces supplied knives for specific campaigns or specialised soldiers such as pioneer or field engineer detachments, but these cutting instruments were not intended to be used as combat knives. Modern armies still use the term "foot soldier" to describe ordinary troops who do not hold any official position within the army (such as officers or non-commissioned officers). Knives were also used by foot soldiers to cut ropes, tethers, and bonds. As early as 3000 B.C., people in parts of Asia used knives to cut stones to make tools. In Europe, several types of knives were popular among common soldiers, including hunting knives, butcher's knives, and fishing knives. During the Age of Sail, when gunpowder replaced swords as the main weapon of land armies, knives became important tools for sailors to handle meat, vegetables, fish, and fruit while at sea. They also helped them work their ships if they got into difficulties during a battle. In World War I, French infantrymen were issued a 7.65mm (0.3in) knife called a petit poivre ("little pepper"). It had a single, 5.5-inch (14cm) blade made from carbon steel with a tang of hardwood (beech or maple) for carrying.