A bayonet, derived from the French baļonnette, is a large sharp single or double edged knife that is primarily designed to fit around the muzzle of a rifle barrel, effectively turning the gun into a spear. It is specifically for close quarter battle or used as a last resort.
Towards the end of the 19th Century long elaborate sword type bayonets began to give way to a shorter, easier to handle knife-type. This type with wooden grips and usually a metal scabbard quickly became the standard which has lasted to the current day. Of course this was not to say that long bladed bayonets became obsolete, they didn't and saw use into WWII.
The most common standard knife type of bayonet is the German 1871-84 pattern as issued in 1886. A good example of this bayonet is seen below.
However an earlier example could be the American M1861 "Dahlgren". This was a short brass and wood gripped bowie knife type bayonet originally meant for the 1876 Navy rifle, and was apparently designed by Admiral John Dahlgren.
Every country in the world that ever used a rifle would also have used a bayonet attached to it in battle, and here are a few of the most common ones.
Below an Italian bayonet. A long bayonet that was similar to the Japanese Arisaka bayonet and could be used in the same fashion as a sword when not attached under the muzzle of a rifle.
Below is a Czechoslovakian bayonet, the deep fuller groove in this bayonet (and all other bayonets on these pages ) was there to give it strength and not to act as a blood groove as myth has it.
Below is a M1908 Brazilian bayonet with a large hooked quillion and a nice double brass ended leather scabbard. The hooked quillion was designed to block of an enemies bayonet attack in close hand to hand fighting, just like the fittings on swords.
Below is Spanish bayonet that is similar to the German K98 bayonet.
Below is a small illustration of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's British Eight Army in North Africa. When ordered to advance on enemy positions the order to fix bayonets was usually the immediate follow up order.
Below is a very long British M1897 saw-back bayonet. The saw-back was useful for cutting wood and branches and as a general utility implement, and not as myth has it...of cutting the bones of enemy soldiers!
Below is another British bayonet, the Lancaster saber point, these bayonets were 16 inches long, some were longer and went to a fine sharp point. This bayonet could be dismounted from the rifle and used as a sword if needs be.
The British bayonet below, is for the Sterling submachine gun. It was envisaged that even soldiers who carried other weapons should be able to defend themselves when in close quarter combat, between changing magazines or out of ammunition.
Below is a Polish WZ24 Perkun bayonet with its deep fuller groove for extra strength and to stop the blade from flexing. The 'false edge' of these bayonets were normaly sharpened a few inches back.
Below is a French bayonet. This bayonet looks as though it's bent, but this is actually the shape and style of the blade as attested by the scabbard.
Below is an 1918 Russian Mossin-Nagant bayonet. These very early style "pig-sticker" triangular bayonets stayed with the Russians into WWII. They were strong, dependable and could easily penetrate an enemy soldiers thick tunic as they were often filed to a needle point.
This type of bayonet was not designed as a utility blade like some other bayonet on this page are, but solely for the purpose of stabbing enemy soldiers.
Below the famous German K98 bayonet with a photo of the corresponding rifle underneath. This bayonet was multi-purpose in that the German soldier could use it as a utility knife.
Below is a 1909 Argentinean bayonet, quite sturdy and long, this bayonet was balanced well enough to be used quiet well in hand to hand fighting.
Bayonets gave all rifles an edge in battle (no pun intended) in that they offered the soldier at least some form of defence when his weapon was unloaded or out of ammunition. Also, throughout history there were always times when the famous bayonet charge was instigated and hundreds of soldiers would run down the enemy with fixed bayonets and an appropriate war cry.
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