[JShirley]

Kel-Tec has a history of making affordable firearms, with good warranty service. Perhaps at least as interesting as the firearms themselves, KT has always offered an variety of innovative accessories, such as firearm clips, flashlight holders, and quick-detachable scopes, always at very reasonable prices.

KT has a new evolution on their SU-16 .223 rifle, a compact SBR. To complement this aggressive-looking piece, Kel-Tec will be offering a folding bayonet, as well as a folding knife (http://www.kel-tec.com/kfb.htm) similar to the bayonet, but not designed to mount onto a rifle.

D2 and polymer...hm.

Having been forced to carry bayonets on my gear a time or two- and knowing how unlikely a "fix bayonets" order is in the real world- I wouldn't be surprised if some real US units end up with this piece, considering how much lighter and handier it is than the current issue.

John

[RyanM]

Looks like a great idea. But aren't liner-locks notorious for closing when stabbed against stuff hard?

[JShirley]

Well, considering that the chances of this knife actually seeing duty as a bayonet are incredibly small, I think KT's point is well-made: Rather than a traditional bayonet, The KFB should be regarded as a multi-purpose combat knife that can be attached to a rifle for special purposes.

I'd like to test it out, of course, but I'd think the KFK is probably strong enough for all but the most insane tasks in the field. Of course, knowing soldiers... :uhoh:

[TrapperReady]

Interesting design, and worth some testing. I'm kind of dubious that it would work very well after a few hard thrusts and some twisting... but as you say, the use of bayonets for their "intended" purpose is very rare indeed.

Frankly, I think you could have a good debate as to whether the bayonet should still be issued, or if it would be best replaced with a sturdy multi-tool.

[JShirley]

I agree. We hated carrying them, when I was in the Infantry- whereas the Multitools were always popular, and always held by a Sgt or two, and savvy Spec4s! :)

John

[RyanM]

I know! Replace bayonets with sharp-edged, folding entrenching tools that double as hatchets, like the I-forget-what-they're-called.

Keep the ability to fix them to bayonet lugs, so you can attach the thing to your rifle and have either a full-sized shovel, or a battleaxe!

[4v50 Gary]

What a nifty idea. Use it as a camp knife or attach it to your rifle as a pig sticker. :p

[Soap]

Its pretty cool except I would NEVER use the sawteeth on the back. That sounds like a great way to stress out the liner to failure.

[Ash]

It's a 70 year old idea. The Italians had folding bayonets of this design in the 1930's. Many of these went to Finland. You can find them about, sometimes on ebay though often faked.

Now, I do NOT refer to folding bayonets such as on Mosin M-44's, SKS's, Chinese AK's or Italian Carcanos, all of which are permenantly attached to the rifle. I refer to what is basically just like this one.

The shovel bayonet is even older, more than 100 years old now. It was called a trowel bayonet for the Springfield Trapdoors and could be used as an entrenching tool in a pinch.

As to a combat knife being used as a bayonet, that idea is 66 years old, being introduced by the Finns for the M39 rifle. That bayonet was basically a fighting knife made in such a way as to mount onto a rifle.

It proves so well that there really is nothing new under the sun.

Ash