Bayonets - Do They Still Have a Use?
- Thread starter CmdrSlander
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henschman
Member
It's not particularly hard to make a rifle able to accept a bayonet. A few extra machining operations, adding maybe a few bucks to the overall price of the rifle, is well worth it just in case it is ever needed. I rarely mount one on my own rifles, but it is nice to have the capability.
Texan Scott
Member
"Kant" purposes? Meaning you consider it a 'catagorical imperative', or are you purely critiquing our reason?
ETA: dern it, you edited.
ShadowsEye
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Not even that, maybe a few extra pennies worth of steel but it is simply a matter of adding the lug to the bottom of the barrel, you aren't machining a separate part. Still the same number of operations.
Centurian22
Member
MMM Beat me to the mosin comment. I have to agree with the majority that if for no other benefit than the psychological benefit to the good guys and detriment to the bad guys, yes it's still usefull / important.
ScottieG59
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We were trained to use our bayonets decades ago. It is one of those useful things most will never use. You do not want to leave the bayonet fixed all the time. Years ago, one of out soldiers died when he slipped and empaled himself with his bayonet fixed to his M16.
As a soldier, I liked having the option, and in close quarters, it is very deadly and effective.
As a civilian, I also have a rifle with a bayonet. I do not foresee ever using it while there in law and order in the country.
As a soldier, I liked having the option, and in close quarters, it is very deadly and effective.
As a civilian, I also have a rifle with a bayonet. I do not foresee ever using it while there in law and order in the country.
Sheepdog1968
Member
If I recall correctly, about four years ago the Brits did a bayonet charge in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
gatorjames85
Member
My mom, wife and I made and ate dinner out in the woods one time using a surplus EG AKM bayonet and saw palmetto utensils. Worked quite well.
Acera
Member
Sheepdog1968 wrote:
Yes they did. Read about it in post #10 of this thread.
Yes they did. Read about it in post #10 of this thread.
JAV8000
Member
I am currently active duty army infantry operating as a Bradley gunner in a mechanized infantry and armor CAB (combined arms battalion). I deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedome April 2011 straight out of infantry OSUT. I received no bayonet training in infantry basic or my duty station prior to deploying in a light infantry role (when I say light I mean little use of trucks, mostly Chinook air insertions) to Kandahar Afghanistan. I wasn't issued one either, none of us were. My Leatherman MUT was all the knife I ever had or needed over seas…thankfully. We were trained on the "muzzle thump" docterine of extreme CQB. The modern battlefield doesn't really allow much time or maintain much need for affixing bayonets. I'll take something smaller and lighter thanks. The average load out in kit for a infantry grunt these days is at least 100 lbs, usually more. We didn't have room to strap, tie, or bungee any more crap to ourselves or kit. Take this for what you will.
jogar80
Member
I've never even seen an m4 or any AR with a bayonet attached. Anyone have a pic? Curious how it looks!
Perhaps this was a fluke within my unit. Just wondering if anyone else had the same experience.
If you asked for a bayonet from the armorer it was like pulling teeth. My lord did you get proper clearance from on high and from above beyond high. Then you would get a look like. Don't you know someone could get hurt with those things. A dang bayonet was treated like some pricless jewel that could not be replaced.
Go to the same armorer to draw grenades or claymores. Then it was; oh here you go how many you want. No questions, no problems, didn't care where the last ones went. But that footlocker of bayonets my goodness them are special.
I did see a PFC get a feild grade Article 15 for sharpening a bayonet. Part of me misses to Army but none of me will ever miss the stupid.
If you asked for a bayonet from the armorer it was like pulling teeth. My lord did you get proper clearance from on high and from above beyond high. Then you would get a look like. Don't you know someone could get hurt with those things. A dang bayonet was treated like some pricless jewel that could not be replaced.
Go to the same armorer to draw grenades or claymores. Then it was; oh here you go how many you want. No questions, no problems, didn't care where the last ones went. But that footlocker of bayonets my goodness them are special.
I did see a PFC get a feild grade Article 15 for sharpening a bayonet. Part of me misses to Army but none of me will ever miss the stupid.
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adobewalls
Member
The "Bayonet" is a mindset.
With that said, I remember getting my first lesson in the bayonet drill from my Grandfather (World War I vet) when I was about 10. He was in his upper 80's at the time and it still meant something to him.
With that said, I remember getting my first lesson in the bayonet drill from my Grandfather (World War I vet) when I was about 10. He was in his upper 80's at the time and it still meant something to him.
There are few things better at crowd control than a line of soldiers advancing with fixed bayonets. Also, my dad told me he saw several Americans killed and wounded by Japanese soldiers in the Philipines and on Okinawa with bayonets. A spear killed soldiers 5,000 years ago. A knife on the end of a rifle will still kill people today.
jogar80
Member
I thought a bayonet would look out of place but it actually looks pretty cool!
P.B.Walsh
Member
Looks better on a wood and steel rifle.... or shotgun!
A square 10
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and heres one of a slightly earlier era -
jogar80
Member
I agree, it does look better on a wood and steel rifle... but it doesn't look bad on an AR.
sixgunner455
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My unit did not have any bayonets. "Sharp and pointy things? Eewww! Are you really sure we should be giving these people bullets?"
I had a bayonet, an M7. I bought it, and still have it. People were jealous, believe it or not. They wouldn't issue me a pistol, so I figured I needed one. Nobody ever complained about me having it.
I never had to use it, but then I never had to fire a round in the combat zone, either.
BTW, who cares how it looks! It's supposed to kill people, not look cool.
I had a bayonet, an M7. I bought it, and still have it. People were jealous, believe it or not. They wouldn't issue me a pistol, so I figured I needed one. Nobody ever complained about me having it.
I never had to use it, but then I never had to fire a round in the combat zone, either.
BTW, who cares how it looks! It's supposed to kill people, not look cool.
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