Bayonets

Bayonets were first used in Bayonne in 1641. Supposedly during a battle the soldiers ran out of ammunition, stuck knives into the muzzles of their guns and charged the enemy.
Soldiers have always used long sharp pointed things as weapons. When the original firearms were introduced it soon became evident that there was a gap between the firing of a shot and the next chance to fire that would potentially allow the enemy to advance. One way to overcome the problem was the 3 ranks in the "British Square" where each rank fired, reloaded and made ready in turn. Each soldier could fire 3 rounds per minute so 3 ranks as described could fire 9 rounds per minute. However the range of the bullet was less than 100 metres so the enemy could get quite close without fear.

Although partly successful it was not a total answer. Hence the introduction of the bayonet. It was/is basically a knife (or sword) attached to the end of a rifle. Originally they were "plug" bayonets as above. The hilt was smooth and designed to fit into the barrel of the musket. See above. However that meant that the rifle could not be reloaded so the idea was short-lived. The socket bayonet was then invented. It had a ring that fitted around the muzzle of the rifle so that the bayonet could remain on the weapon and the rifle could still be fired. When muzzle loading was replaced with the cartridge rifle this was even more successful.

The bayonet is for a .577 calabar, 1852 Enfield Musket with the markings " V.V " engraved onto the socket.

The Victorian Volunteers were a militia regiment of the 1860's period. It also has " F " (the district notation) and the 942 item number engraved onto it.

There are no markings to the scabbard. It has brass fittings to the top and bottom and is of leather construction.

There are no British military markings to the bayonet or scabbard so it would have been a private purchase for the Regiment. It has a total length of 55cm and weights 580gms.

The bayonet has 338 stamped into it. The blade is triangular with concave fullers.


Overall Length: 28.1” (715mm) Blade Length: 22.75” (578 mm)	Scabbard Length: 23.1” (587 mm) Firearm: Alexander Henry Carbine and Short Rifle

Pattern 1907 Hooked quillion bayonet, made by JAC (Chapman) which is stamped on the ricasso. On the opposite side its stamped 11/09 being manufactured in November 1909.Chapman was one of the smaller contractors only making 140,000 going by I.D.Skennertons book (British & Commonwealth Bayonets). Its Australian issue with V6663 stamped on the cross-guard meaning Victorian issue. Some say Victorian police issue.

These bayonets were early AIF issue and were seen at Gallipoli.

Although an effective and terrifying weapon (in close quarter combat) the long sword bayonet was not particularly useful as a knife, because of it's size. Over the years the length of the bayonet has decreased. This reduction in size can be linked to the increase in the firepower of the rifle and it's ability to auto reload and in some cases to put down fully automatic fire. As the soldier is able to fire more rounds more quickly so has his need for a bayonet decreased.

Also in the American Civil War and in WW1 the ability to mount a successful bayonet charge was greatly reduced. Barbed wire and the machine gun made a mockery of the old style of marching the Regiment forward to the sound of the Pipes and Drums, shoulder to shoulder to scare the living bejeezuz out of the 'natives'. The well entrenched German army and the Maxim gun crucified the flower of the British Empire in the Somme and elsewhere and the bayonets did not get anywhere near the enemy. Later, tactics changed and localised "raids" and "peaceful penetration" became the norm, where the bayonet, the club and the trench knife were popular again.

Top: bayonet. Centre: bayonet & scabbard. Below: Bayonet, scabbard & frog. (not to scale)

The standard issue bayonet for the Lee-Enfield rifle (WW1 and WW2) was about half a metre long (blade was 43cms, handle extra) and when on the end of a rifle held by a cranky ANZAC was a fearsome weapon. ANZAC's were on average taller, heavier built and stronger than Europeans and the idea of an Australian bayonet charge became a thing of fear amongst German troops.

Details on the Lee Enfield bayonets
- 1903 pattern
- 1907 hooked quillion
- 1907 pattern (standard issue)
Note that the 1907 bayonet was lengthened by 5 inches to compensate for the 5 inches "lost" when the Lee Enfield Long rifle became the Lee Enfield Short.
Image is a thumbnail, click to enlarge.

Australia's most issued bayonet, the 1907 model for the .303 Lee Enfield rifle
The .303 Lee Enfield rifle and this type of bayonet was issued in WW1 & WW2, AIF & NZEF

Enfield No 5 Jungle Carbine Bayonet complete with Scabbard.

The blade is 20cm long and the overall length is 30cm, the grips are wooden & secured by two steel screws.

These were made by various makers including W.S.C. Poole, Viners & Elkington.

This bayonet is marked P in a circle 1946 being made by Poole in that year. It has the approval stamp & G2 over B on the top of the pommel.

Another version was the "fighting knife" style. It was not widely issued. Both the short 'pig-sticker' and the 'fighting knife' styles were more suited to jungle warfare that the longer version. The number 7 Mk.1 bayonet was introduced in 1945 for the British Sten Mark 5 and the short magazine Lee-Enfield number 4 . Swivel pommel allows the bayonet to be used on either & also used as a fighting knife. The ricasso is marked No.7Mk1/L on one side & British acceptance mark on the other with a poorly struck M 47B indicating this was made by B.S.A.

	Bayonet – Enfield No 9 - 1949 On the flat in front of the muzzle is the P-in-circle sign for the Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole and the date 1949. On the top of the right hand side is a G5 over B.
These were only issued en mass to the navy – this one shows no signs of Naval issue – and few were made. This is one of the first ones, later batches were made at Enfield and were fully type stamped.

US M9 bayonet used with Australia's Steyr

Over the years, the terrain and tactics have had an impact on the need or use of the bayonet. In jungle fighting and in house to house fighting a long bayonet on the end of your rifle can be a hindrance not a help.

Rifles have become shorter, have been replaced by carbines or assault rifles and in many cases now have folding or removable stocks.

The bayonet has basically been replaced by the fighting knife, at least in the western world.

M9, the current US general issue bayonet.>>

Notice the hole in the middle of the blade. That's so the soldier can use the knife and the sheath as a wire cutter. The hole in the knife hooks over the lug on the bayonet. This converts it to the equivalent of a pair of pliers and wire can be cut.

Another thing that is considered in the areas where crowd control is still a function of the army is that the bayonets are still useful.

Have the troops fix bayonets, stand fast in ranks, and make sure that the pointy end is towards the rioters. No one in the crowd will want to be the first to jump on top of the knife.

It works just as well now as it did centuries ago when bayonets were first introduced.

The American M9 bayonet-fighting knife has been purchased by the Australian Army (over 20,000 units) for use as a bayonet for the Australian version of the Austrian Steyr, the Austeyr personal weapon. The bayonet's total weight of 850g is somewhat of a difficulty for troops that have to carry all their equipment, weapons and food over long distances.