Bayonet

Bayonet, a pointed, or sharpened and pointed steel weapon, adapted for fixing to the muzzle of a musket or rifle, and for use at close quarters. It was first introduced into the French army in the middle of the seventeenth century, and it appears to have received its name from the fact, or supposed fact, of its having been invented at Bayonne. Sword-bayonets are bayonets so designed as to be available also for use as swords. Bayonets have been of many patterns and sizes. The weight and length beyond muzzle of the bayonets that have been used in the British army with various rifles are as follows: -

Date; name of arm; bayonet weight (lbs., oz.); bayonet length (ft., in.)

1800; "Brown Bess"; 1, 2; 1, 5-1/4
1800; Baker Rifle; -, 15; 1, 6-5/8
1842; Percussion Musket; 1, 8; 1, 7-1/2
1830; Brunswick Rifle; 2, 0-1/2; 1, 9-1/4
1851; Minie Rifle; 1, 0-1/4; 1, 5-7/8
1853; Long Enfield; -, 13-1/2; 1, 5-1/2
1860; Short Enfield; 1, 11-1/2; 1, 10-3/4
1864; Snider; -, 13-1/2; 1, 5-1/2
1871; Martini-Henry III; 1, 1; 1, 10-1/2
1886; Enfield-Martini; 1, 7-1/4; 1, 6-1/8
1897; Magazine (Lee-Metford); -, 15; -, 12