Originally Posted by FutureRANGER

Hey Redleg, you forgot my favorite bayonet quote.

hm, I guess I did....
Thanks..

ouch!

A bayonet is just a knife attached to your rifle. This is a good thing. Converts two weapons (long range and CQ) into one weapon that covers both ranges. Besides, bayonet assault course was the only REALLY fun part of basic.

Bayonent makes the enemy pee in his pants, just seeing ur opposition with 1 on, makes him that much more intimidating.

Originally Posted by sherman105

I still dont get the byonet thing, maybe if we had a tridition with byonets like the USA and UK, I would, but really, bullets seem much more sensible....

I agree bullets are much more sensible BUT when you have NONE you have to have some sort of back up weapon.

Originally Posted by diplomatic_means

"Few men are killed by the bayonet, many are scared by it. Bayonets should be fixed when the fire fight starts"
- General George Patton Jr, "War as I knew it" 1947

If i was looking at an enemy bayonet in combat, i would also be looking at a gun. And if that bayonet was intended to kill me, then the gun would be pointing at me. Now a blade may scare me, but a rifle aimed at me would scare me more... Like stated above though... when you're out of rounds a blade can come in handy, hoever i think that a combat knife would help more in hand to hand combat than a bayonet. Does anyone who has had hand-to-hand training agree with me?

No.
I have VERY limited unarmed combat training (just hip-pocket stuff from Ft. Knox), aside from wrestling, which ain't exactly the same. I'm also a fencer, which has maybe a little in common with bayonet fights.

HOWEVER, a rifle with a bayonet fixed is a much more potent weapon in hand-to-hand than a knife, especially against an opponent who likewise has a rifle and bayonet. You need your rifle not only for the added reach, but to parry the thrusts and slashes of your adversary. Plus, you have the added weapon of your rifle butt, which could come in very handy.
If you were in a situation like that with a knife against someone with a rifle and fixed bayonet, I'd really suggest running, it would be like going aginst someone who has a bat with a set of brass knuckles, it just ain't gonna work out for you.

Agree with you Redneck.

I have instructed soldiers in unarmed combat for some years now.
(I'm a certified close combat instructor...)

A rifle with a bayonet fixed is a great close combat weapon.
(if you AND your enemy are out of ammo)
You have real slim chances with a knife against a rifle w/bayonet.
I would run if I had the knife in that situation.
(maybe.. )

I would also have prefered a rifle without a bayonet against an enemy with only a knife.
A rifle without ammo can be a very effective hand-to-hand weapon, if you know what you are doing.

But in a situation with only a bayonet vs. knife, I would have picked the knife...

As far as using a combat knife, guess what you have to drop in the mud to pull that knife? Your rifle.

Naw, you swing the rifle with one hand and the knife with the other.

Everyone here seen "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Arc?"
Now that's the perfect combat situation, your opponent bringing a knife (or sword) to a gunfight.