Ok so currently the American bayonet is the M9 it's a 7 inch long glorified knife. Why don't they make the bayonets more triangular? Triangular wounds take the longest to heal since they aren't easy to close. That is the entire point if the bayonet I thought. Do they still teach soldiers how to use their bayonet effectively in basic training? Oh and by the way did anyone notice that the American Soldier was given Time's Person of the Year award? I wish I could get a copy of it.

The reason why the bayonet isn't triangular (anymore) is that it violates the Geneva Convention to make weapons that's designed to harm and not kill.
And a knife shaped bayonet is much more effective in a close/unarmed combat situation, since you can both cut and stab with it.

When it comes to bayonet training in the Norwegian Army we can still train our soldiers to use it, but it's not standard in the basic training.
It depends if we have a certified instructor available or not.
To be allowed to instruct in the use of bayonets you must be a certified unarmed/close combat instructor.
(wich I am by the way... 8) )

Is this WWI or WWII?! I dont even want to think about byonets.... When a IDF officer in Gaza had a jam a few months ago he charged the terrorist with his helmet and beat him to death...IDF dosent even have byonets......

Military close combat with a helmet..
Hm: "Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!"

I know how to use a lot of different military gear for close combat, but I don't think I have tried the helmet as an offensive weapon..
But if you have nothing else you must improvise.. 8)

Bayonet or knife is an excellent close combat weapon if you know how to use it..
I think it's a great, and actually fun thing to train with.
But if you don't know how to use it properly it's very easy for someone with a little skill to disarm and disable you.

Triangular bayonets don't kill...immediately anyways. What's the purpose of having a bayonet if you can't kill your enemy with it? That part should be stricken from the Geneva Convention or else we should be allowed to violate. Its not like our enemies are even following any of the rules laid out by the Geneva Convention. Wasn't it also the geneva Convention that outlawed the use of land mines or was that another thing? Some rules were just meant to be broken.

Nobody in the US Military has used a bayonet in combat for years, it's preety obsolete over here.

that's sad. Let's scream at the Pentagon until the reinstate a serious amount of use.

"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

You can always bring your GIs to train in leahatl helmet tactics in israel.....

Originally Posted by GuyontheRight

Nobody in the US Military has used a bayonet in combat for years, it's preety obsolete over here.

Dangerous thinking. Even if it's not actively being used on the battlefield, it still happens. Not only that, but it's been stated that bayonet training is vital to instilling a warrior spirit into the average soldier. It's not hurting anyone except the enemy, and it's one extra tool a soldier can pull out of his ruck in a tight spot. So I don't see why it's obsolete.

If I were sent into situations where close combat could happen I would never have gone without a bayonet and a good combat knife!!

The psychological effect of having bayonets are great, and if you are out of ammo a rifle with a bayonet is an excellent weapon!
Also an unarmed enemy is quite easy to disable with a bayonet, if you know how to use it. (don't even have to be sharp....)

And as you say Acerbus: having a bayonet, and being trained to use it gives you an extra edge in a tight spot. Both physically and mentally...