What were bayonets used for?

Answer 1

To kill. Yes, originally once a musket was fired the Bayonet was plugged into the end of the barrel, the muzzle, converting it into a spear or pike. When the musket became reloadable the bayonet was altered so that it fitted around the barrel on a lug and allowed the weapon to be refired with the bayonet attached.

Answer 2

Bayonets can be used in several ways:

• As a knife or a small sword for self defense or attacks
• As a utility knife or tool
• To turn a rifle into a thrusting spear

They were are used as a melee attachment for musket rifles, in the 17-1800 era, and still used in the twentieth century attached to modern rifles.

Answer 3

Bayonets are blades that are specifically designed to be attached to the end of a rifle, turning the rifle into a type of 'polearm'. Most bayonets, however, can be used as a standard knife when not attached to a rifle, although some are permanent fixtures of the rifle and cannot be removed easily.

So basically, when the bayonet is attached to the rifle, it is used mainly as a thrusting weapon, although slashing certainly is possible.

When not affixed, it is used as a standard knife.

Answer 4

Bayonets were used to turn the long smoothbore rifles of the seventeen and eighteen hundreds into a spontoon or half pike. The bayonet either inserted into the barrel as a plug to fitted over the barrel to allow continued firing. The principle intent of bayonets was to kill opposing soldiers in close in fighting. They were needed as the long muskets could fire only one shot without a tedious reloading procedure, which left the soldier undefended.The bayonets were also a useful tool for finishing off (coupe de grace) wounded enemy combatants after a battle (or soldiers pretending to be dead on either side who planned on escaping further battle) , and cheaper and quicker than wasting ball and powder.
Although many bayonets could be used as small swords once detached from the musket large numbers were spike bayonets with triangular bladed stabbing points for the musket. These were populate during the American Civil War.

As weapons progressed the overall rifle length decreased and the firepower went up. This reduced the number and effectiveness of bayonet charges against the enemy and alternate uses were incorporated into the bayonet such as a more knifelike blade length and a more utilitarian handle. Some bayonets were equipped with a saw back to allow alternate use as utility tool.

Answer 5

bayonets are useful when in close combat, like the trenches.