Encyclopedia of historical weapons - Bayonet
At the end of the seventeenth century the French introduced the socket
bayonet. This contained a sleeve fitting round the barrel and was
locked into place with a slot and stud. This enabled the gun to be
fired with the bayonet firmly secured in place. This type of bayonet
was adopted by nearly all the Europeans armies.
The bayonet was originally a defensive weapon. Infantry standing two or
three deep, who adopted a square formation, could defend their position
against a cavalry charge. Bayonet charges were rarely attempted until
the enemy was retreating.
The development of breech-loading rifles in the 19th century provided
infantrymen with the firepower capable of beating off cavalry. After
this, the bayonet turned from being primarily a defensive weapon to
being a personal offensive weapon. The difficulties of fixing bayonets
in battle led some armies to adopt permanently-attached bayonets which
folded above or below the barrel of the rifle.
