AR's have them, AK's have them, even the new Colt .308 has one. Forget about the fact that some idiot legislators made it an evil feature in a ban that is now expired. Who still really wants bayonet lugs as an integral part of their rifles? I'm pretty "old school", but I'm not getting why any newer military style firearms still come with bayonet lugs. They remind me of a useless appendage. Anyone have different thoughts on this?
The Bayonet Lug - still desireable?
- Thread starter Skans
- Start date
The bayonet still has its uses in military applications. Heck in "social work" applications the bayonet still has its uses.
Affixing a bayonet makes your rifle not only a medium to long range combat weapon but it also makes your rifle a very potent up close and personal combat weapon too. No long are you relegated to butt stock attacks but now have thrusting and slashing capability too. Unless I'm sorely mistaken recruits are STILL being taught bayonet use in basic training.
Anyway I'd rather have a short spear than a knife when it came to melee combat. Now if I could have it my way melee wouldn't happen... I'd have just shot all my attackers and I wouldn't have to engage in melee but well that's not something I see as being completely realistic.
The bayonet lug (and the bayonet) are far from obselete for combat purposes. They even have some use in sporting/hunting purposes. When hunting feral hogs you could use a bayonet equipped AR like a boar spear if for some reason you fail to fell the beast by shooting it. That'd be an act of desperation for me though - my danglies aren't big enough for me to try that as a first course of action against a feral hog.
Affixing a bayonet makes your rifle not only a medium to long range combat weapon but it also makes your rifle a very potent up close and personal combat weapon too. No long are you relegated to butt stock attacks but now have thrusting and slashing capability too. Unless I'm sorely mistaken recruits are STILL being taught bayonet use in basic training.
Anyway I'd rather have a short spear than a knife when it came to melee combat. Now if I could have it my way melee wouldn't happen... I'd have just shot all my attackers and I wouldn't have to engage in melee but well that's not something I see as being completely realistic.
The bayonet lug (and the bayonet) are far from obselete for combat purposes. They even have some use in sporting/hunting purposes. When hunting feral hogs you could use a bayonet equipped AR like a boar spear if for some reason you fail to fell the beast by shooting it. That'd be an act of desperation for me though - my danglies aren't big enough for me to try that as a first course of action against a feral hog.
L_Killkenny
New member
I have zero use for a bayonet or a lug to mount one.
LK
LK
I bought the bayonet first and the rifle second, actually. Just the thing in case I happen to find myself in a timewarp taking me back to 1944
They were very handy, especially at lunchtime
I like old military rifles because they are simple and rugged. They happen to come with a bayonet lug. Means nothing to me beyond the chance to get more old stuff for my old rifle. My M1 is a little frightening to hold with that 1905 on the end. It's somehow sobering
They were very handy, especially at lunchtime
I like old military rifles because they are simple and rugged. They happen to come with a bayonet lug. Means nothing to me beyond the chance to get more old stuff for my old rifle. My M1 is a little frightening to hold with that 1905 on the end. It's somehow sobering
Crow Hunter
New member
For a military arm, yes.
For a civilian arm, kind of a waste.
There was even a recent (Iraq War) where some Brits were out of ammo and their Officer had them fix bayonets and charge. Their opponents fled and this was a bayonet on a L85.
(I think I have this right)
(You can almost hold the bayonet in your hand as far out has the L85 barrel goes.)
They are also rumored to be useful for prisoner control/crowd control.
Some people have theorized that the idea of having cold steel thrust into your gut is more frightening that the idea of a bullet because you can't see the bullet coming at you. Kind of like how criminals will often drop when a K-9 is after them but not stop with a threat of being shot.
Not something that most civilians need to worry about. It is cool to mount one though and scream while running across the yard.
Makes you wife look at you funny.
For a civilian arm, kind of a waste.
There was even a recent (Iraq War) where some Brits were out of ammo and their Officer had them fix bayonets and charge. Their opponents fled and this was a bayonet on a L85.
(I think I have this right)(You can almost hold the bayonet in your hand as far out has the L85 barrel goes.)
They are also rumored to be useful for prisoner control/crowd control.
Some people have theorized that the idea of having cold steel thrust into your gut is more frightening that the idea of a bullet because you can't see the bullet coming at you. Kind of like how criminals will often drop when a K-9 is after them but not stop with a threat of being shot.
Not something that most civilians need to worry about. It is cool to mount one though and scream while running across the yard.
Makes you wife look at you funny.
I concur: Bringing a knife to a gunfight seem a bit, uh, anachronistic.
I remember years ago the ARMY magazine had a future fighter on the cover, with all kinds of gee-whiz electronic gadgets hanging off his body, helmet and weapon, and an M-9 bayonet attached...Hollywood!
The late, great soldier, Lew Millett (who shot down a ME-109 with a ring-mounted .50 cal) won the CMH in Korea, leading his company in a bayonet charge, but I think it is a questionable tactic.
Given modern rules of engagement and lethal force policies, I think it would be hard to justify using fixed bayonets for crowd control or guarding detainees nowadays.
For the weight of that M-9, I could probably carry an extra mag and a more useful knife...just sayin'...
I remember years ago the ARMY magazine had a future fighter on the cover, with all kinds of gee-whiz electronic gadgets hanging off his body, helmet and weapon, and an M-9 bayonet attached...Hollywood!
The late, great soldier, Lew Millett (who shot down a ME-109 with a ring-mounted .50 cal) won the CMH in Korea, leading his company in a bayonet charge, but I think it is a questionable tactic.
Given modern rules of engagement and lethal force policies, I think it would be hard to justify using fixed bayonets for crowd control or guarding detainees nowadays.
For the weight of that M-9, I could probably carry an extra mag and a more useful knife...just sayin'...
Rottweiler
New member
I'm with SVO on this one
madcratebuilder
New member
+1,000,000
Without a bayo lug how could I mount these?
Crow Hunter
New member
Remember, crowd control/prisoner control is primariy psychological. You wouldn't be actually using the bayonet on people. It is the fear of being stuck that makes people comply. People are much less likely to rush a line of bayonets than they are a line of riot shields/truncheons.
This is from a military standpoint though. I agree that this wouldn't fly for LEO uses.
"Not something that most civilians need to worry about. It is cool to mount one though and scream while running across the yard."
Like mamma used to say...."It's all fun and games till someone gets an eye put out!"
I have one that fits my AR-15. It has been on it once to see that it fit. Other than that, no.
Like mamma used to say...."It's all fun and games till someone gets an eye put out!"
I have one that fits my AR-15. It has been on it once to see that it fit. Other than that, no.
Crow Hunter
New member
L_Killkenny
New member
Thought just came to me. The OP's question was "still desirable?" Now maybe I'm wrong but for factors I'd just as soon not get into I'd say bayonets and bayonet lugs are more popular today than ever in the civilian world. I mean come on, do you really think your granddad or even your father gave a crap whether or not a rifle had a bayonet lug? If he did it's probably because it came on the gun and he wanted to keep it intact for some reason. Other than that...............
If you had asked this question 40 years ago you would of had about everyone saying "hell no" or asking "was it ever?". Never in the past would you of seen 10/22 dress up kits with bayonet lugs and plastic bayonets. Yes for some odd reason bayonet lugs are more desirable today than ever.
LK
If you had asked this question 40 years ago you would of had about everyone saying "hell no" or asking "was it ever?". Never in the past would you of seen 10/22 dress up kits with bayonet lugs and plastic bayonets. Yes for some odd reason bayonet lugs are more desirable today than ever.
LK
Mannlicher
New member
I'd rather have the ability to attach one if needed, than not.
Palmetto-Pride
New member
I think if the rifle is used for defense then the bayonet lug has everyplace on the rifle, unless one has a endless supply of ammo. The old saying "I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" applys here.
collector rob
New member
I didn't care one way or the other until I saw a Marlin .444 with a Ka-Bar bayonet mounted on it. Now I want a lever gun with a bayonet. 
Google "Marlin with bayonet lug" it is sweeeet!
Google "Marlin with bayonet lug" it is sweeeet!