Unless you’re looking for a bayonet that’s specific to a firearm or a replica of a historical model, there are some things you should look for that will improve value and utility in the field.
Here are some of the top value-added features that many quality bayonet designs will offer.
A Wirecutter
Many bayonet designs feature a hole in the blade, near the tip, that corresponds to a lug on the scabbard.
When the blade is aligned with this lug, the blade can be used as a pair of shears, and some are even tough enough to cut through wire.
This feature is one of the most useful of all bayonet features and is one of the main ones you should be looking for.
A Serrated Spine
While a straight edge is useful for a wide range of cutting tasks, it’s useful for a blade to have a serrated edge along the spine because this can help with rough cutting tasks, such as cutting through vegetative material, rope or other materials.
The sawback also frees up your straight edge from shouldering harder cutting work that you could use a serrated edge for.
A Crossguard
This is one you won’t need to look too far for, as most bayonets are made with crossguards. The reason a crossguard is valuable here, however, is that a crossguard will help protect your hands while the bayonet is in use.
Good crossguards will help prevent your hand from slipping up on the blade, which is a crucial protective feature.
Some crossguards are also hooked, which is useful when one of these tools is used as a weapon because it can be used to parry and control an opponent’s blade.
A Barrel Ring
Many bayonets attach to a firearm via a specific locking lug, but not all do. Others feature barrel rings that are more or less compatible with any barrel of appropriate diameter.
This makes these much more versatile than those without, and actually, they can be used to fashion a makeshift spear or polearm. Without a barrel ring, if there were only a proprietary lug, the tool would be a lot less versatile.
A Scabbard with a Sharpener
Naturally, you want a scabbard with your bayonet, but some scabbards are better than others in terms of quality and usability.
Hard scabbards drain better than leather and they also tend to be more protective of the blade, but there is another thing to consider here.
Some hard scabbards are made with integrated sharpening stones in the design. This is one feature you also should look for in your bayonet.
These are highly valuable in a pinch, especially if you don’t have a sharpener in the field; if your scabbard has one you won’t need to look too far when you need to touch up an edge.
Here for a New Bayonet?
If you’re in the market for a new bayonet, the first place you should look online is BudK.
BudK sells a wide variety of bayonet models that contain many of the features mentioned here. If you’re looking for one that has most if not all of the features mentioned here, take a look at what they offer on their website.
Also, they carry replicas of a lot of other historically significant bayonet models, including the US M9, M1 and M1905 bayonets, or other historical bayonets like the Arisaka Type 30 or the M98.
Either way, there’s going to be something in their collection that works for you. Take a look at their catalog and pick something up today.
