Bayonet moves point of impact

[Gil Boyd]

Jim,
You'll remember it was always instilled in training to fix bayonets as a fear tactic, nothing more nothing less!
It is perhaps regarded as a safety blanket in CQB where you just physically don't have the time to change mags you are that close in.
It is then the SLR with its length gave you some degree of comfort, sadly the SA80 brings you right in close, as a much shorter rifle, so aggression is the key to success as shown in Afghanistan on a number of occasions.
I am sure the Armourers on here will tell you, it is what it is.............a sharp point and the extension to your arm. Never saw any soldiers in my Regiment ever sharpen the blades either, if thrust properly, it did its job first time, and exactly what it was designed for.

No need for sharpening, as Chefs have decent knives to cut up your chips when needed