Dumbest Bayonet Ever

[Aragorn243]

I have a lot of bayonets, some which are works of art, some which aren't but today I received what I am nominating as the dumbest bayonet ever. Anyone else who would like to nominate a bayonet for this award is welcome and then perhaps we can vote on it.

1903 Springfield rifle rod bayonet - Who could possibly think this is a good idea. A quarter inch round rod about 12 inches long (effective length when deployed) with a point on it. Realizing this is just an extension of the earlier trapdoor rod bayonet, that one by default is also nominated.

My daughter thought it was a screwdriver and my wife even more impressively called it a cleaning rod.

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[dman69]

I think the British No 7 Mk1 Land Bayonet picks up a guernsey as well... Trying to be all things to all people and ends up being not so good at anything...

[browningautorifle]

I was thinking about the Johnson Rifle bayonet, sitting on a recoiling barrel...but these are all about the same.

[rcathey]

I was thinking about the Johnson Rifle bayonet, sitting on a recoiling barrel...but these are all about the same.

Automatic stabbing action. Nifty!

[browningautorifle]

Claim by inventor was that the recoiling action assisted the user in the use of the bayonet. I was infantry, I also owned one so I had a look...all one can say is, "Not hardly"...to quote John Wayne.

[rcathey]

Not to get too far off-topic but real quick, there's a gushing love letter mixed with a few conspiracy theories on the Johnson M1941 in the most recent issue of Firearms News.
Sorta negates itself by talking about how life-threatening the Garand "ping" is. Amusing nevertheless. Still haven't quite decided if the entire article was a joke or not.

[Aragorn243]

The Johnson bayonet in and of itself does not look bad. Perhaps simply the concept of putting it on a recoiling barrel.

[green]

Cutlass bayonets used by the RN on P1858, Snider and MH arms. Heavy ,awkward and clumsy when fixed.

[Eaglelord17]

The rod bayonet concept was pretty stupid, but I will also give a nomination to the Carcano M91 TS bayonet with the sideways locking system. At least the Rod bayonet system had some attempts at merit (such as not requiring the manufacture of both a cleaning rod and bayonet), well the M91 TS bayonet was just expensive, weak, and the reason for its adoption dumb.

[browningautorifle]

the concept of putting it on a recoiling barrel.

I agree with all of that.