The Bayonet

Featuring specially commissioned color artwork and drawing upon a range of sources, this engaging study casts new light on the origins, development, construction, and use of the bayonet in warfare from the mid-17th century onwards.

Although muskets delivered devastating projectiles at comparatively long ranges, their slow rate of fire left the soldier very vulnerable while reloading, and early muskets were useless for close-quarter fighting. Consequently, European infantry regiments of the 1...