is the bayonet obsolete as a u.s. issued weapon??

[tom d. friedman]

the bayonet, which has been an issued weapon from the start of this country's military is slated for retirement due to it's being deemed obsolete & not cost affective in today's military. i am no soldier, but i think the dropping of the bayonet as a weapon is not like dropping the cavalry horse as an implement. i can see the cost cutting measures, & yes the question of it's practicality in today's high tech military & it's new strategy in today's scenario on the battlefield, but surely it should be retained as a special ops / special forces weapon. what are other nations doing??

[muddyboots]

dang Tom. You must of really needed an answer lol

[tom d. friedman]

hey smart *ss muddy buddy!! th ole puter is slow today.... as so am i!!! happy new year!! your input would be much appreciated on this topic. sorry for the double post folks, it was triple, got to delete 1 but ole muddy f'd up my deleting the 3rd!!

[muddyboots]

Well, the bayonet screws up your aiming, so nobody mounts it normally. In all the years I was in I never mounted mine. And i doubt it'll ever be used again, so why not get rid of the wieght?

[tom d. friedman]

that's some of the perspective i'm looking for!! thanks!!

[cco23i]

They do make great can openers and such.

Scott

[Enemy Ace]

the bayonet mounted to the end of a weapon in the field is routinely used as a poke/ prod tool when doing searches of houses, vehicles, etc.
Most U.S. Weapons now have some very expensive sights mounted and one of the ideas behind getting rid of the bayonet is that fewer sights will be busted as a result of troops using their M4 as a 2x4. Most of these sights cost more than the actual weapon.
At least that's what I hear from senior NCO's and some officers. FWIW.
-Robert

[Enemy Ace]

also forgot to add that a weapon with a bayonet attached is something of a safety hazard when the weapon has a hands-free sling installed.

[Ztex]

I thought the modern bayonet was more of a multi-purpose knife, wirecutter, can opener, toothpick thing that happened to be gun mountable vs the other way around?

Do our troops carry another knife/tool that would make the bayonet redundant?

PS...my 1944 Mosin Nagant shoots better with the bayonet on...not that shoots better than minute of barn either way....

[Robbie Roberts]

I'd still rather have my bayonet. When the ammo is gone, the fancy sight is useless, as it the Mattel popgun, and the bayonet will always work as advertised. That or be unarmed. Read that as corpse- they don't take prisoners anymore- not that live long anyway.