1700-74:
Bayonets during the 1700’s were used in hand to hand combat during the Great War, but they were not all created equal. The French had a bayonet that resembled a needle and was very long. The British used what is called a sword bayonet, which obviously resembles a sword or long dagger. The Germans made their bayonets resemble a saw so that when it was pulled out of an enemy it did more damage. They called them Pioneer bayonets. In the Spanish Succession later in the 1700’s men found it was easy to be approached by their enemy and adapted a sword bayonet to fit the end of their muskets for those times when hand to hand combat was a necessity. All different forms of bayonets were used in this war. Both the type of bayonet that shoved into the barrel of the musket and the kind that used rings to attach it to the side of the barrel were seen. All wars that were fought during this time frame also utilized bayonets of some kind. Some had three sided thrusting abilities and others were more of just a regular dagger bayonet. Military forces found themselves to be more prepared for close combat when they were equipped with a bayonet of some kind. Even if it just lifted their spirits enough to think they were better protected from their enemy, it was enough to keep many men fighting for what they believed in. Collectors find it hard to find a true bayonet from this era, and should be cautioned that many replicas have been made throughout the years.