BAYONET, supposed to be named from Bayonne, as the place of its invention, is a dagger or small spear fixed at the end of a musket or similar weapon. The first bayonets, used in France in 1071, called bayonets-d-manche, had handles which fitted into the muzzle of the guns; but at a later date were introdueed the bayonets4i.donille, or I socket-bayonets, having a socket which enabled the B. so to be used as not to interrupt the firing. The use of pikes went out when that of bayonets came in. It seems very probable that the first B. was a dagger, which the musketeer stuck IT means of its handle Into the muzzle of his weapon, to shield him from a cavalry charge; and that the usefulness of the contrivance suggested a permanent arrangement. Bayonets arc now made with great rapidity at the government rifle factory at Enfield. Two pieces of metal are first selected—viz, a piece of the very best cast steel, 7 in. long by # in. square; and a piece of the best wrought-iron rod, 4 in. long by about 1 in. in thickness.
The steel is to form the blade, and the iron the socket-handle. The steel being properly shaped at one end, is joined to the iron by welding. A forging-machine is next employed to give a rough outline of the required shape. Then conies the action of a swafing-machine, with dies which come down upon the metal in great force and counter-dies beneath the metal. The metal is then annealed; turned in a cutting machine to remove a wire-edge thrown up in the act of stamping; cut to a proper length, and the socket-end made square; drilled and bored, to make the socket hollow: shaped and furrowed the blade; bent at the neck; hardened' and tempered; and finished by a numerous tram of minor operations. The Bayonet charge is now one of the most terrible maneuvers of trained infantry, in which each nation fancies itself to excel all others.