Copyright 2006 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
The first time I saw this style of bayonet was from a fellow who had taken his basic training a couple years before me. He had learned the older style of lunging footwork. I had learned the "instinctive" style that had been imported from the Marine Corps. That means that this style was still being taught as late as 1970 or 1971. It was developed by the British and used during World War I. For the American Army, this system replaced the older one which was virtually unchanged since the Indian Wars. I do not know if the U.S. Marine Corps ever accepted it. There is reason to believe they may have been experimenting with a system developed by Anthony Biddle as early as 1917. (If anyone knows, please let us know!)
Guard Position
This is also the position for charging. |
High Port
For running forward over obstacles |
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Long Thrust in 4 Steps
1) Steps forward with the right foot |
2) Lunge! |
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3) To withdraw bayonet, steps forward with left foot |
4) Grasps rifle firmly and pulls |
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Short Thrust in 4 steps
Steps forward on the left foot. |
Lunge! |
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Withdraw from Short Thrust (omitted from 1943 manual) |
Follow with Jab to enemy (omitted from 1943 Manual) |
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Vertical Butt Stroke in 2 Steps
Steps forward on right foot |
{1}Like an uppercut, rams rifle butt upward into enemy. |
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Butt Stroke, Smash, Slash in 3 Steps
Strikes with vertical butt stroke |
Steps forward on left foot and smashes forward with rifle butt |
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Another view of Smash |
Finishes by bringing down left hand to slash with bayonet. |
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Horizontal Butt Stroke in 2 Steps
Steps forward forcefully |
Raises rifle and strikes with butt, similar to right cross in boxing |
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Showing an example of horizontal butt stroke to jaw |
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Parry
To parry, steps forward and pushes enemy weapon aside. |
Training
Along with thrusting targets, the training included practice with a stick that had a loop on one end and padded ball on the other. Soldiers tried to thrust bayonet through the loop and hit the ball with the butt |
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Disclaimer: the bayonet methods shown here are for illustrative purposes only. They are not intended as actual instruction in bayonet fighting and should not be used as such. Bayonet training is dangerous. It can be as dangerous for the user as it is for the target. If you wish to learn close combat, seek a qualified instructor. One should never attempt close combat without the instruction and supervision of a qualified expert instructor .
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