A knife bayonet or military
bayonet is a knife which can
be used both as a bayonet,
fighting or utility knife. The
M-9 bayonet is a multi-purpose
knife and bayonet officially
adopted in 1984 by the United
States. The M7 bayonet,
introduced in 1964, was used
as a bayonet on the M16 rifle
and as an edged melee weapon.
The M9 multipurpose bayonet
system is used as a bayonet on
the M16 series rifle, on the
M4 series carbine, as an edged
melee weapon, as a general
field and utility knife, as a
wire cutter when used on the
sheath, and as a saw. The M9
also fits the Mossberg 590
special purpose shotgun.
Modern knife bayonets have 6
inch to 9 inch long and .75
inch to 1.5 inch wide blades,
and are often fullered.
Military bayonets have been
forged for durability so as
not to break when twisting;
this was often the problem
with long and slender socket
bayonets. Like sword bayonets,
knife bayonets can be used not
only for thrusting, but also
for cutting.
