In the Prussian Army of 1870, Infantry Regiments 33 to 40 plus Regiments 73 ( Dreyse Rifle ( " F�siliergewehr " ), that took a sword bayonet ( " F�silier-Seitengewehr " ) rather than the standard socket bayonet.
22.
Both sword and spike bayonets lost their popularity after World War I . While sword bayonets can be effective as short swords, they proved to be too unwieldy in cramped quarters in trench warfare, although spike bayonets continued to be used throughout most of the 20th century.
23.
The iconic Lee Enfield rifle, the "'SMLE Mk III "', was introduced on 26 January 1907, along with a Pattern 1907 ( P'07 ) sword bayonet and featured a simplified rear sight arrangement and a fixed, rather than a bolt-head-mounted sliding, charger guide.
24.
As a British newspaper put it, " the committee, in recommending this new sword bayonet, appear to have had in view the fact that bayonets will henceforth be less frequently used than in former times as a weapon of offence and defence; they desired, therefore, to substitute an instrument of more general utility ."
25.
It is much the same in general appearance, as the U . S . rifle for some years made at Harper s Ferry and at Springfield, Mass .; but for certain improvements, in the matter of sword bayonet, Maynard primer, and perfection of finish in all parts, it must be pronounced very superior.
26.
They wore sword bayonets on waist belts instead of shoulder or cross-belts ( this was also common among British light infantry and rifle units ) and also wore a " yataghan "-style short sabre or large knife ( common among the Greek klephts and " armatoloi ", but also similar to the hanger issued to British infantry until about five decades before, and similar in purpose, if not form, to the fascine knife worn by some specialist units like light infantry and artillery as a back-up weapon ).
