A bayonet (from French "baïonnette") is a knife- or dagger-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle or similar weapon. It is a close combat weapon. The evolution of the british bayonet can be traced to a certain extent to a fortuitous accident. The british bayonet had a round handle that fit directly into the musket barrel. This naturally prevented the gun from being fired. Many socket bayonets were triangular in cross-section in order to provide sideways stability of the blade without much increase in weight. This design of bayonet did not include a handle to use the blade apart from the gun.

A bayonet (from French "baïonnette") is a knife- or dagger-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle or similar weapon. It is a close combat weapon. The evolution of the british bayonet can be traced to a certain extent to a fortuitous accident. The british bayonet had a round handle that fit directly into the musket barrel. This naturally prevented the gun from being fired. Many socket bayonets were triangular in cross-section in order to provide sideways stability of the blade without much increase in weight. This design of bayonet did not include a handle to use the blade apart from the gun.