Contemporary Versions
Today the bayonet is rarely used during one-on-one combat.Despite its limitations many modern assault rifles (including bullpup designs) retain a bayonet lug and the bayonet is still issued by many armies. Also, the bayonet is still used for controlling prisoners and as a weapon of "last resort". In addition, some authorities have concluded that the bayonet serves as a useful training aid in building morale and increasing desired aggressiveness in troops.
Todays bayonets are often multi-purpose knifes such as the American M7 bayonet which is also an effective fighting knife or the Soviet AKM bayonet which was also a ground breaking survival knife that can be used as a wire-cutter when combined with its scabbard. Some bayonets can also be used as utility knifes, bottle openers, throwing knifes or can even be used by troops to cut their way free through the relatively thin metal skin of a crashed helicopter or airplane. Also, issuing one modern multi-purpose bayonet/knife is obviously more cost effective than issuing separate specialty bayonets, field knives and combat knives.
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