Impressions Bayonets

[Capt7thWvCoA]

Hello everyone, has anyone ever seen bayonets used on the battlefield at any reenactments . I know they are used to stack arms but that's essentially it .

 

[johan_steele]

Bayonets should never be utilized on a reenactment field for anything past stacking arms or demonstration purposes. People are stupid and reenactors aren't professional soldiers. Insurance isn't good enough to pay for a stupid mistake and being skewered is not the way to a good weekend.

 

[jepridgen]

Yup, Fort Blakeley allows the federal assault troops to fix bayonets. I was Reb both times I've been there, and it's pretty surreal looking at it from the receiving end. Keep in mind this is not a regular old reenactment. It's a full campaigner event with experienced dudes following precise instructions and adhering to the drill manual. I would highly discourage this at a regular event.

 

[captaindrew]

Yes, but not in close quarters where someone could get hurt

 

[7thWisconsin]

Rarely. I did a high-end campaign event at Fredericksburg about 10 years ago. The Federal battalion charged across open ground with fixed bayonets. I was apprehensive, but the group was competent in drill and definitely a cut above the average summer reenacting event. It worked there, but I wouldn't recommend it at any stereotypical "civil war weekend" event.

 

[JOHN42768]

Mother always said don't run with a sharp item

 

[bayonet]

During filming of the movies GETTYSBURG and GODS AND GENERALS on numerous sets bayonets were fixed. A few had bayonets where the front part of the blade retracts into the other half of the blade. They did escort one Dope off set because he kept being unsafe (after being yelled at more than once) during a bayonet charging scene.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Hello everyone, has anyone ever seen bayonets used on the battlefield at any reenactments . I know they are used to stack arms but that's essentially it .

I've seen bayonets used many times without injury. Once in close quarters that was practiced and practiced first for safety.

Several times I've seen involved was a line ordered to fix bayonets, advance and when coming up close the order yelled out to unfix bayonets, which looked ridiculous to the audience I'm sure.

Dangerous stunt, if guys are not drilled to perfection and a script rehearsed over and over.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Back in the day some events would not even allow us to have ramrods, in case someone accidently fired it out the barrel.

 

[James Brenner]

Back in the early 70s, I attended a local RevWar event. The guy next to me got bayoneted in the ankle. The wound appeared to be more of a scratch than anything else, but he was taken to the ER just to be safe.

Bayonets were a … um … sticking point in future event discussions.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Hello everyone, has anyone ever seen bayonets used on the battlefield at any reenactments . I know they are used to stack arms but that's essentially it .

Years ago it was commonplace. 1970s I'm talking about. Once in the ground the wounded man lays back to the audience and the assaulting Infantrymen stabbed the bayonet into the ground opposite sides of the crowds. Wounded guy grips bayonet with his armpit and screams and jostles about then dies. Foot on dead to pull out the blade. Works for sabers and swords as well. Usually done far away from the spectators but not always. Small club where everyone knows everyone else is where this works. That or fiendish repetitive rehearsals with troops for that only and nobody else "joining in" caught up in the moment.
I've always wanted to recruit and train a small group of willing victims...er, I mean members to train just for casualty vignets on the battlefield. Hospital recreations have done similar in the past with their efforts. It does wonders for the excitement of an event. Similar to cannons losing a wheel with a squib charge or the bloodpack to the noggin for a dramatic head wound. Airbursts from Artillery are impressive as well. There is nothing like a screaming, wiggling Infantrymen on the end of a bayonet to get the crowds attention.

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

Hello everyone, has anyone ever seen bayonets used on the battlefield at any reenactments . I know they are used to stack arms but that's essentially it .

Recently I was at a reenactment where we actually got to fire with bayonets on after performing stack/take arms. However, we were ordered to take them off after firing our first shot.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Mother always said don't run with a sharp item

Well they could use bayonets that were not sharp, but that would be....pointless.

 

[61Cadillac]

Well they could use bayonets that were not sharp, but that would be....pointless.

There's an edge to your humor, I'm sure you have been honing it for years

 

[JOHN42768]

Well they could use bayonets that were not sharp, but that would be....pointless.

Point taken.

 

[3rd North Carolina]

I have used mine a candle holder at times

 

[Mint Julep]

I spoke with a State Police Trooper who investigated a bayonet stabbing at a reenactment. The perpetrator was found guilty of attempted murder.

 

[Old Soldier]

Or the rubber blade - a favorite of the film industry. In ZULU, there are a number of 'bent' rubber bayonets to be seen in the background.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

In the little re-enactment held in Manitowoc Wis. they showed a bayonet training drill. Soldiers took turns going at a big sand bag hanging from a pole.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I spoke with a State Police Trooper who investigated a bayonet stabbing at a reenactment. The perpetrator was found guilty of attempted murder.

Whew things got serious on the field!