An interesting addition to the book is the chapter on ceremonial use and the lengths various armies have gone to fix bayonets to other firearms; Norris is suitable scathing of the efficacy of these more unusual weapons. Whilst no advocate of the “cult of the bayonet”, he points out that although the bayonet passed its heyday in the late 1700s, it remains a part of the standard infantry equipment and in the final chapter he gives a whistle-stop tour of modern bayonets.

If you're interested in the history of this most essential of weapons, especially its use in battles through time, then this book will not disappoint. The book has its quirks, but as a solid and well-presented piece of research that brings together a 350 year long tale into a single volume, it is a useful addition to the literature.

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World War One, David Smith

The bayonet itself is still manufactured from steel although some modern alloys are now used which are just as strong but much lighter weight. The bayonet is one of those rare weapons the design of which does not have to be unduly altered or modified. As long as infantry forms part of armies there will always be a need for the bayonet and it will always be used as shown during the Falkland War of 1982 and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can be certain that the bayonet will continue to be used for many more years to come, no matter what advances are made in weaponry design. It is as the Russian General Alexander Suvorov (1730 – 1800) once said: “The bullet misses, the bayonet does not”

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The Western Front Association, Dr. Giovanni Timmermans

Possibly the deadliest weapon of all when it comes to close in-fighting. John Norris's research marks an important and essential addition to the library of knowledge about infantry weaponry.

Books Monthly, May 2016 - Paul Norman