Socket Bayonets: A History and Collector's Guide - Paperback

by Graham Priest (Author)

A detailed history and collector's guide to socket bayonets, from their origins to modern use.

Explore the evolution of the socket bayonet, from its early 'plug' form to its role in modern armed forces. This book traces the bayonet's development, technological innovations, and impact on military tactics across Europe and beyond. Discover how the socket bayonet influenced warfare, from abolishing the pike in the British army to its use in major European conflicts.

Perfect for collectors and military history buffs, this guide features detailed images showcasing common and rare socket bayonets. Learn about manufacturing techniques, attachment methods, and the bayonet's enduring legacy in the twentieth century and beyond.

• Understand the origins and development of the socket bayonet
• Identify and collect various types of socket bayonets
• Explore the impact of the bayonet on military history and tactics

Author Biography

Graham Priest is a retired headmaster. He has been collecting bayonets since 1957, specialising in socket bayonets since 1972. His previous publications include 'The Brown Bess Bayonet 1720-1860' (1986), 'The Spirit of the Pike: British Socket Bayonets of the Twentieth Century' (2003), 'The Bayonets of the Grand Master's Palace, Malta', (200), 'Biddestone: "A Peaceful Wiltshire Village"' (2013), and more than 200 specialist articles. He lectures at the Tower of London and Imperial War Museum.