Long English Plug Bayonet with Marked Curved Blade, Late 17th C

The plug bayonets of England had curved blades more often than any other country.  This
example with curved single-edged unfullered 17 5/8" blade of wedge section, the last 7"
double-edged; stamped with full-face king’s head mark on both sides (worn). Brass guard
with vertically recurved quillons and plain tapering cylindrical pommel attached to the dark
turned wood grip; brass base ferrule.   Overall length 22 1/4".  A plug bayonet with nearly
identical blade and bearing the same maker’s mark is pictured in “The Plug Bayonet”, by
R.D.C. Evans, fig. 78

Though probably originating around 1550, the plug bayonet had a relatively short span of
use from around 1650-1720 (except in Spain where they were used to the end of the19th
C).  Their rise in popularity largely paralleled the development of standing armies in
Europe, which were realizing the importance of the musketeer, while at the same time not
wanting to wholly abandon the pike.  In this sense the plug bayonet can be considered a
transitional weapon.  However, despite its use as a dagger on its own, it was soon found to
be impractical since it’s use prevented the musket from being fired.  Countless soldiers
also found great difficulties in removing a stuck plug bayonet from the muzzle, rendering
the musket useless as a firearm.  Many were damaged while being removed and as a
result relatively few survive.  For these reasons it was soon superseded by the socket
bayonet, which did not affect the musket’s ability to fire and could much more easily be
removed.