A bayonet lug is a standard feature on most military
muskets,
rifles, and
shotguns, and on some civilian
longarms. It is intended for attaching a
bayonet, which is typically a long spike or thrusting knife. The bayonet lug is the metal mount that either locks the bayonet onto the weapon or provides a base for the bayonet to rest against, so that when a bayonet thrust is made, the bayonet does not move or slip backwards. Less than 400 years ago, bayonet lugs or their predecessors that allowed them to slip over the barrel did not exist.
Prior to the lug's invention plug bayonets were used, which were stuffed into the muzzle's end from a tight-fitting stub, rendering the firearm virtually useless and certainly preventing it from being discharged. But by the late 17th century, this type of bayonet was entirely phased out and subsequently replaced with the
socket bayonet
A bayonet (from French ) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon.Brayley, Martin, ''Bayonets: An Illustra ...
, that slides over the muzzle with the blade offset to the side, just above or underneath. The socket bayonet would be replaced by the press stud and bayonet lug. Bayonet lugs are usually located near the
muzzle end of a musket, rifle, or other longarm
barrel. The lug is occasionally placed on top of the barrel, if serving as the base of the
front sight, or more often mounted to the side or bottom of the barrel.
See also
*
Bayonet mount
A bayonet mount (mainly as a method of mechanical attachment, such as fitting a lens to a camera using a matching lens mount) or bayonet connector (for electrical use) is a fastening mechanism consisting of a cylindrical male side with one ...
, a fastening mechanism
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bayonet Lug
Firearm components