[Destructor]

"Far as I know, the K-bar is still the issue blade for those whose T.O. weapon is the pistol. The bayonet is supposed to be the blade for those who carry the rifle, but it appears to be going away."

This is going to cost some good soldiers their lives at some point in the future. The next time we fight a Vietnam-type jungle war our boys will need their bayonets!

[dcwusmc]

Agreed. I liked the old 18" bayonet that they had in WWI and early WWII... the Springfield bayonet, I guess. I want one for my Garand at some point... The bayonet they gave me when I went in-country in '69 was about on a par with that mickey mouse mattel-toy excuse for a rifle they handed me. When I was at Parris Island I carried an M-14. When I got to Camp Gieger ('67) for infantry training, I got to carry the Garand. At New River, after school, I had a 14. Then I went to Staging Bn at Pendleton and had my first experience with the M-16 abortion. Mine would NOT cycle after firing. For each round I had to MANUALLY cock the thing and eject the spent brass. I told the armorer about it and his words were, "Live with it." Real cool piece!