Indian sporting plug bayonet
THE idea that plug bayonets were used for sport may come as a bit of a surprise to the reader. But, in fact, they were, particularly during the 17th century. This exquisite sporting example is one such bayonet, which was based upon the French military model used during the late 17th or early 18th century. However, it was probably produced in Pondicherry, India, shortly before the French withdrawal in 1793. Like its military cousin, the ivory hilt can be unscrewed, allowing the grip to be reversed for use as a dagger. The blade and guard are decorated with scrollwork in silver koftgari, and a Persian inscription that reads: Like a lion I am about to use force against rebels, I seek […] Oh Ali help […] As long as the world lasts […] remains memorable. Made by Anvar.
But why would so much effort have been put into such an obsolete weapon?
The military lifespan of the plug bayonet was relatively short, though it is difficult to define its origins. The bayonet was probably named after the French city of Bayonne, already famous for its blades, known as ‘Bayonettes’ by the 1550s. It is also probable that bayonets were being used for hunting by the late-16th century, long before their military application was realised.
The earliest known reference comes in 1642, from the memoirs of Marshal Jacques de Puysegur, who wrote that his musketeers were equipped with bayonets to defend themselves after they had fired. These were described as being double edged with a foot-long blade and a tapering hilt of the same length.
The plug bayonet was a problematic weapon, however. Once fitted inside the muzzle, the musket could not be fired. If pushed too firmly into the barrel the bayonet could get stuck; not firmly enough and it could drop out or become lodged in the enemy. These factors all served to diminish the effectiveness of the soldier and so, by the 1680s, the plug bayonet had largely fallen out of use. This coincided with the invention of the socket bayonet, by the French military engineer Marshal Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, in 1687.
Despite this, the plug bayonet would live on, remaining popular among hunters for centuries to come, especially in Spain where they lingered on well into the 19th century. With the timely addition of a bayonet, the sporting gun could be quickly turned into a makeshift spear, perfect for delivering the coup de grâce to a wounded animal or to defend oneself.
Eventually, these bayonets became luxurious pieces for the elite sportsman. Blades were often finely etched, blued, gilt or pierced with ornate decoration. Likewise, the hilts were finely sculpted and engraved with classical scenes, making it quite impossible actually to use them for their intended purpose without severely damaging the weapon itself. It is doubtful that many examples would have ever been fitted to a muzzle; it is far more likely that they were carried as a dagger or a status symbol, or even intended purely for display. The stunning example presented here is most definitely of this category.
The Indian Plug Bayonet is on display in the Oriental Gallery at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, the national museum of arms and armour. The museum is open daily, 10am to 5pm.
Entry is free. For further details, go to: www.royalarmouries.org