The Model 1873 Trowel Bayonet,Invented by Lt. Col. Edmund Rice the trowel bayonet was a multi purpos

The Model 1873 Trowel Bayonet,Invented by Lt. Col. Edmund Rice the trowel bayonet was a multi purpose design created not only to be a weapon, but an entrenching tool as well. The new bayonet was introduced in 1873 congruent with the adopted of the Springfield Trapdoor rifle by the US Army. The M1873 Trowel Bayonet was initially awarded high ratings and praise but high level officers, however shortly after adoption many regiments that issued the bayonets requested re-issuance of traditional bayonets. One understandable complaint was that the trowel bayonet wasn’t a very good digging tool. A more stranger complaint was aesthetic in nature, that when mounted on a rifle it looked ridiculous and detracted from the military look of the unit. Another complaint was that the bayonet never really saw any use as an entrenching tool. This makes sense as most US Army operations at the time were along the frontier involving combat against native tribes, a situation in which the need for trenches was rare.Despite the complaints, the bayonets were not recalled, however production and issuance was halted. The bayonets were finally removed from service in 1881. Around ten thousand had been manufactured. -- source link

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