Thanks for watching guys, I guess let the debate begin on bayonets! As always accompanying article here - armourersbench.com/2023/10/22/does-the-l403a1-mount-a-bayonet/

When a British serviceman sees a rifle without a bayonet he immediately thinks to himself that weapon isnt pointy enough. Make it more pointy.

Frankly I would've been more surprised if a bayonet were part of the requirements. Not because they're of limited utility on the modern battlefield, though, but because it's currently intended for issue to special forces, which means the suppressor's going to be on basically all the time which prevents mounting this pattern of bayonet. Were it intended for, or later expanded to, general issue then I fully expect a bayonet to be demanded, because its the British Army and trying to stab the enemy when you could've shelled them is evidently amongst their eldest and most noble traditions.

It's amazing how far the AR platform has come, from the original M16 to GWOT era M4, the SCAR, HK416 and now the L403A1. Eugene Stoner was a true genius!

Bayonets are needed for extra pointy operations

Lance Corporal Jones is relieved to hear this.

The best part of the L85A1 was the bayonet.

"If it's a miracle, color sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Remington point two-two-three caliber miracle." "And a bayonet, sir. With some guts behind it."

Some people keep referring to the bayonet as "last ditch" but its anything but in British service. Its an intrinsic part of the section battle drill. At this point my stalker will report my comment for the sixth time in a row.😂

The Brits have gone all out with the procurement of that fine top of the line American combat rifle. Nobody will be able to say a damn thing about the Brit's service weapon now. The accessories are outstanding as well. I am envious ASF haha. Bravo 👏 💯 🪖

Bayonets are still useful for dealing with prisoners, crowd/riot control, close assaults, and of course, the event that all other fighting options run out. It turns out that people are less willing to try and jump you physically if you have a pointy knife ready to stick them with. And on top of that, intimidation factor, placebo effect, and tradition. And there may just be a bit of bias on my behalf because the first gun I ever was fascinated with was my Uncle's P14 and its 1907 Sword-type bayonet.

USMC: BAYONET! Department of Defense: NO! USMC: BAYONET! Department of Defense: NO! USMC: BAYONET! (Continues ad nauseam)

The best addition to an L1A1 was the bayonet. What a lovely tool.

My first thought would be for wide-scale adoption in the future that they would probably look at a modified version of the L129a1 bayonet adaptor.

The bayonet is absolutely gorgeous with that milled out fuller, it almost completely resembles the Spartan Blades V-14 dagger, the most visually stunning dagger I've personally ever seen (straight behind certain variations of the Fairbairn Sykes 1st pattern).

In the stock there is a small mirror for putting on mascara, and an eyebrow threading kit.

I would have thought (if the need arose) a bayonet that could be used with the suppressor would have been more useful. Have a mounting point under the hand guard or something?

I now need to go find pictures of that particularly interesting barrel profile and the weight reduction cuts 🔍🤔👍

Hello and thank you for covering the Baynit😂. I guess the kukri will remain only with the Gurkhas 😊 Great and appreciate the quick response.

Also a point to remember is the possibility of using the bayonet adapter designed for the L129 on the rail. Will be weaker than a barrel mount, but its an item than is already being procured and can be easily retrofitted to the L403 with an extra segment of rail OR with slight modification and the mount being switched to MLOK.

Great small arms video!!

I am surprised they designed the bayonet as a blade. I thought the older style where the bayonet was a round steel rod with a diamond-shaped tip was far better. Much less likely to break and could be extracted more easily after use.

Love how it's a free floating barrel,has a bit.of pic rsil where most need it the top,alot of guns go quad pic rails for what when magpull can be used it adds a lot of unnecessary weight,this is my new favorite rifle

When the shout goes out ..FIX BAYONETS ..you know shits about to happen.😂

Well the sharpshooter comes with a bayonet adapter that fits onto the rail system and presumably it would work just as well with the KS1

I think it would be pretty easy to make a bayonet with a ring that fits over the suppressor and a lug that can be attached to the MLOCK.

some will probs be ordered regardless of their use of effectiveness for ceremonial purposes on parade plus just a cool thing to have if ya get on / want one

Fixing the bayonet is the British infantrymans Red mist just got serious mode switch. It will be a sad day when they are no longer issued

How are you going to take the supressor off to fix the bayonet after rounds have gone through it, that things gonna be hot

Quick release suppressor off and fix bayonet has a lovely rinng to it.

I’ve reached out to my local reservist centre here which is a REME unit - I’m interested in the Armourer role

Are the rail mounts roo weak to hold one. Could go for an under barrel longer bayonet.

A better idea would be a folding bayonette on the handguard, while the handguard is aluminium it'd though and could be reinforced, a folding sks spiker would not be that heavy and could be long enough it could be upnter to the left or right and also removable but would have to be steel same with the mounting but if mounted properly on the aluminium handguard with enough contact points it would be fine, alternatively a mount for the long WW1 style bayonettes could be a good idea but it would be better to design it as a long sharp utility knife with space in the back l, a saw blade on the back and could even have the AKM type wire cutter. The suppressor and it's mount could be modified to have 2 to 4 steel points from the mount along the supressor that connects to a circle at the end with a mount, it would be a good idea to be able to mount it on the supressor in at least 2 opposite directions so no way that it would get in the way of firing. This is not a standard service rifle ( Canadian made or better yet UK made AR15 short stroke piston systems like ones used by H&K, Sig, and on the Taiwanese T91 would be a great idea or based on a modernized version of the AR-18 An adjustable gas block with a very short tappet type piston with the armalite style of rotating bolt would be the best for 5.56 NATO a barrel size of at least "18 for the best performance. Maybe an integrial supressed system would be better and if the barrel is ported then it should be 20ninches or more as in porting for the suppressor should happen only after 18 inches of barrel. 5.56 was designed for 20 inches of rifling so it has enough velocity to wound and has much higher velocities Ty and range than 14.5 inches as the cartridge is very dependant on barrel length unlike say 7.62x39 or 300 blackout where a 12.5 inch barrel Vs a 16.5 Vs 20 Vs 24 does not have such a huge velocity drop. These new weapons can just have the barrel and suppressor / supressor baffles changed to 300 blackout as if you want a short and quiet weapon that would be the best option especialy if you need subsonic. All other parts including mags fit, it's just 5.56 brass that's been necked up to 7.62 supersonic got loads are similar in power to 7.62x39 but have a longer range, subsonic loads it's one of the best calibers apart from 8.6mm and 9x39 All barrels should be cold hammer forged and should be chrome lined especialy if it's for full auto. But for special weapons where accuracy matters more a stainless steel barrel would be better. The new US M5 and it's 6.8mm Sig fury full powered round is crazy expensive as the Casehead is SS and the the rest is brass, it was made to defete AP So ironicaly after 7mm British intermediate round that most nations wanted apart from the US was dropped in favour for the full power 7.62x51 NATO that's fine for MGs and longer range rifles it's why they quickly changed during the Vietnam war to 5.56 If they kept with 7mm NATO British and upgraded it over the years in sure it would be fine. It would be very expensive for other nations in NATO to use the new US 6.8 full powered round I feel that other nations could come up with a great 6.5 to 7mm intermediate round, standard pressure ball ammo for normal engagements but they could just use professionally made steel cases as in ones that are hard at the the bottom of the case and then heat treated in such a way that the shoulder and beyond isnannhealed to be as soft as brass, steelcase ammo has a bad rap but it's fine MG42s can only use steelcase as if the bolt bounced it could contain the pressure and brass could not Also it's lighter, can fit more powder, stronger and cheaper. The Russian stuff may not make such a good deal like brass but I'm sure a work around could be made or snsteel caehead with the rest being polymer but it would not work in h+k roller delayed weapons with fluted chambers. NATO realy needs a new assult rifle cartridge, a new cartridge that can defete body armour then a new or imported pistol cartidge to defete body armour. .338L is a great long range AP cartridge but 50bmg while great for machine guns but even match ammo in rifles don't do so well so a better 12.7 or even bigger caliber designed for accuracy would be a better option. Also I feel a new GPMG cartridge would be a good idea.. After WW2 I feel they should have standard these cartridges for NATO. For pistols and SMGs 9mm but a modified version of 7.62x25 tokarev would be even better. .45acp for supressednl Assult rifles 7mm British Battle rifles, sniper rifles foed and GPMGs that use a modernised version of 8mm Mauser with a shorter case. .50bmg for big mgs Later on something like .338L for long range rifles A rifle cartridge made to defete body armour Same with a pistol cartidge or modify what they have. An assult rifle cartidge made to be quiet/ subsonic ( I'm sure they could just neck up the 7mm British to 8.6 or so.) A PDW cartridge similar to 5.7 but better that can defete body armour Apart from AI very few millitary small arms are made in the UK and in pretty sure all ammo for small arms are imported, the UK should be self sufficient when it comes to these things and should make a new non-bullpup rifle in 5.56 and 7.62 using a short stoke rotating bolt system stanag / AR10 mags. It would not be so hard to set up a production like of AR10 / 15 or AR18 or even a nee style of rifle that has enough velocity and is supressor ready. Standard ar-15 DI rifles when supressed have alot of gass blowback into the users face when firing. Also smmo made in the UK and not just imported componants but all made in the UK At he very least 5.56 7.62 and .50bmg

I imagine either make the suppressor truly quick-change, suppressor strong enough to mount a bayonet, or increase the blade length and mount it on the rail. The first suggestion seems most practicable.

The chrome one being for drill/ceremonies purposes?

I had the same question about the sig spear

They do lend tone to any Colour Trooping.

If a knife of some kind is carried by a soldier anyway it may as well be carried on the rifle with the pointy end pointing forward ! Could the suppressor be made into a sharp point ?

Can't they just purchase an Mlok compatible mount for the Bayonets? The handguard looks long enough around that 13.7 barrel that the reach of the blade wouldn't pose an issue.

I’m in no way an expert but would it not be easier to develop a bayonet with a quick attachment to the rail instead of replacing the suppressor if I understood that part correctly? I get this may not be possible if you have other attachments but I feel like it could then work on many other weapons platforms too bringing the production and design cost down.

Maybe they're forward planning with the hope the rifle will completely replace the l85 in the future

>country gets ”new weapon” >look inside >another m4 >🗿

There is a need for combat infantry to have hand-to-hand combat capability because it isn't always practical to dump an air strike or artillery barrage on the enemy. Sometimes bullets and hand grenades are not useful. Then there is a need for back-up weapons when the weapon malfunctions or is out of ammunition. Bayonet or something else? One hand-to-hand combat system taken off the table due to cost and social issues is giving every soldier a pistol. Fighting knives are "too savage" for peacetime armies. The modern police telescoping baton is a metal rod used to whack people--I oversimplified that! Having to drop the primary weapon in order to fight with the secondary weapon can be a problem. Speaking of bayonets, even though the bayonet was used extensively in the trenches of the Great War 1914 to 1918 there were a large number of melee weapons introduced: pistols, maces and clubs, brass knuckles, and trench knives, and the ubiquitous infantry spade (entrenching tool) was often pressed into service as a weapon. One melee weapon that vanished from the WW1 battlefield was the sword. The bayonet itself used to be sword length with blades in the 16-inch range. During World War Two bayonets shrunk to half that length--the M4 Bayonet was based on the M3 Trench Knife and had the same seven-inch blade, and ten inches was regarded as enough. The Rifle No 4 spike bayonet was all of ten inches overall, with a "blade" of eight inches. Hand-to-hand combat still happens in infantry battles. An American Cavalry soldier and an insurgent in Iraq both suffered weapon failures, the insurgent pulled a knife and charged, the American grabbed the Iraqi and threw him out the window to die on impact five floors below. It's hard to carry around a tall building with a paved street at the ground floor as a hand-to-hand combat weapon.

I wonder if this new rifle will be used on the parade square (and therefore with a bayonet)? Or will the Ranger Regiment still parade with the SA80?

A muzzle mounted bayonet is _sooo_ 19th Century, and yet it's a surprisingly effective and novel idea.

Why not a pointy suppressor with blade fins on the sides?

The end of the suppressor looks like a Fleshlight lol

Perhaps bayonet option only available and nessesary to ceremonial rifle like Kings Guard Regiment and other event

Wouldn’t be surprised if this rifle becomes the standard across the Army, and if it does, I reckon the bayonet would be the standard compared to the suppressor

Great video. I run a Geissele Super stabby bayonet picatinny mounted. Great mount but a bit pricey.

As a non-military viewer, I'd have thought that the silencer and the bayonet would be most useful in the same urban environments. Strange then to have either/or, rather than one or both.

It needs a handle grip at the front.

maybe im not noticing something but why wouldn't you attach a bayonet to the picatinny rail on the bottom of the handguard

As I understand this isn't a main battle rifle hence it is being issued to special forcea and Commandos who typically don't use bayonets. Bayonets being a weapon of the Line Infantryman

Well that's taken us back 300 years. It can't be fired with bayonet attached by the look of it?

The question is how hot can that thing get before it bends

My brother retired from army as Warrant Officer with tours in Korea and several in Vietnam. I asked him once about a bayonet and he told me, If they are close enough to stab they are close enough to shoot. I’m sure he had uses for one but only as a last resort.

Bayonets to go the way of the landline phone?

Maybe developed in anticipation for a bayonet requirement for the Sa80 replacement

I think the only soldiers that really need a bayonet are MPs, good for checkpoints and guarding POWs, and ceremonial guards. If you scoff at the thought of POWs being intimidated by a bayonet Id like to introduce you to the Swedish-K fitted with a 1894 sword bayonet 😅 The Knights bayonet is a really clever design tho, having it be a muzzle-device is really thinking outside the box.

Love the bayonet. Would love if it was for sale in the us

I always thought new bayonets would attach by rails and not by the barrel.

Classic A1 moment at 0:41. Magazine has fallen off and he hasn't noticed yet.

More disturbing than a lack of bayonet is that the Knights logo has a frog flower in it.

"If they get that close, I'm giving up!"

It’s a $2000 AR15 purchased about $6000 over by our wonderful buyers in the MOD no doubt.

interestint that a Bayonette is still so hotly debated

I thought we called suppressors disruptors?

Looking at the visuals it seems that its the flash-hider or bayonet.. not both at the same time? Eh??

If they have to use a bayonet, they could probably tack on an L129A1 bayonet mount if they have to

My dad was at the dsi event

That's why you need a Shovel and a Bowie preferably a Black Bowie

That looks expensive.I wonder how much you’ll get billed when you fire it of the end of your bondook?

Interesting. Not sure they are still that relevant in combat these days? But I don't know enough on that subject. Also, and perhaps more interesting, would be how, if at all, the pathway of the bullet is altered by having the blade along one side of the muzzle as all the gas comes blasting out and hits that solid steel wall during the first foot of travel! Would non symmetrical gas exhausting have any noticeable effect on the accuracy of the rounds? Gas venting to the openside would be unrestricted, whilst the bladed side would be critically disturbed and significantly altered, and I should imagine, having some noticeable consequence on the way the rifle performs. It would be interesting to see it in slo mo one day!

The bayonet‘s chief effect is psychological.

this just made me realise, why the heck is there no bayonet attachment option in call of duty games

Look at AK Kalashnikov's and Zastava M70 bayonets They aren't just stab tool if you run out of ammo or gun jams in CQB. It's a utility survival knife, can be used for chopping wood like an axe, can be used for wire cutting etc.

Mod will be possible, for infantry, and as the bayonet is last line defence, or silent departure . Weapon, and has been used to to increase distance of reach over a knife attack, and a winner in terrorising the opposition, watch them run , barbaric perhaps, they don't like it up um, do they Mr Jones.

As the US special forces found out, a ax/war hawk/tomahawk is far better for close quarters combat. And it DEMANDS respect.

What makes the grass grow then?

If this Knight Armament rifle is designated for Brit special forces, bayonet charges are unlikely to be part their combat capability. If it is M4/M16 based as it appears to be, fittings for a bayonet can be retrofitted very simply if the rifle ends up in the hands of the infantry. Still find it strange that Brit MoD opted for an upgrade of the SA80 and did not simply switch to the HK G36 or a similar weapon system such as the well proved Aussie F88A2 (the Aussie modified Steyr AUG). From a retired Aussie Defence manufacturer and former Aussie Amoured Corps crewman.

As a Royal Green Jacket we carried SWORDS.

Errrr? never heard of steel clamps ... :)

My first thought!

It will be issued as soon as the guards units get the rifles. The new rifle will also be easier for drill, the SA80 drill always had some weird parts.

What is the point of an lvpo if youre gonna slap a red dot on there anyways? They couldve gone with a cheaper fixed magnification optic instead.

Good.

Corporal Jones would be horrified.

I mean Geissele makes an Mlok bayonet mount

Geissele makes the super stabby bayonet mount that attaches to M-LOK and let's you mount an M16 bayonet. It's also $150...

They should have used a spike bayonet like the No. 4 Lee Enfield rifle.

I'm suprised they didnt mount the bayonet to the M-Lok lmao

i note that whilst blood gutters are frowned upon, a groove to allow unfettered bullet travel seems to have found its way into the design

Bayonets are still used in training for developing controlled aggression, and have been used in battle as recently as Afghanistan.

If a laser gets hot enough, does it ionize the air and create plasma, and will this plasma travel along the beam towards a target?

Tp quote Cpl Jones from 'Dad's Army'.... "They don't like it up em!".... Surely UK is not going to put the bayonet to bed!!? 😢

If they have no bayonet, how will they get the grass to grow?

Geissele Automatics Bayonet rail +OKC-3S

Bayonet is a must.

Chromed - planning for fifty years time when it’s a ceremonial rifle. 😂