Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-03-20
A FINE WEAPON.
The Severe Tests To which English Bayo-
nets Are subjected.

nets Are SubJectcu.
The former test for the ordinary
triangular Martini-llenry bayoncts was
! to bend them over simple bridge like
/ the bridge of violin and in the ease
Of swords they were bent by hand 10 4
/ bow of about 4 inches, Bayonets and
1 swords, il even weak, would stand
these tests. Now. however, the tests
are extraordinarily severe. The bayo-
net has its point pushed into a socket or
shoe, and is then bent by hand pressure
/ over wood arch of n segment of
curve equal to nearly its entire length,
| and which has an elevation at its CEN
/ tral of "a inches, the hilt end Of the
! bayonet being bent over to the extent
Of more than inches. The ,tal
must then spring back to its former
condition without the slightest per-
mancat set. This test is applied To
al. ;ao three sides c. The 5ayoGs. X
is then tested by torsional strain by
being fixed in an apparatus in which
the strain OF 80 pounds, suspended
weight, is applied Finally, it is struck
BY hand with the hardest blows upon
each of its sides against Il solid oak
block, by which if any flaw exists, the
bayonct will he certainly broken. Ii
the slightest permanent bend or set can
be detected after these proofs, the bayo-
net is at once rejected To swords
similar crucial tests are now applied.
one of the most important features
being the introduction of test for
proving the rigidity of the sword, be-
sides the test for proving its temper or
ilexibility.
The artillery carbine aw-bayonet is
subjected TO a test Of this class. But
the most searching of all these tests are
those applied TO the c.ivalry swords.
These are 34l inches long, and 5-l6 of
an Inch thick at the back. Each
blade is first bent over /. wood arch of
nearly its own length to the extent of
two feet at its hilt end, its point being
fixed. 1t IL then put in frame per-
fectly vertical, and it must stand the
weight of 32 pounds upon il without
the slightest indication of any deilec-
tion. The Enfield blades stand this
test TO the extent Of SO pounds. The
blade is next forced down by leverage
to the extent of & inches, bowling pro-
portionatcly ON either side. Two pow
erful cuts are then made by hand
against wood block, one with the
front edge, the other with the back.
The sword blade is then tested BY being
placed in trough or mould finished
up to a mechanical fit The handle
and guard being riveted on. the like
tests are applied to the fin shed sword.
The ordinary swords in the service are
of the 1882 pattern, and like the bayo-
nets. are slightly too light and weak at
the ends of the blades The new
swords Of 1883 pattern are heavier, and
by greater thickness
and depth of metal at the cutting por-
ton of the blade. The new bayoncts |
are three ounces heavier in weight than |
the former Martini-llenry bayoncls.
the same length as the |
original pattern. All the present |
forms Of bayonets are destli 4, ii |
would seem, TO give way 10 the latest
pattern sword bayonct, which will |
probably receive general acceptance as
the finest and most useful weapon ever
associated with the ritled muskd. tom
ton Stdnddyd