Plug Bayonet
ca. 1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Plug bayonet with an ivory grip decorated with silver pique work with cast silver mounts, the blade has a gilt stamp with a portrait of William III, and the stamp of London cutler William Hoy.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Iron grip with silver pique work and cast silver mounts |
| Brief description | Plug bayonet, William Hoy, London, England, circa 1680 |
| Physical description | Plug bayonet with an ivory grip decorated with silver pique work with cast silver mounts, the blade has a gilt stamp with a portrait of William III, and the stamp of London cutler William Hoy. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mr G. H. Ramsbottom, through Art Fund |
| Historical context | The plug bayonet originated in the late 16th Century and was widely used in European armies from about 1650 to 1720. It continued to be popular on the hunting field for far longer. The conical grip was inserted into the end of the musket barrel converting it into a spear. The main drawbacks were that this prevented any further firing, while a poor fit or fouling of the barrel by unburnt gunpowder resulted in its loss in combat. The period when the plug bayonet was in favour coincided roughly with the transitionary period between pike and shot formations to wholly firearm equipped battalions in Europe. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.2734-1931 |
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| Record created | March 26, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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