Using rifle bulk in melee?

[Jafar Ironclad]

So, I had a random idea. As much as using knives is awesome for close in kills, I don't think a soldier would take the time to put down their rifle in order to take the time to draw a knife on someone really close in. Bayonets are an exception, when they're already fixed on. Of course, knives are a standard part of any soldier's gear, regardless.

What if, instead of using knives as the melee weapon for all the classes, we have the soldiers use the bulk of their own weapon as an attack? in other words, whacking an enemy with the butt or barrel of your rifle. In implementation, I would do the following:

-The drawing time would be very short (maybe a half a second, versus the knife's 1.5 seconds or so)
-The weapon is not an instant kill except for headshots. Otherwise does around 40% damage.
-If you get hit by the weapon, you suffer from heavy concussion, vision and hearing-wise. Similar to the effect of an explosion going off nearby.
-Rate of fire and range would be the same as the knife.

Classes with rifles that aren't the standard assault rifle or carbine for their faction (such as the auto rifleman, marksman, sniper, and maybe the grenadier) could get the knife instead. Factions that normally get the bayonet for their rifles keep the bayonet. It'd make for some great faction diversity.

Thoughts?

[feeblezak]

i like this idea, although the L85 could have its Bayonette Permantly on, theres a reason that theres a hole in the middle of its handle.

[Expendable Grunt]

You don't keep it fixed all the time, though.

M.

[Zimmer]

WHats so hard to understand that the sugestion forum is closed?

[Tirak]

Don't like the idea, keep knives and bayonets.