with the Martini-Henry there were a number of broken thumbs at first, as if you put your thumb where you put it for earlier rifles/muskets the recoil would break it. This was solved by designing a thumb rest (it didn't however solve the potential problem with the feed mechanism, particularly if you were in a hurry to reload). You only got the long sword bayonet if you were cavalry/field artillery (not garrison artillery) and got the carbine rather than the rifle.