@RikerGoogling
Same reason artillerymen are issued pistols,
Oh wait… this isn’t a wiki.
Because they know the Kobayashi Maru is programmed to make the torpedoes, guns, and shields fail, but rapiers and bat’leths aren’t part of the test.
@RikerGoogling late medieval until ww1 were such an interesting time millirary-wise. Firearm had a reload time of 1min min so sword were still useful but the pike was a threat but immobile and cavalry had a new role. Armor got better and more common so it impacted mercenary efficacity.
All of this with flying uniform colors because sniper weren't invented yet
@RikerGoogling because muskets at the time needed a lit match all the time, and weren’t carried in polite company. When we see them, they are off duty, but they did use them at La Rochelle during the siege.