"A military bit (aka army mount) is one where the tenon of the stem attaches to the shank at a metal-covered socket.
The Peterson Army pipes are a nice illustration of these: like so.
I've heard two stories as to the etymology of the term:
1. It originates from a hasty pipe repair in the field of combat, possibly using a spent brass round.
2. The style was designed to be broken down quickly in the field, e.g. in case of the need for total darkness or quick movement. The metal fitment allows you to remove the stem from a hot pipe with less stress on the wood."
Not my info - just found elsewhere on the forum...
