Reference # 412

Confederate States of America

Cook & Brother Shotgun Bayonet

Type 2 Variation 1

Jim Maddox

Information about this bayonet

This bayonet does not have a muzzle ring to fit over the associated firearms barrel. It is designed to fit a double lug adapter that has been attached to the side of the firearm's barrel. There are two rectangular extensions in the brass casting of the hilt, both having rectangular holes to accept the lugs on the firearm's adaptor. One is found on the side of the pommel and the other is on the side of the cross guard. A large exterior leaf spring, mounted in a recess milled into the side of the hilt, has a pin that protrudes into the extension on the crossguard to lock the bayonet to the hilt.

This double lug adaptor was designed to provide a sword bayonet attachment to the various firearms found in personal use in the southern states at the out break of the US Civil War. This included sporting rifles and shotguns, both single and double barreled, of multiple calibers or gauges. This is the source of the popular term "Shotgun Bayonet".

There are two other US brass hilted bayonets with a very similar construction, Reference #411 and Reference # 413.

The 112 millimeter long hilt is a single piece casting of brass with 18 ribs between the pommel and crossguard. The quillions are straight without finials. The pommel has a shorter similar protrusion on the lower side.

The 506 millimeter long straight double edged blade is diamond shaped in cross-section. The overall length is 615 millimeters.

Information from other sources

Albert N. Hardin, The American Bayonet 1776/1964, #115, Type II

"The double edged blade is 21 inches (533 mm) long, 1 1/8 inches (28.6 mm) wide, 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) thick and has a symmetrical diamond cross section. The 4 5/16 inch (110 mm) long cast brass hilt has a very squared appearance. The straight 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm) long quillions have a generally rectangular cross section and flare at the blade into the heavy stud bolster on the obverse side and into a flat reinforcement on the reverse side. The rear surface of the upper quillion is dovetailed to accept a brass stop set into it to limit the travel of the stud spring. The long rectangular grip has its entire surface, except for the stud spring recess, cast with a series of parallel finger ridges. The upper surface of the grip is milled to accept the long stud spring style customary with this bayonet pattern. The spring is held by a screw near the rear of the recess. Its flat plane continues out at the upper quillion, then forward again to just past the forward stud bolster where it curves down in a "Z" pattern to provide a finger grip. A square pin with a round shoulder wielded into the spring operates vertically in the very slight rectangular stud mortise cut longitudinally through the bolster. The flat pommel has a multi-sided spur angled slightly forward at its upper surface. The pommel has a rectangular opening to accept the tang. The obverse side of the pommel has the rear stud bolster cast integral with it. It also has a small mortise through it."

----------

Russ Pritchard & John Ashworth, Confederate & Southern Agent Marked Shotguns, states that conclusive proof that this bayonet is a product of Cook & Brother was provided by Josh Phillips in his article "Commodore Bailey's Captured Confederate War Trophies". The proof consists of documents found in the National Archives that show that Cook and Brother received shotguns to be fitted with sword bayonets and that these shotguns were retuned with sword bayonets and sheaths with frogs. "Unfortunately, no description of the bayonets were included but several sword bayonets of this unique design have been noted that fit shotguns with a special double lug device that are certainly this bayonet."

The brass bar on one shotgun is numbered 967, suggesting that some 1000 were altered in this manner. Page 303

Springs on earlier bayonets are 4 inches (102 mm) long while springs on later bayonets are 2.75 inches (70 mm). Page 304

"Cook & Brother sold bayonet components to the Memphis Ordnance Department. The Memphis Novelty Works made all manner of brass castings. Therefore, it is likely that blades for Type I (Reference #411) and Type II (this bayonet) are actually products of Cook & Brother." Page 307

Speculation and questions

The different locking spring lengths on this bayonet, disclosed by Confederate & Southern Agent Marked Shotguns on Page 304, should be recorded as two different variations within the Type 2 recorded here.