Reference # 311

Colt Lightning Bayonet

Type II - Straight Single Edged Blade

Jim Maddox Collection

Information about this bayonet

An example of the bayonet can be seen in Jim Maddox's book, Collecting Bayonets, #576.

This bayonet is not maker marked but it is believed to be made by Ames. The feathered or scaled brass hilt is 121 mm long. There is a large rearward hooked lower quillon ending in a roundish finial that is unique with US brass hilted sword bayonets. There is no finial on top of the muzzle ring. The press stud and long spring are typical Collins style construction. There is no blade rivet in the center of the cross guard. The muzzle ring is flush with the hilt flat and the inside diameter is 18 mm.

The lug slot's top edges are straight and unchamfered and terminates into a guide bar slot. The hilt flat is frequently stamped behind the muzzle ring with a three digit or less rifle mating number but Maddox's example is not numbered. The straight single edged 457 mm bright blade has large unstopped fullers on both sides and it is unmarked.

Information from other sources

Jim Maddox, Collecting Bayonets, listed two variations of this bayonet and gives reference to a third variant with a yataghan blade.

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Multiple online references state that 250 rifles with bayonets were sold to Costa Rica, the source of this information is unknown. The existing rifle serial numbers date production of this rifle to 1889 through 1891.

Speculation and questions

The blade used with this bayonet looks like a shortened blade used by Ames on its larger bayonets during the war such as the Sharps Model 1859. There are two more blade variations for this rifle's bayonet. So many variations in such a small number of produced bayonets. Was Ames just using up excess parts? An example in Jim Maddox's book is numbered 347, so there were probably more made then the 250 sent to Costa Rica.