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Information about this bayonet
This Ames made bayonet has a smooth ribbed brass hilt that is 122 millimeters long and has 16 ribs. The muzzle ring is flush to the hilt flat and the inside diameter is 22.8 millimeters. There is a forward swept heavy cylindrical finial on top of the muzzle ring. The lower guard is forward swept terminating in a disk finial with a number stamped on the right side. The 41 mm press stud spring and the press stud assembly is typical Ames construction. There is no steel rivet through the center of the guard and tang.
The lug slot is chamfered on both sides and terminates into a 25.8 millimeter guide slot that is rounded at the end. The only recorded example is stamped with the number 14 in front of the guide slot in approximately 2 millimeter numerals.
Assembly numbers are stamped inside the press stud spring slot, on the back side of the press stud spring and in the center of the press stud.
The unmarked yataghan blade is 570 mm long, has stopped fullers and a 12.6 mm wide ricasso.
Information from other sources
There is no known information from other sources.
Speculation and questions
This bayonet is very similar to the Ames produced Model 1841 Bayonet - Type 2 and probably would freely interchange on the rifle. The brass hilt which appears to be formed from the same mold and the yataghan blade with its stopped fullers are near identical. But there are differences other than the markings. The press stud spring is shaped differently and there is no steel pin through the cross guard and tang. Plus the assembly numbers associated with the press stud are not commonly found on US bayonets, in my experience.
The purpose of this bayonet is unknown but it is believed to have been made by Ames Manufacturing and most probably produced in the 1855 to 1860 time period for some form of the Model 1841 Rifle.
Example Reference # 1872
Example Reference # 1872
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter -------- 22.8
Overall Length ---------------- 688 **
Hilt Length -------------------- 122
Blade Length ------------------ 566 **
Blade Width ------------------- 30.9
Blade Thickness --------------- 9.8
Lock to Muzzle Length -------- 98
Press Stud Spring Length ----- 41
Guide Slot Length ------------- 25.8
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 13.6
Lug Slot Width --------------- 4.9
Lug Width -------------------- 9.1
Lug Thickness ---------------- 2.4
Lug Depth -------------------- 7.9
** Blade point has been shortened by a few millimeters.
The only markings on this bayonet are the number 14 stamped on the hilt flat immediately in front of the guide slot and the number 7 stamped on the right side of the disk finial on the lower cross guard. The brass mounted black leather scabbard is unmarked.
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