Reference # 125

Unknown Collins Bayonet #5

Possible Whitney Milita Rifle

Shawn Gibson Collection

Information about this bayonet

This bayonet has a typical Collins long hilt. The smooth ribbed brass hilt is 124 mm long and has 14 ribs. The muzzle ring is flush to the hilt flat and the inside diameter is 23.0 mm. There is a forward swept round finial on the bottom of the guard and no finial on top of the muzzle ring. The press stud and spring are typical Collins construction. There is no steel rivet in the center of the guard.

Shawn Gibson Collection

The lug slot is chamfered on both sides around the top edge and there is a 31.2 mm long and 5.8 mm wide guide bar slot that is squared off at the end in a manner similar to the Model 1841 made by Harpers Ferry.

Shawn Gibson Collection

The muzzle ring is notched on the right rearward edge, assumingly to fit over the rifle sight on top of the barrel. On the only known examples, there is a rifle mating code stamped on the right side of the muzzle ring in front of the notch.

Shawn Gibson Collection

The unmarked yataghan blade is 510 mm long and has unstopped fullers.

Information from other sources

There is no known documentation on this bayonet.

Speculation and questions

This bayonet creates a lot of questions with its early style guide bar slot and later Winchester style sight notch in the muzzle ring. One possible clue is the rifle mating number, UU27, found on the muzzle ring of one example. A very similar marking is found on another bayonet, Reference # 120, which is currently listed as a Whitney Militia Rifle Bayonet. A lot of variation is found in the Whitney Militia Rifles which were sold to multiple militias of both northern and southern states.

A possible explanation for the large squared guide bar slot and notch in the muzzle ring is to accommodate a slide that would cover the top of the hilt and turn a bayonet into a Musician's sword.