Reference # 219
J. Henry & Son Rifle Bayonet
Information about this bayonet
This bayonet has a typical Collins style 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 22.1 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 51 mm long spring are typical Collins construction. The center of the cross guard has a steel rivet through the blade.
The lug slot is chamfered around the top edge and there is no guide slot.
Two of the recorded examples have a small 1 digit number stamped on top of the muzzle ring.
Another recorded example is numbered on the hilt flat in a slightly larger font.
The yataghan blade is 509 mm long and has unstopped fullers. Some examples recorded are marked COLLINS & CO / HARTFORD / CONN in three straight lines on the left ricasso and the right ricasso is dated 1861. Another example recorded is marked COLLINS & CO (arc) / HARTFORD / CONN in three lines on the left ricasso and the right ricasso is dated 1862.
Information from other sources
George Moller, American Military Shoulder Arms, states that 952 rifles, referred to as saber rifles, were produced by J. Henry & Son during the summer of 1861 through early 1862. 876 of these rifles were sold to P.S. Justice, 70 rifles were sold to the Catasanga Home Guard and 6 were used as sample rifles. During this period J. Henry & Son purchased 437 saber bayonets from Collins & Company. The 70 rifles sold to the Catasanga Home Guard were fitted to a saber bayonet and the 6 sample rifles were fitted to a saber bayonet. The remaining 366 saber bayonets were supplied to P.S. Justice leaving 510 rifles supplied to Justice without a saber bayonet. The bayonet stud is listed as as 3/8 inches (9.5 mm) by 11/16 inch (17.3 mm)
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Rollin Davis, US Sword Bayonets 1847 to1865, claims that the brass hilted sword bayonets were made by Collins Co. of Harford, Connecticut. The overall length is 24 7/8 inches (632 mm), the blade length is 20 inches (508 mm) and the blade width is 1 1/16 inches (27 mm) at the hilt. The muzzle ring inside diameter is 22 mm. Collins & Co. in an arc with Hartford / Conn. below in two horizontal lines is stamped on the left ricasso and the right ricasso is dated 1862. The rifles serial numbers is stamped on top of the muzzle ring in small numbers.
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Jason Kaplan, in a personal conversation, said at least two different bayonets lugs can be found on the J. Henry rifle and that he believed that PS Justice bayonets were also made for the J. Henry rifle.
Speculation and questions
Jason Kaplan believes that PS Justice bayonets were made for the J Henry rifle. Could it be for the 510 saber rifles sold to P.S. Justice without a saber bayonet, per George Moller?
The small numbers stamped on the cross guard of some examples listed here are a very familiar font and location found on many PS Justice bayonets. Could those bayonet examples be part of the 366 Collins saber bayonets supplied by J Henry to PS Justice, per George Moller.
Could the examples, with larger font numbers on the hilt flat, be some of the bayonets matched to the rifle by J Henry?
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The discovery of Reference #239 has brought questions as to the claim that this bayonet is for the J Henry Rifle or it proves that Jason's claim of multiple lug types for the J Henry rifle is indeed correct. More information is needed.
Example Reference # 1814
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter --------- 22.1
Overall Length ----------------- 633
Hilt Length -------------------- 124
Blade Length ------------------ 509
Blade Width ------------------- 27.7
Blade Thickness --------------- 7.9
Press Stud Spring Length ----- 51
Guide Slot Length ------------- None
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 11.8
Lug Slot Width --------------- 5.1
Lug Width -------------------- 9.2
Lug Thickness ---------------- 2.3
This example has the number 5 stamped on top of the muzzle ring in a small 1 mm font. The left ricasso is marked COLLINS & CO (arc) / HARTFORD / CONN. The right ricasso is dated 1862.
Example Reference # 1766
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter --------- 22.0
Overall Length ----------------- 635
Hilt Length -------------------- 125
Blade Length ------------------ 510
Blade Width ------------------- 27.8
Blade Thickness --------------- 7.8
Press Stud Spring Length ----- 51
Guide Slot Length ------------- None
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 10.9
Lug Slot Width --------------- 5.0
Lug Width -------------------- 9.2
Lug Thickness ---------------- 2.1
This example has the number 1 stamped on top of the muzzle ring in a small 1 mm font. The number 30 is stamped on the left side of the guard in a large 4 mm font. The left ricasso is marked in COLLINS & CO (arc) / HARTFORD / CONN. The right ricasso is dated 1862.
Example Reference # 1863
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter --------- 22.4
Overall Length ----------------- 638
Hilt Length -------------------- 125
Blade Length ------------------ 513
Blade Width ------------------- 27.6
Blade Thickness --------------- 7.8
Press Stud Spring Length ----- 51
Guide Slot Length ------------- None
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 10.9
Lug Slot Width --------------- 5.1
Lug Width -------------------- 9.2
Lug Thickness ---------------- 2.1
This example has the number 90 stamped on top of the hilt flat in a small 2.5 mm font. The left ricasso is marked in three horizontal lines, COLLINS & CO/ HARTFORD / CONN. The right ricasso is dated 1861.