Shawn Gibson Collection
Information about this bayonet
This bayonet has the same short roundish brass hilt that is found on the standard Merrill Breech-Loading Rifle Bayonet but it also has a hand guard that runs from the bottom of the pommel to the backside of the cross guard finial. This guard appears to be part of the original hilt casting. The smooth ribbed brass hilt has 16 ribs. The muzzle ring is flush to the hilt flat. There is a forward swept round finial on the bottom of the guard and no finial on top of the muzzle ring. There is no steel rivet in the center of the cross guard.
The hilt flat has a 5 digit serial number stamped vertically between the muzzle ring and lug slot in a 3 mm font as found on the standard version. The lug slot is chamfered around the top edge and there is no guide slot. The unmarked straight blade has unstopped fullers.
Information from other sources
Speculation and questions
At this point there are very few details on this bayonet. The straight blade and hand guard makes this bayonet very different from the standard Merrill Breech-Loading Rifle Bayonet. But the shape of the hilt is very much the same and the serial number font and location sure are the same. The serial number also falls within the range of 5576 to 14025 provided by Rollin Davis "US Sword Bayonets 1847-1865".
Muzzle Ring Diameter -------- ?
Overall Length ---------------- ?
Hilt Length -------------------- ?
Blade Length ------------------ ?
Blade Width ------------------- ?
Blade Thickness --------------- ?
Lock to Muzzle Length ------- ?
Press Stud Spring Length ---- ?
Guide Slot Length ------------ None
Lug to Stop Length ----------- ?
Lug Slot Width --------------- ?
Lug Width -------------------- ?
Lug Thickness ---------------- ?
Lug Depth -------------------- ?
This example has the serial number 10695 stamped on the hilt flat.
Shawn Gibson Collection