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.