Ed Hull, The Collins Bayonet for the Colt Alteration Model 1841 Rifle, The S.A.B.C. Journal, Volume 30, Winter 1999, states that the Colt Patent Firearms Company purchased 11,368 Model 1841 Rifles from the U.S. Army Ordnance Department to alter and resale to the Ordnance Department.  The alteration was to accept sword bayonets, to ream their bores to .58caliber and to rerifle them.  Collins & Company was contracted to produce the sword bayonets.  Colt started receiving the purchased rifles from the government arsenals in July 1861.  On July 23rd, 1861, Colt sold 468 rifles, unaltered as to caliber but with bayonets attached to the State of Connecticut.  It is an unresolved question as to the type of bayonet Colt delivered to Connecticut.  

From May 6th to June 4th, 1862, Colt delivered 8,400 rifles with bayonets to the St. Louis Arsenal.  500 rifles and bayonets were sold to the New York City arms dealers Schuyler, Hartley & Graham in 1863.  A total of 10,900 rifles with bayonets delivered with Collins & Company bayonets.

Hull also shows evidence that the brass hilts may have been purchased from Colt or from another supplier in a letter where Collins is asking for hilts in Colts possession. 

Hull supplied dimensions of his bayonet as follows; overall length of 30.375 inches (772 mm), blade length of 25.4375 inches (646 mm), hilt length of 4.875 inches (122 mm) and bore of the muzzle ring of 0.906 inches (23.0 mm).

---------- 

George Moller, American Military Shoulder Arms, shows that Colt delivered 10,411 rifles, assumingly with bayonets, between November1861 and June 1862.  Colt also sold at least 468 rifles with the ring-type bayonet stud installed, plus 400 additional ring-type bayonet studs to modify additional rifles to the State of Connecticut. 

----------

Rollin Davis, US Sword Bayonets 1847-1865, pg. 9, states that the bayonets were made by Collins and several forgings and finished blades were still to be seen at the factory in 1965.

----------

David Hollowell, A Survey of Henry Leman-Altered Bayonets, The S.A.B.C. Journal, Volume 102, Winter 2017, states that Henry Leman purchased a number of Colt Alteration Bayonets, that were originally rejected by the US Ordnance Department due to loose handles, from Collins and Company for the Leman Militia Rifle.   

Lumen Altered these Colt Alteration bayonets in three ways: First, a steel pin was installed through the center of the cross guard to secure the blade tangs.  Second, the outer right side of the muzzle ring has been flattened to reduce obstruction to the view of the sight.  Third, there are no serial numbers on the flat of the hilt. 

The question as to what bayonet was issued with the rifles sold to the State of Connecticut is interesting.  Were the ring-type bayonet lugs installed on the rifles and sold separately to Connecticut the same as those used with the Collins bayonets?  This lug is one of the largest brass hilt bayonet lugs used during the Civil War and it is easy to see the difference in size while comparing bayonets.  Would they tool up twice and make two separated lugs?

The question as to who made the hilt is also interesting.  The Colt Alteration hilt is very similar to the M1862 Remington Zouave bayonet hilt.  It sure looks like the same manufacturer.  The textured ribs and casting marks are very similar.  Everything else screams Collins.  There could be multiple reasons why Colt was inspecting hilts at their location.