Reference # 234

Sharps New Model 1859 Rifle Bayonet

Unknown Contract

Shawn Gibson Collection

Information about this bayonet

This bayonet was made by Ames Mfg and has a typical Ames hilt type #1. The smooth ribbed brass hilt is 123 mm long and has 16 ribs. The muzzle ring is flush to the hilt flat and the inside diameter is 20.9 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 41 mm long spring are typical Ames construction.

Shawn Gibson Collection

The lug slot is chamfered around the top edge and there is a guide slot. There is a typical 5 digit Sharps serial number on the hilt flat.

Shawn Gibson Collection

The left ricasso is stamped AMES MFG CO / CHICOPEE. / MASS., in three lines, Ames logo #5. The right ricasso is unmarked. The yataghan blade is 508 mm long and has unstopped fullers.

Shawn Gibson Collection

Information from other sources

Speculation and questions

The serial number found on the only known example places this bayonet in the early production range of the Mitchell Contract but several features are different from the usual examples found for this contract. First, the 508 mm long blade is much shorter then the standard 554 mm blades. Second, this bayonet has a typical Sharps serial number on the hilt flat showing that Sharps matched it to a rifle. Typically Ames shipped the bayonets directly to the Navy for the Mitchel Contract and the bayonets were not serial numbered to the rifle by Sharps. Finally, most of the Mitchell Contract bayonets were marked with the Ames scroll logo #4 on the left ricasso and dated 1861 on the right ricasso. This example has the logo #5 that is found on the Dahlgren Knife Bayonets and the US Navy Model 1870 rifle bayonets.

So possibly it is a very early production Mitchell Contract or possibly an out of sequence serial number on a later unknown contract.