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Information about this bayonet
This bayonet was made by Collins and 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 20.8 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 a 12.2 mm guide slot. The serial number is usually found on the hilt flat and may be a 5 digit number or a C, followed by a five digit number.
The Lock-to-Muzzle Length is 102 millimeters.
The yataghan blade is ~510 mm long, 27.5 mm wide, 7.2 mm thick and has unstopped fullers. Examples are found marked on the left ricasso, COLLINS & CO / HARTFORD / CONN in three straight lines and COLLINS & CO (arc) / HARTFORD / CONN. The right ricasso is usually dated 1861 or 1862.
Information from other sources
From the book SHARPS FIREARMS The Percussion Era 1848-1865, Sharps’ New Model 1863 Rifles were first ordered by the US Ordnance Department in late 1864 and delivered thru June of 1865. Most were provided with socket bayonets but about 1000 were configured with “stud and guide”. This shortened guide allowed a socket bayonet to fit those rifles as well.
The unique feature of this bayonet is a ½ inch (12.2 mm) guide slot instead of the previously used 1 inch (24.4 mm) slot. Most of these bayonets were apparently made by Collins but some Ames examples may exist. Most of the bayonets were made from surplus blades previously dated 1861 and 1862. No examples of latter dated blades have been recorded.
Many of these rifles were made from previously serial numbered parts in store from earlier rifle production resulting in a wide range of serial numbers with some overlapping of earlier model ranges. When the serial numbers reached 100000 Sharps started listing the number as C,00000.
The bayonet was matched to the rifle with the serial number stamped on the flat of the hilt. Numbers in the range of 36989 – 40000 were sporadically used but numbers in the range 43500 – C,49539 are more commonly found.
Speculation and questions
Example Reference # 1776
Example Reference # 1776
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter -------- 20.8
Overall Length ---------------- 621*
Hilt Length -------------------- 124
Blade Length ------------------ 506*
Blade Width ------------------- 27.5
Blade Thickness --------------- 7.2
Lock to Muzzle Length ------- 102
Press Stud Spring Length ---- 51
Guide Slot Length ------------ 12.2
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 12.7
Lug Slot Width --------------- 4.6
Lug Width -------------------- 10.0
Lug Thickness ---------------- 2.5
Lug Depth -------------------- 6.2
*The blade point has been heavily rounded, reducing the OAL and BL significantly.
This bayonet is serial numbered 37086 vertically on the hilt flat between the guide slot and the muzzle ring. The left side of the hilt just below the guard is stamped 216 and the end of the pommel is stamped with the number 9.
The left ricasso is stamped COLLINS & CO / HARTFORD / CONN in three straight lines and the right ricasso is dated 1861.
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