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Information about this bayonet
This bayonet 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 20.4 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. There is no blade rivet in the center of the cross guard.
The lug slot is chamfered around the top edge and there is no guide slot. The hilt flat is unmarked.
The large yataghan blade is 556 mm long, 31.9 mm wide, 8.2 mm thick and has unstopped fullers. The left ricasso is stamped in four lines MADE BY / AMES MFG CO. / CHICOPEE / MASS all within the image of a scroll.
Information from other sources
In the book SHARPS FIREARMS / The Percussion Era 1848 – 1865 on page 217, a Sharps rifle fitted with a bayonet lug without a guide bar is pictured. This rifle is in the Kansas Historical Society collection and is stated to be a special purchase to present to General Pomeroy.
Speculation and questions
This bayonet has a brass hilt and blade that is almost identical in construction to those made by Ames for some of the Model 1859 Sharps Rifles, except for the guide slot. The muzzle ring diameter at 20.4 may be a bit small for a Sharps Rifle and the lug slot appears slightly smaller as well. But in the era of hand fitting a bayonet to a rifle, such minute variances will exist.
Are there Sharps Rifles without a guide bar?
The Whitney Enfield Rifle is another possibility for this bayonet.
Example Reference # 1821
Example Reference # 1821
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter -------- 20.4
Overall Length ---------------- 679
Hilt Length -------------------- 123
Blade Length ------------------ 556
Blade Width ------------------- 31.9
Blade Thickness --------------- 8.2
Lock to Muzzle Length ------- 99
Press Stud Spring Length ----- 41
Guide Slot Length ------------- None
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 14.0
Lug Slot Width --------------- 5.0
Lug Width -------------------- 8.6
Lug Thickness ---------------- 1.5
Lug Depth -------------------- 6.2
The only marking on this example is the Ames scroll logo on the left ricasso. The brass mounted black leather scabbard is an early model US arsenal scabbard and is most likely not original to this bayonet.
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