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Information about this bayonet
This bayonet, made by Collins & Company, has an atypical Collins brass hilt. The hilt length of 121 mm falls between the long and short hilt variations normally found on Collins’ bayonets. There are 16 smooth ribs. The muzzle ring is flush to the hilt flat and the inside diameter is 23.5 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 the guide slot is 77 mm long, running from the lug slot to a few millimeters within the muzzle ring. A serial number is stamped vertically on the hilt flat on the right side of the guide slot.
The yataghan blade is 572 mm long and has unstopped fullers. The left ricasso is stamped COLLINS & CO (arc) / HARTFORD / CONN in three lines. Dated examples have not been recorded.
The butt of the hilt is stamped FCW for Naval Arms Inspector Frank C. Warner. It is unknown if the single W stamp is for Warner or some other inspector.
Information from other sources
George Moller, American Military Shoulder Arms, states that 150 trial rifles with saber bayonet studs were produced by the Washington Navy Yard using barrels purchased from E. Remington and Model 1842 muskets. After a successful trial on board the USS Plymouth the Navy contracted with Whitney on July 15, 1861, to produce 10,000 of these rifles. Between October 1862 and May 1864, Whitney delivered a total of 10,000 rifles to multiple navy yards. These rifles had a 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) by 9/16 inch (14.8 mm) bayonet stud and a 3 1/16 inch (77.8 mm) guide key. On April 10, 1857, 75 Bowie bayonets and 75 saber bayonets were ordered from Ames Manufacturing Company for the 150 trial rifles. Three hundred additional Ames Bowie bayonets were delivered in late October 1861. The saber bayonets were purchased from Collins & Company. Additional delivery information is not known.
Rollin Davis, US Sword Bayonets 1847-1865, states the dimensions of this bayonet as following. The overall length is 27.5 inches (698 mm), the blade length is 22.75 inches (578 mm) and the blade width at the hilt is 1.25 inches (31.8 mm). The blade is marked Collins & Co., in an arc, with Hartford, Conn. in two lines below on the reverse. The brass hilt is stamped with the serial number of the rifle on the flat of the hilt and is slotted the entire length of 3 inches (76.2 mm) for the key. The butt of the hilt is stamped FCW for inspector Frank C. Warner.
Speculation and questions
George Moller claims 75 saber bayonets were ordered from Ames Manufacturing Company. Are there Ames bayonets out there with 23.5 mm muzzle rings and 77 mm guide slots? Could it be a miss print and Ames made the bowie bayonets and Collins made all of the saber bayonets? Maybe the trial rifles did not have the guide bar?
Example Reference # 1735
Example Reference # 1735
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter -------- 23.4
Overall Length ---------------- 692
Hilt Length -------------------- 120
Blade Length ------------------ 572
Blade Width ------------------- 32.4
Blade Thickness --------------- 10.1
Lock to Muzzle Length ------- 102
Press Stud Spring Length ---- 51
Guide Slot Length ------------ 76.9
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 15.6
Lug Slot Width --------------- 6.2
Lug Width -------------------- 10.6
Lug Thickness ---------------- 3.4
Lug Depth -------------------- 8.8
This example is stamped in three lines COLLINS & CO (arc) / HARTFORD / CONN on the left ricasso. The hilt flat is serial numbered 3737 and the pommel end is stamped F.C.W. (Naval arms inspector Frank C. Warner). The original brass mounted black leather scabbard is unmarked.
Example Reference # 937
Example Reference # 937
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Note! All measurements are in millimeters
Muzzle Ring Diameter -------- 23.5
Overall Length ---------------- 693
Hilt Length -------------------- 121
Blade Length ------------------ 572
Blade Width ------------------- 32.0
Blade Thickness --------------- 10.2
Lock to Muzzle Length ------- 102
Press Stud Spring Length ---- 51
Guide Slot Length ------------ 77.1
Lug to Stop Length ----------- 15.8
Lug Slot Width --------------- 6.1
Lug Width -------------------- 10.6
Lug Thickness ---------------- 3.5
Lug Depth -------------------- 8.6
This example is stamped in three lines COLLINS & CO (arc) / HARTFORD / CONN on the left ricasso. The hilt flat is serial numbered 2808 and the pommel end is stamped W. The original brass mounted black leather scabbard is unmarked.
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