Item:
ONSV7771

Original U.S. Springfield Musket M1816 Type 1 Fencing Training Bayonet with Replaced Display Blade c. 1830

Item Description

Original Item: One Only. These are most most unusual, in fact this is the second one we've encountered, and the first was for the 1873 Springfield Trapdoor, not the .69" Musket. If you look in THE AMERICAN BAYONET 1776-1964 by ALBERT HARDIN on pages, 188 and 189 you will see these were first produced around 1830, intended to attach to a Whale bone shaft measuring 19 1/2" long and 3/4" wide and "1/4" thick which was kept in place with a screw clamp of the base by the bayonet's socket. The "Type 1" terminology comes from the four identified patterns of socket fencing bayonets identified by bayonet collector, researcher and author Robert M. Reilly.

What we are offering is an original steel rear section based off the Springfield M1816/22/27 bayonet, which has been combined with a more modern 13 1/2 inch bayonet blade for display purposes. It looks to be some type of "fold out" bayonet, possibly some variety of SKS or other type. It does not fit the socket very well, but definitely adds appeal to the look.

Fitting confirms that this base component of this example was made for the .69-caliber Springfield Musket. This section consists of the barrel socket and the attached 2" steel container complete with Screw clamp. This was intended to hold the whale bone blade, which would come with an egg shaped ball of India Rubber made in two halves on the end. Clearly there was a serious chance of breakage in bayonet training that inclined the Army to make this training aide in two distinct sections.

The Bayonet socket itself still retains much of the original National Armory Brown finish, with some minor fading and wear and some lightly scattered surface oxidation and minor roughness. There are some stamped markings on the side and rear of the bayonet, which are the "mating markings" for the whalebone portion, which is unfortunately no present. Intact Type 1 Fencing bayonet blades are exceedingly rare, as many were later used with the M1858 and M1873 versions of the Fencing Bayonet, and eventually would break from use and age.

Very interesting and rare. Ready to display!

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