American Bayonet Display – America 250 History Fair
1. Modified Brown Bess Land Pattern – This piece was manufactured under contract in England in the mid 18th century. The unit markings, K Company, Weapon 61 are in a format suggestive of a Germanic pattern. The modifications are crude, typical of American workmanship of the period. Possible American capture.
2. Marked Brown Bess Land Pattern – Included in this display to show the format used to show unit/weapon markings on British bayonets.
3. American Modified/Repaired, Unknown weapon – Highly modified/repaired bayonet with obvious American workmanship.
4. French Blade/American Socket – A French blade, possibly from a bayonet captured during the French and Indian War, was attached to a new socket of American manufacture, allowing it to be used on a different weapon.
5. Typical Committee of Safety bayonet – Committees of Safety were local and colonial authorities that were precursors to local and state governments after the establishment of the United States. Among their military functions were establishing standards for weapons, including the specifications of bayonets. With a blade length of 18”, this bayonet was possibly from Massachusetts.
6. French M1763 – This particular weapon was used during the French revolution, as evidenced by the Phrygian Cap marking on the ricasso (a symbol of liberty adopted during the French Revolution), but is included in this display since this model was used during the American Revolution on the French-supplied model 1763 Charleville musket.
7. 1801-1803 Very early Springfield Armory bayonet, among the first manufactured there.
8. 1808-1810 Early Springfield Armory bayonet
9. Post 1808 Early Harpers Ferry bayonet. Harpers Ferry indicated as the armory of manufacture by the location of the “US” stamp on the front of the shank.
10. 1795-1812 with a maker’s mark on the ricasso. Made prior to the 1808 requirement for a bridge. The bridge was applied by brazing per the requirement.
11. 1795-1812 This bayonet has no maker’s mark, but has a letter stamped at the end of the mortise that would be used to match it to a particular musket with the same letter stamped at the bayonet stud.
12. M1816 – For the M1816 flintlock musket, the first American designed military musket. The single initial, “J” indicates that John Unseld, forger at Harpers Ferry forged this bayonet.
13. M1816 – This bayonet was modified for use on one of the common rifles of the time by filing a notch in the bridge that would accommodate the front rifle sight.
14. M1819 Hall Bayonet – The Hall rifle was the first product made with truly interchangeable parts straight off the production machinery. Produced only at the Hall Rifle Works at Harpers Ferry until 1829, then also produced at other contractors for state militias. The initials “SN” indicate that this piece was manufactured at Simeon North’s factory in Massachusetts. North made virtually all of the rifles not produced by Hall.
15. M1835 – Many nations copied the French M1822, including the U.S. with the M1835 flintlock musket. Many were later converted to the percussion firing system.
16. M1855 – Made for the most commonly used musket of the American Civil War. The tapered shoulders remained the design of choice for subsequent U.S. socket bayonets.
17. M1816 conversion – At the start of the American Civil War, to make up for insufficient weapons, M1815 smoothbore flintlock muskets were converted to a percussion firing system. These bayonets were produced with the M1855-style blade by Hewes Phillips.
18. M1816 conversion – At the start of the American Civil War, to make up for insufficient weapons, M1815 smoothbore flintlock muskets were converted to a percussion firing system. These bayonets were actual M1816 bayonets modified by adding a locking ring. Known as the Henry Lehman alteration. The bayonet was forged at Harpers Ferry by Edward Harding, as evidenced by the initials, “EH” on the ricasso
19. M1861 US Navy bayonet – The curved blade style is that of a “Yataghan” sword blade.
20. M1861 Dahlgren Bayonet – Designed by Admiral Dahlgren to replace the sword bayonet.
21. M1892 Krag-Jorgensen – Used during the Spanish-American War.
22. M1892 Krag-Jorgensen Prototype with integrated barbed wire cutter. This unique one-of-a-kind bayonet was made, probably with a patent submission in mind. No patent was submitted, probably due to the impracticality of the design considering it would have been used in trench warfare. Most likely made sometime between 1905 and 1920.
23. M1903 Ramrod Bayonet – Integrated bayonet with the M1903 Springfield rifle.
24. M1905 – Made as a replacement for the M1903 ramrod bayonet upon direction from President Teddy Roosevelt, who called the ramrod bayonet poor invention.
25. M1913 – Made for use with the P1914 rifle. These were being produced in the U.S. for Britain until the U.S. entered World War I.
26. M1917 – Basically the same as the M1913, but made for the .30–06 caliber U.S. Rifle Model of 1917 and 12-gauge combat shotguns (trench guns). The M1917 rifle was the most commonly carried rifle by U.S. troops during the war.
27. P1908 Ross Bayonet – Canadian-made, but discontinued issuance for their troops. 20,000 were purchased by the U.S. upon entry into World War I for use in training.
28. M1 – Made for use with the M1 Garand rifle
29. M4, (1944) Made for the M1 carbine
30. M5A1, (1957) – Modification of the M5 (1953) for use with the M1 carbine. The main difference with the M4 was the attachment system. Altered to enable ease of detachment with heavy gloves on. A lesson learned from combat in Korea.
31. M6, (1960) – For the M14 rifle. Still used by guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
32. M7, (1964) For the M16 and compatible rifles. Used in Vietnam and until the M9 bayonet was issued.
33. M9, (1986) Used with the M16 rifle and US Army shotguns. Current U.S. Army bayonet.