This British socket bayonet bears engraved markings on the socket reading “H” over “105.” The “H” is certainly a company letter, but without better evidence it is difficult to say whether the number is a regimental number or a number assigned to a soldier. The pattern follows that of bayonets used on the India Pattern musket, adopted by the British army in 1793 when the army needed new troops and new arms to once again face the French, and which became the standard British infantry musket. The blade bears a small Crown over “24” inspector’s mark on the blade flat, which dates it to that period as well. Both blade and socket show gray color mixed with brown, and scattered shallow pitting on the blade flat. Overall length 21.5 inches, blade length 17 inches, socket length 4 inches.

In some ways the Brown Bess bayonet is even more emblematic of the British army than the musket itself. The desire of British infantry to bring the fight to close quarters decided more than one engagement.    [SR]

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