Philip S. Justice of Philadelphia made railroad car springs before the war and at the outbreak of hostilities rushed into arms production and dealing in a happy combination of commerce and patriotism. One of Justice’s virtues was speedy delivery and most of his firearms went to early war Pennsylvania units. Among his offerings was a .58 caliber two-band rifle fitted with a sword bayonet.  This one fits Harden’s Type No. II typology, having a less curved blade than the Type No. I. The brass hilt has just normal aging and no modern polishing, with darker areas in the recessed grooves of the grip, and a mix of mellow and lighter brass tones elsewhere with very few handling marks. The spring and button are in place and functional. The blade is about 21 3/8 inches long, and a muted silver gray, with a dusting of darker gray spots, but smooth metal, with no nicks to the edge and an intact point.

The muzzle ring bears a mating number “P / 2146” to match the bayonet with a particular gun. Justice was paid for delivering 2,469 rifles with sword bayonets to Frankford Arsenal and examples are known that are numbered on the triggerguard plate. If speed was among Justice’s virtues, interchangeability was not.

This is a scarce bayonet from a well-known maker and supplier of firearms and edged weapons who was particularly important at the very beginning of the war when serviceable arms were in short supply.    [SR]

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