U.S. MODEL 1870 ROLLING BLOCK NAVY RIFLE SWORD BAYONET BY AMES

$325.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 1037-403

A board of Navy officers under Dahlgren in 1869 recommended adoption of a .50 caliber centerfire rifle using the rolling block action to replace muzzleloading arms still in service. Some 22,000 rifles were ordered in 1870, to be produced at Springfield with royalties paid to Remington, but only a little more than half were accepted by the navy. Two types of sword bayonets are known to have been made for them. This is Harden’s Type No. II, with a 20 1/8 inch straight, double edged blade with a central fuller. The brass hilt is rather ornate. The grip is designed to look like overlapping fish scales while the pommel has a bird’s head beak with the insignia of the Navy Board of Ordnance, two crossed cannon superimposed on an anchor. The grip is rather bulky, with the stud groove set high, and the pommel has a hole in it to take the tip of the rifle’s cleaning rod, since the bayonet was mounted on bottom stud.

The blade is clean, with a good edge and point. The metal is smooth and shows a silver-gray, with a little darker gray and a small bit of salt-and-peppering at the ricasso on either side. The blade markings are good on the reverse: 1870/C.G.S./U.S.N. is marked distinctly from top to bottom, just a little light on the tops of first and third line. On the obverse, “Ames Mfg. Co. / Chicopee/ Mass.” is present, though the small pitting makes it tough to make out the bottom line. The hilt has a medium age patina with a few age spots and handling marks. There are small dings and use marks on the crossguard. The spring and locking button are present and functional. The “I.A.” inspector’s initials on the top of the pommel are visible.

A scarce, regulation U.S. Navy sidearm.  [SR]

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