The brass hilted saber bayonets made by Boyle and Gamble in Richmond are quickly recognizable by their flat-sided bird’s head pommels. This one has an even, mellow patina to the brass hilt and even retains its locking spring and button. The hilt has just minor handling marks- a few small dings to the “beak” of the pommel and a few to the obverse pommel edges and flat. The grip has some minor dings along the top, but no big dents. The lower guard, muzzle ring and quillon are fine. Brass grip marked on the underside with #85. Overall length 25”, blade length 20”.

The blade is dark, with just a couple of minor nicks to the edge and slightly rounded point. The surface shows some spotting and light pitting to the obverse, and a little heavier pitting on the reverse, mostly from the end of the fuller to the point.

Early military rifles were usually not fitted for bayonets and Confederate saber bayonets, like their northern counterparts were intended to make up for that deficiency and compensate with their length for the rifle’s shorter barrel if it came to close combat. The Mississippi rifle was a main candidate, but there were also southern copies. These could be mounted by using a bayonet lug adapter that would screw-tighten on the barrel, though there was almost always some hand-fitting involved. This is a good example of the classic Confederate saber or sword bayonet by a very well know C.S. maker.  [sr]

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