From September 1861 through February 1862 Phillip S. Justice supplied 2174 rifle muskets of .69 caliber to the Federal government, some assembled from older condemned or obsolete parts and some from newly made components. He furnished three basic types and quality varied, but he was far ahead of other domestic makers in trying to meet the government’s need for arms at the opening of the war.

As is typical of his bayonets this one has a small letter stamped over the US on the blade flat, in this case an “I” over the “US,” and is set up for a bottom mounted bayonet stud, and the blade shoulders are scalloped. The bridge on this one has a break, unfortunately, but no missing metal and the socket is not deformed. The metal is generally gray with darker gray and brown spots overall, but with no edge nicks and a good point. There are a couple of minor divots on the socket near the mortise, but overall it is very good.

See Reilly, American Socket Bayonets and Scabbards for details on Justice and his bayonets. This is a scarce, very early war U.S. contract bayonet.  [SR]

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