US Navy Captain John A. Dahlgren had a penchant for ordnance development and recommended adoption of a .69 caliber rifle to the navy in the late 1850s. Some 10,000 were delivered from 1861 to 1864 and nicknamed the “Plymouth” rifle after the U.S. Navy ship tasked with developing new weapons under Dahlgren’s command. Dahlgren developed two bayonets for the rifle: a short bowie-knife style bayonet and this one, a longer sword bayonet.

Bayonet measures approximately 27 ½” overall with a 22 ½” blade. This has the correct “Collins & Co. / Hartford / Conn.” maker’s mark clearly stamped on the reverse ricasso. The cast brass hilt has a mellow brass patina. The cross guard and ribbed handle are secured to the blade via a single transverse steel pin through the guard. The locking mechanism is intact and functional. The blade is smooth and bright with no nicks and a good point. There is a mating number of 7502 on the top of the handle, which would have also been stamped on the barrel tang of the matching rifle.

Leather scabbard body is complete and in very good condition. Back seam stitching is complete and tight. All brass furniture tight to the scabbard body and retains all the small brass brads. There are no dents in the brass pieces.

Attached is a rarely seen leather belt frog that is complete but shows more use with moderate finish cracking. Leather remains soft and flexible. Stitching remains tight and unbroken. Belt loop is faintly stamped “WATERVLIET / ARSENAL” on the front and “A. R. SMITH” on the back.

A great example of a U.S. naval bayonet complete with scabbard and belt frog.  [jet]

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