This is an excellent example of the saber (or sword) bayonet issued with the US Navy’s Model 1861 rifle. Developed by John Dahlgren in the late 1850s, and nicknamed for the USS Plymouth, on which the ordnance trials were conducted, 10,000 of these rifles were produced on contract by Eli Whitney, Jr., and delivered from mid-1863 to mid-1864. The short, .69 caliber rifles were issued with these saber bayonets having long, 22.5 - inch blades, to put them on an equal footing in close-in fighting against longer rifle muskets. This one is complete with its original scabbard.

The brass hilt has an untouched attractive mellow patina showing none of the typical heavy dings or battering. The locking spring and button are in place and function perfectly. The pommel bears the “F.C.W.” navy inspector’s initials of Franklin C. Warner. These bayonets were mated to the rifles by serial number stamped next to the long guide stud groove. This one is numbered 9455.

The blade is smooth metal with a nice edge and point. The blade is steel gray in color with a dusting of darker gray age spots. The ricasso has a crisp, “Collins & Co. / Hartford / Conn.” maker’s stamp at the ricasso. The scabbard is in excellent condition. The brass throat with frog stud and the drag are both in place have a matching age patina. The black leather scabbard is strong and solid with great even black color. There is no crazing or surface loss. All of stitching remains complete and unbroken. All rivets in scabbard tip and drag are intact and tight.

This is an excellent example of a regulation issue Civil War U.S. naval bayonet and scabbard.  [KN]  [ph:L]

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