In November of 1862 correspondence appears with the Confederate Ordnance Department regarding the production of a new pattern of socket bayonet that was referred to as the “3-Square”. This new bayonet was to be made at the Richmond Arsenal and had a three-sided triangular blade with all sides flat, without any flute in the face or fluting along the two angled sides. From a construction standpoint the bayonet was to be made primarily of wrought iron with a “steel tip. The Confederate system used iron not only for the socket and shank but for a portion of the blade, with only the last part of the blade made of steel. The lack of machined flutes in the blade saved time and skilled labor.

While the Richmond 3-Square Bayonet has traditionally been thought of as strictly an arsenal produced item, other correspondence indicates that raw materials were being provided by the arsenal to contractors who were producing 3-Square bayonets. It is not clear if the contractors were providing finished bayonets or simply rough forged bayonets that were then ground and polished at the arsenal.

This is the 1855, .58 caliber style, made with a slightly oversized socket that measured nominally 0.79” at the muzzle, to more easily allow it to work on both Springfield and Enfield pattern arms. The bayonet itself measures approximately 20.75” long overall with an 18” blade and 2.9” socket. The blade is quite narrow compared to a typical M-1855 pattern blade. This is a complete specimen, although heavily pitted overall and looks to have been somewhat cleaned. The locking ring still moves.

A complete example of a scarce Richmond 3-Square .58 Caliber Socket Bayonet. These do not appear on the market very often and are highly prized by collectors of Confederate arms. This would be a wonderful addition to your Richmond Arsenal C&R (Cleaned & Repaired) .58 caliber rifle musket. [jet] [ph:L]

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