This fine "Brown Bess" style bayonet dates 1765 to 1780 and would have fit a firearm with a small bore of perhaps .54 to .60 caliber. The likelihood is that this was made to fit an officer's or non-commissioned officer's fusil. This compiler knows of no carbine of the era, or before 1856, with such a small bore. The diameter of the 3 1/8-inch-long socket is 3/4 of an inch. The double fullered blade is 15 inches long. The overall total length is 18 1/2 inches. The blade has a deep round yet unidentified maker's sunken cartouche and above this is a stamped British crown, with evidence just below it of an inspector's number that would indicate the bayonet was not a "Commercial" purchase; this being the case the official government sanctioned use of the officer's fusil, particularly for non-commissioned officers, ceased generally by the beginning of the third quarter of the 18th century. The condition is very good. It has a gunmetal gray color and has large areas of dark patination and light pitting. The very tip is slightly corroded, but this is hardly noticeable. The bayonet could be a British military rarity, and it requires more research.     [pe][ph:L]

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