Percussion conversions of the US Model 1816 musket saw extensive use in the Civil War, particularly in the early years of the war, with perhaps a longer service life in the western theatre. This is the regulation bayonet for those muskets, immediately identifiable by the T-shaped slot for the bayonet stud mounted on the muzzle of the barrel. This one was found in a barn at Antietam, likely an early battlefield pick-up tossed in the barn by a farmer to get it out of the way. It shows as a deep brown with considerable pitting, but not much loss to the edges, just a few shallow chips, and an intact point with some gray metal showing faintly. The blade has no bends or breaks. The socket is good as well, with an intact bridge and no dents or distortion.   The US marking on the face of the blade is very good. There is a character stamped underneath this, but the pitting makes it tough to read. Reilly, American Socket Bayonets, lists no fewer than 26 known inspectors for this pattern and admits there were likely more. With more than 500,000 M1816 muskets produced between 1816 and 1844, the bayonets, like the guns, are a collecting field of their own. This one has a good  association with one of the best known, and bloodiest, battles of the war.  [sr][ph:L]

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