Rifleman Q&A: Socket-Style Bayonet Mount

by
posted on June 17, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Socket-Style Bayonet Mount rusty metal steel iron musket carbine parts

Q: I have in my possession what appears to be an early 19th century bayonet with an offset, socket-type fixture for mounting. It measures roughly 20¾"-long, and the spike-type blade measures roughly 17½". When did the U.S. employ this type of fixture?

A: Your bayonet has a rotating locking ring to hold it in place. This feature was introduced on U.S. bayonets in 1835. Before that, they were just held in place by friction. Sometimes they were locked to a stud on the bottom part of the barrel or sometimes they were locked to the front sight, which had a square-shaped base for this purpose. The style of this locking ring on your bayonet was introduced in the early 1850s.

The shape of your blade where the “U.S.” is stamped and the style of locking band are pretty much standard from the Model of 1855 and newer. There are minor variations for the many models of U.S. muskets and rifles, so I can’t be certain of the exact gun for which your bayonet was made.

—Michael F. Carrick, Contributing Editor

Latest

Star Model B Ihtog 1
Star Model B Ihtog 1

I Have This Old Gun: Star Model B

Of the many Spanish-made firearms to emerge throughout the 19th and 20th century, one of the most recognizable is the Star Model B, largely due to its similarity to the Colt Model 1911.

New For 2025: Kimber Next Generation 1911

For its latest M1911 offering, Kimber Mfg. borrowed design elements from its double-stack 2K11 pistol to create what it calls the Next Generation 1911.

Review: Charter Arms Double Dog

Charter Arms is an American gunmaker that has offered its own versions of compact, double-action revolvers at fair prices for more than 60 years.

Rifleman Q&A: Mysterious “Broomhandle” Bring-Back

"My favorite gun is inoperable, so I have not shot it. It is one of two weapons that my dad brought back from the Philippines after World War II, the other being a sword."

New Jersey Town Supports CCW With Fee Refund

The city of Englishtown, N.J., recently made a move to reduce that financial barrier, sparking widespread optimism that a statewide, even nationwide, trend may be on the horizon.

Review: Savage Arms Revel

Lever-action rifles have experienced a revival in recent years, and Savage Arms is getting in on the act with its Revel series rimfires. To understand it, you may have to read (backward) between the lines.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.