Bayonet socket - What model is it? Civil War/Indian Wars era

[Ifyndit]

Hi All,

Found this bayonet socket at and early 1850's Indian War fort site while digging a trash pit. I haven't been able to ID this style as it appears the bayonet would have been inserted into the socket and not made as one piece.

Any experts out there know this model/style bayonet socket? I would love to find out more information.

Thanks!

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

Please use a digital caliper to measure the exact diameter of the socket's INTERIOR, and tell us its measurement. That will tell us the diameter of the gunbarrel it fit onto, which will help to identify it. For example, we civil war diggers use the "penny in the socket" test. If a penny fits into the socket, the bayonet is civil war era or earlier. If the penny won't fit, the bayonet is postwar, and most likely a US model-1873 "Government" .45-70 Rifle bayonet.

 

[Ifyndit]

Thanks for the info. A penny drops through with room to spare so I tried a nickel and it almost fits but is just a hair to large. I don't have a digital caliper but it did measure the inside diameter with an old fashion caliper and the diameter is 21mm. Hopefully this will help narrow down the model/style of the socket.

 

[Ifyndit]

I think I found the bayonet socket. It appears to be very similar to the 1842 Springfield Fencing bayonet socket pictured.