Information on a bayonet found by my brother-in-law

[The Aluminum Monster]

Hi all. My brother in law was doing work in his father's yard and stumbled upon this bayonet while digging on the property line. Needless to say, when he was sending me the texts, I was cursing a lot yet also speechless. I must admit, I don't have a lot of knowledge in weapons and was wondering if any of you could help me with some information that I could pass along to him. About all I can tell you is that it was found in central Maine.


He didn't even need a metal detector to find this! I am going up next week for a long weekend. We have a 14 acre wooded lot we were going to start hunting but once he found this, our plans have changed and we are going to search the heck out of his dad's property.







I can pass along any questions that would make an identification easier. I work 3pm until the early morning so I don't know when I can get back to check in. Thank you all in advance for any help and happy hunting.

-Jay

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Looks like a "Brown Bess" Bayonet. That is a Banner Find!

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

Looks like a "Brown Bess" Bayonet. That is a Banner Find!

That would be incredible if that turns out to be the consensus, Terry. I texted him a research starting point on the Brown Bess and asked how old his parent's property is. They just purchased the house within the last year. It is their retirement lake house but I haven't been there before and don't have many details about the property. I will give more info when I get it! Thank you.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Killer relic, congratulations!

 

[the_mad_cladder]

Holy smokes that is cool! I’m eager to see what else y’all pull from that yard.

 

[ARC]

ok... the reason I am taking so long is because this piece is going to require me to actually reference... I was having a bit o trouble and now know why I thought I recognized it.

It REALLY looks like an Enfield type bayonet and why it "looked familiar"... but there are a few odds to it...

BBL.

 

[ARC]

Ok again... I am trying to put this one together... its odd because this ALSO resembles the US Springfield Type I C.1798-1805

Which... IF... repeat IF... this is a early Springfield... um... holy moly what a find.

Will be back once again... after dinner.

Guys... get one the search engines... solve this one.

 

[Vhoov]

I will start looking, looks a little French to me....I need a picture of the side of the blade that would be facing the barrel. Is it flat or........is there a groove.

 

[Vhoov]

Ok again... I am trying to put this one together... its odd because this ALSO resembles the US Springfield Type I C.1798-1805

Which... IF... repeat IF... this is a early Springfield... um... holy moly what a find.

Will be back once again... after dinner.

Guys... get one the search engines... solve this one.

Your right it does resemble one of those, now that I looked, just the length of the channel doesn't match.

 

[smokeythecat]

It is not a Brown Bess, that is, an English style. Can you get closer pics of the part that goes on the musket? Both the French and Americans made bayonets that have that style blade to them. The key will be the socket part.

 

[ARC]

Back.

Alum Monster... see if you can rub with a paper towel in these areas and find a mark ... examples in smaller pics.

 

[Red James Cash]

If it's British the mark would be on the blade close to the socket.Theres probably a V stamped into it.It was imported,sold to the Confederacy.Its an Enfield bayonet I believe.

 

[ARC]

Errr I might be wrong though... :P



Anyway... regardless.. he needs to verify with close ups or mark verifications...

 

[ARC]

Sorry about the RT (response time)... I had to find a good picture that "summed it up"...



scarce US M-1795 "Replacement" Bayonet - ?

 

[Vhoov]

So, I agree. I couldn't find anything specific and that led me to believe it was a copy by a local blacksmith that could produce a few things when camped.

After reading what you have found I believe you're correct AARC.

 

[ScubaDetector]

MY only PROBLEM is the FOURTH picture. It is NOT the same weapon and I have NO idea where it belongs in the scheme of things. Makes me question everything about this post.

The long bayonet looks like my Springfield trap door bayonet I found in a lake a few years ago.




Just being truthful and honest about my thoughts .

 

[the_mad_cladder]

Yeah it’s much shorter. I smell fish

 

[huntsman53]

MY only PROBLEM is the FOURTH picture. It is NOT the same weapon and I have NO idea where it belongs in the scheme of things. Makes me question everything about this post.

The long bayonet looks like my Springfield trap door bayonet I found in a lake a few years ago.

Just being truthful and honest about my thoughts .

IMHO, it is just an optical illusion that makes the bayonet appear to be different than the one pictured in pics #1 thru #3 and #5. This is due to lighting, the background, the angle that the bayonet is being held and due to the position from where the pic was taken. If the O.P.'s brother-in-law was to provide an almost identical pic of the bayonet but with a tape measure laying along side of the bayonet, it would dispel the questioning.

 

[ScubaDetector]

IMHO, it is just an optical illusion that makes the bayonet appear to be different than the one pictured in pics #1 thru #3 and #5. This is due to lighting, the background, the angle that the bayonet is being held and due to the position from where the pic was taken. If the O.P.'s brother-in-law was to provide an almost identical pic of the bayonet but with a tape measure laying along side of the bayonet, it would dispel the questioning.

NOT an illusion. LOOK at the pictures carefully. Totally different weapon. We have a long skinny bayonet and the short wide one. Absolutly IMPOSSIBLE to make one look like the other. Especially where the curve is in reference to the blade. There are TWO completely different weapons pictured here.

 

[ARC]

NOT an illusion. LOOK at the pictures carefully. Totally different weapon. We have a long skinny bayonet and the short wide one. Absolutly IMPOSSIBLE to make one look like the other. Especially where the curve is in reference to the blade. There are TWO completely different weapons pictured here.

:/ ?

Same one IMO