BAYONET SCABBARDS AND MUSKET MARKINGS

07/28/2013

On this page I will show some different types of reproduction and original bayonet scabbards.

The lower part of the page contains pictures of some original muskets with period owner markings.

For those trying to buy the correct style Federal scabbard, here is some help to date your scabbard to the desired time period.

1840 to circa 1859 the frog was sewn to the scabbard.

In 1859 two rivets were added for strength until early 1863.

In February 1863 the seven rivet frog was approved.

In 1864 the eight rivet scabbard came on the scene.

As a general rule, Confederates using Union scabbards should stick to the sewn frog or two rivet scabbards unless demonstrating captured equipment.Six and seven rivet scabbards were not in use until 1863 and would be incorrect for use in early war events for CS or US.

This is an early war, (two rivet) Union Bayonet Scabbard with a Springfield bayonet. It belonged to Cpl. Oliver Godfrey of the 14th New Hampshire Inf. Regiment. This scabbard is a US arsenal manfactured scabbard for an Austrian bayonet. The scabbard has four sides and is longer to accomodate the Lorenz bayonet. It is unknown if this scabbard was issued with the springfield bayonet but wear marks indicate that the bayonet has been in this scabbard for a long time. His belt, cap box and cartridge box are shown on the Union Equipment page.

Here are two reproduction Confederate bayonet scabbards made by Butch Myers. Brass was scarce in the Confederacy and other materials were often used for bayonet scabbard tips. The upper tin tipped scabbard is shown carrying an Enfield bayonet.

CS MADE SCABBARD WITH ENFIELD BAYONET

Shown above is a CS manufactured scabbard which was recently discovered in North Carolina still containing it's original P-53 Enfield bayonet. The lead finial was with the scabbard but had fallen out. Notice the blueing still left on the bayonet's socket. It is shown resting on a Keen made London enfield which also retains much of it's original blueing. There are no markings on the scabbard and the only mark on the bayonet are what appears to be two initials which are so deeply stamped and so very small that they can't be read.These could be the inspectors initials.

Here are three two rivet scabbards showing the stitching on the back.  To the right are the frog ends. It should be noted that the Jarnagin scabbard is one of his older ones and his hand sewn scabbards look much better. This picture courtsey of Matt Nelson.

This original scabbard was used with the M-1816 (or M1822) conversion muskets and came into existance around the 1840s. The scabbard takes a 16 inch blade.

ENFIELD BAYONET WITH FROG:  This is a P-53 Enfield bayonet and scabbard with the most correct type frog. P-53 bayonet scabbards normally used a sewn frog with no buckle. The Enfield sabre bayonets used the frog with a buckled strap however evidence exist that some P-53 scabbards used the buckle frog. It appears that both type frogs were imported for use by both sides. This scabbard is came with a Birmingham Small Arms Trade (BSAT) marked bayonet inside. There are no marks visible on the scabbard. This bayonet and scabbard came from Massachusetts and shows the appropriate patina for being in an attic for 140+ years. Notice how dirty the brass throat is. This one surely saw the elephant and is not one from Canada or the British Colonies.

Birmingham Small Arms Trade stamping on bayonet along with inspectors initials WB.

BSAT marking on a Salter & Co. P53 bayonet. Most P-53 bayonets will have two initials stamped into the bayonet. These are the inspectors initials.

The Enfield scabbard throat shown right was dug from a Confederate position in Petersburg. If you look closely, you can see where the soldier filed out the corners so that his Springfield bayonet would fit this enfield scabbard. I have a Springfield and Enfield musket dug from the same Petersburg trench. Both are mounted with Springfield bayonets indicating that some Confederates fixed their muskets with any bayonet as long as it would fit.

Shown above are four Gaylord scabbard tips and an enfield scabbard tip. All were dug around the Richmond / Petersburg area.

The below picture shows an Enfield bayonet in pristine condition. This picture came off of e-bay and shows that the sockets were blued and the blades were left bright. Over the past 140 or so years the bluing has worn off most of these bayonets as indicated by the one pictured above. The "WD" and broad arrow markings can be seen on the scabbard indicating the bayonet probably never saw action in the American CW.

MARK YOUR MUSKET ??

Shown below are some original Civil War Muskets marked by their owners. There is little doubt several of these were period markings and not added after the war. Carvings in stocks were sometimes added by the owners after the war. Usually there is no way to determine if the carvings were done during or after the war.

The soldiers initials "G A H" are scratched into the upper left inside surface of this Mississippi Patch Box cover. This cover was found in Petersburg proving that Mississippi Rifles were being used in the later part of the war.

This enfield butt plate at right was dug in two parts in Petersburg. " B.68" is marked in the brass.  The markings could have stood for Co. B, rack number 68.

Look in the upper part of the stock where the shine is and you will see a lightly carved "18 th" with "SC" underneath. This enfield stock was pulled from a bombproof at the Crater in 1869 by a Miss Sadie Wiley of Richmond. The 18th SC was the unit blown up in the Crater. It may be note worthy that this stock was part of a London Armory Enfield and the date stamped on the stock is 1862.

Another Pattern 1853 Enfield used by John Kersay, Company B of the 9th Va. Inf. This Enfield was found in an old house being torn down in Norfolk, Va. The stock makers name is in the ramrod channel but I can not make it out.

Here is another Confederate used musket with wartime markings. The markings consist of the soldiers name, "J H Crunk" followed by the date of "Oct 20th 1862".Crunk was a member of Company B, 18th Tenn. He was captured at Ft. Donaldson, released and rejoined his regiment in Oct 1862. He was later killed at Marietta Georgia in 1864 while opposing some of Sherman's New Yorkers. One of them must have taken Crunk's Model 1842 musket back to New York where it later surfaced and found it's way to the Richmond Show in Nov 03.

Marked M-1841 Mississippi. This stamped butt plate identifies the rifle to Company C of the 46th Mass. The number 12 may designate that the 12th man in company C received this musket. If that is the case it was used by Private Thomas I. Campbell, res. Westfield; 21; mechanic; enl. Sept. 24, 1862, must. out. July 29, 1863. The 46th was a nine months regt. and spent most of its service in North Carolina. This Mississippi has been converted to use a socket bayonet via the Drake conversion.

This M-1842 Harpers Ferry belonged to John Henderson of Company H, 25th Maine Infantry. The right most character seems to be a sideways 25. The 25th Maine was a 9 month regiment and musted out prior to Gettysburg in 1863. Carved Union identifications are not as common as their CS counterparts.

See more equipment by visiting the pages below: