![]() ![]() This usually happened when there were not enough bayonets to go around. Remember that bayonets were sometimes made by soldiers who were in the field. The guide will also be able to tell you something about the history of the bayonet. Your reference guide will have details relating to the numbers on the bayonets and the guns that they were used with. Consult a Civil War reference guide if you are unsure.Ĭheck your Civil War reference guide for more information. Usually a four digit number represents the year, whereas a two digit number is the forger's identification number. ![]() The number can represent a maker's particular signature or the year the bayonet was made. This is particularly true of Union bayonets made outside of the East Coast (away from major cities). Sometimes there is also be a two-letter stamp on the blade of the bayonet these are the initials of the inspector. The insignia usually represents the company that made the bayonet, but will only be present if the bayonet was produced by a large company. For the Confederate side, there was only one gun: the British Enfield rifle-musket.Ĭheck to see if there is an insignia on the bayonet. For the Union side, there were two types of guns: the 1816 Flintlock Musket and the “Trapdoor” Springfield Rifle. Guns with specially designed bayonets were specific to either the Union or Confederate sides of the Civil War. ![]() Model numbers range from two to four numbers long, and sometimes also include letters. Identify the type of gun the bayonet was attached to if you have access to it. Homemade bayonets were identified by the type of scabbard used rather than by stamps or engravings on the bayonet itself. Confederate blacksmiths did not have the same degree of access to harder metals, so many Confederate bayonets were never numbered, or the numbers were worn away over time and use. Confederate bayonets were often a mix of "won" bayonets (from Union soldiers), homemade bayonets and bayonets made by blacksmiths. On the other hand, a Confederate bayonet does not have the same standardization in markings. A Union bayonet from the Civil War era will usually have the word "U.S.” on its underside, and might have a serial number engraved in the same location. Confederate and Union bayonets differ slightly in their markings. Study your bayonet to ascertain that it is indeed from the Civil War era. If your bayonet has only light, superficial damage, it will be much easier to identify, as the engraved numbers on the bayonet will be more visible. A bayonet from the Civil War that is rusty, scratched, dirty or otherwise damaged by time and use is much more difficult to identify. ![]()
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