Richmond bayonets

[David Fox]

Anyone w/ the skill ever consider undertaking manufacture of replica Richmond unfluted spike bayonets for the M.1816, '42 and '55 musket family? One would think replica Eye-talian bayonet sockets w/ new blades would be a possibility. A guess would be there would be a market for this concept. I'd like up for one or two.

Judge David Fox

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Hi David,

I have considderd the project in the past but thought no one would be interested. It would not be too hard to do.

Don S

[Andy Ackeret]

Re: Richmond bayonets

I would also be interested if someone were making this bayonet.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Hi,

I might be interested in a Richmond bayonet. What other depots made bayonets? Thanks

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Hi,

I might be interested in a Richmond bayonet. What other depots made bayonets? Thanks

Clarification...depots typically did not produce anything, but acted as "clearinghouses" from which to coordinate the mass supply of uniforms & equipment.

For example, in Richmond: it was the Industry at Tredegar and the former Virginia Arms Manufactury that produced Cannons, Rifles, Bayonets...etc....it was the Richmond Labs that produced powder, rolled cartridges, made percussion caps and fuses...etc....which items were subsequently stored at the Richmond Arsenal.

Paul B.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification, Paul. I was not thinking, when I posted the question:D. What I was really asking was, what firms made bayonets for western Confederate troops? Where they sent though Columbus Depot? Does anyone make a reproduction of a western issue bayonet?

[PanzerJager]

Re: Richmond bayonets

I know of one guy who made one of these bayonets for himself, who's on the forum as well, using a repro socket and having a bar welded on and filing it down. He had an original he used with a calipers to get the size right. I would love to have the one he made as it's the only one I have ever seen so if some one decides to make a run of these, I would be interested.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Richmond bayonets

For example, in Richmond: it was the Industry at Tredegar and the former Virginia Arms Manufactury that produced Cannons, Rifles, Bayonets...etc....it was the Richmond Labs that produced powder, rolled cartridges, made percussion caps and fuses...etc....which items were subsequently stored at the Richmond Arsenal.

Paul B.

Paul: I looked into the bayonet thing once and arrived at the conclusion that the bayonet factory in Raleigh made the unfluted bayonets under contract to the RD. The M-55 model will fit both P53 Enfields and 55 Springfields.

I had a friend of mine make two of them for me based on a dug one I have and using repro sockets. He swore he would never do it again. It is too difficult and time consuming to taper the spike to be cost effective.

[PanzerJager]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Paul: I looked into the bayonet thing once and arrived at the conclusion that the bayonet factory in Raleigh made the unfluted bayonets under contract to the RD. The M-55 model will fit both P53 Enfields and 55 Springfields.

I had a friend of mine make two of them for me based on a dug one I have and using repro sockets. He swore he would never do it again. It is too difficult and time consuming to taper the spike to be cost effective.

Jim,

My friend who made his said the same exact thing, he said it was very time consuming filing the bayonet to the point, that's why I can't get him to make one for me, never again.

regards,

[Bummer]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Yeah, that was me...and he's right, I'd never do another one.
The problem is that when you get the bar stock welded on it is a straight parallel piece of metal. The original is of course slightly tapered all the way down--that's a LOT of filing and measuing and more filing and measuring! The only way I could think of doing it is that slow way by hand. (I'm glad I'm over my Confederate phase.)
However, if an actual mill were to produce these I bet it would be cheaper than the regular ones. Made in India of course. (Would there be that much demand?)
But if anyone decides to make one for himself, first you have to get hold of an original one--not cheap at all--for the measurements as they are skinnier than they look. I would not recommend trying to do one by 'eye' or memory without an actual one to put the calipers on.
A good winter project. Good luck.

[Jimmayo]

What Spence is talking about.

A programable grinding machine would be great. The dug bayonet came from the position of the 17th Va. Inf. on the Howlett line.

[Bill]

Re: What Spence is talking about.

Do we know how common these flat bladed bayonets were? Enfield rifles came with bayonets and you have to think the Confederate ordnance people picked up at least as many Federal bayonets as they did rifles.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Bill: I can only tell you what I have found. Out of 17 bayonets only two were Raleigh bayonets. One was for the M-55 (found on the Howlett line in the position of the 17th Va. Inf.) and the other was for the M-42 Springfield (found near Ft Harrison). All my bayonets were found in 64/65 sites and about half in CS positions. All I can say about the Raleigh bayonets is that they do show up occasionally but not nearly in the numbers of Enfield and Springfield bayonets.

One interesting observation having nothing to do with these bayonets is that I have a dug CS used Enfield which has a Springfield bayonet fixed on it. Must not have made much difference which gun you had as long as your bayonet fit.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Hi,

Jim Mayo

One interesting observation having nothing to do with these bayonets is that I have a dug CS used Enfield which has a Springfield bayonet fixed on it. Must not have made much difference which gun you had as long as your bayonet fit.

When I had a Enfield, I used a Springfield bayonet; it fits fine. Actually my Springfield bayonet fit better on my Enfield, than it did on my M1861 Springfield.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Richmond bayonets

Hallo!

The M1855 socket bayonet had a socket front outside diameter of 29/32 inches, and a socket front inside diameter of 25/32 inches.

The P1853 socket bayonet had a socket front outside diameter of 30/32 inches, and a socket front inside diameter of 25/32 inches.

(However, the non-RSAF bayonets such as those for the BSAT exports were also hand-made and not interchangeable on all "Enfields" either).

Not to seem harsh or to step on a post, but what the modern Italian and Indian reproduction bayonets do, is well.... ;)

Curt