2 Band Enfield Bayonets

[jppard]

I see recently on this thread about Mississippi rifles being modifed for a standard bayonet. Was the same true for the 1858 two band Enfield?

J. Michael Perry

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 2 Band Enfield Bayonets

Hallo!

Not that I have ever encountered or read about.

Some of the M1841's ended up with a socket or sabre bayonet because the intent was to "modernize" the as-made M1841 to be on a par with the new M1855 Rifle.
While not universal, this was done in a variety of ways by adding a long range or short range rear sight and some provision for mounting a bayonet (NUG by the adding of an M1855 Rifle type barrel lug, turning down the barrel,
adding an M1842 socket bayonet, or adding a barrel clamp with lug for a sabre bayonet.
And, typically, reboring them to .58 (but not always).

The most common Enfield rifle was the P1856 Short Rifle which already had a sabre bayonet. Often when purchased in England, the arms came as a "stand" of arms that included a bayonet.

Curt

[OldKingCrow]

Re: 2 Band Enfield Bayonets

The 58 Enfield Naval pattern rifle itself isn't correct.

[pipthelimey]

Re: 2 Band Enfield Bayonets

On a side note, there was an Enfield "sergeant's fusil" which was identical to 1853 but had a 33" barrel and had the butt mounted sling swivel. It was Designed for a socket bayonet. At least 3 known "G" marked examples, I believe Jim Mayo has an original.

[Jimmayo]

Re: 2 Band Enfield Bayonets

On a side note, there was an Enfield "sergeant's fusil" which was identical to 1853 but had a 33" barrel and had the butt mounted sling swivel. It was Designed for a socket bayonet. At least 3 known "G" marked examples, I believe Jim Mayo has an original. [ATTACH=CONFIG]48669[/ATTACH]

Andrew: Upon close examination I found evidence of a lug attachment. It's really hard to see and you have to know exactly where to look and get the light just right.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 2 Band Enfield Bayonets

Hallo!

We are talking about the rifled P56 "Sergeants' Fusil."

It did take an 18 inch socket bayonet.

On July 27, 1857, 10,000 were ordered from the Birmingham makers. They went to sergeants of ''native regiments" in India and by March 1858 8,198 were delivered. Due to shifting circumstances in India no further contracts were given., and the balance of 1,802 were delivered into store by the end of March 1859.
As part of the "policy" not to differentiate the outward appearance in arms between British and "native" infantry regiments but have the Indian regiments armed with inferior arms- there was also a smoothbore version of the P58 Sergeants Fusil authorized in December of 1858. In January 1859 an order was placed 4,034 with London makers and another 12,966 with Birmingham makers.
Field use of the smoothbore fusil proved the barrel to be too weak, and in April 1865 a new pattern with a thicker barrel wall was ordered to be made at Enfield.

Both the (Indian service) rifled P56 Sergeants Fusil and the P58 smoothbore Sergeants Fusil are considered small numbers and not significant so they NUG, typically, do not make it into Enfield reference books too much.

Curt



The Indian Sergeants' Fusil mounted an 18 inch socket bayonet