M-1840/M-1842 Bayonet question

[Bill]

I own a US marked bayonet that fits on both the M-1840 and the M-1842 muskets. The blade is 18" long, but has "square shoulders", much like the shorter blade used on the M-1816/20 musket; rather than the tapered shoulders, that you normally see on both M-1842 & M-1855 muskets and rifle-muskets.

Is this square shouldered bayonet the "correct" one for the M-1840?

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: M-1840/M-1842 Bayonet question

Hallo!

Yes.

It sounds, sight unseen, to be the M1840 bayonet which was the last standard musket bayonet to have the sharp or "square" blade shoulders which repalced the previous generation of sixteen inch bladed M1816/22 and variants.

Previous muskets had had th bayonet lug on top of the bottom, the M1840, M1841 Cadet, and M1842 had studs under the barrel with different mounting and locking slots. The "new" M1842 eliminated the squared or sharp blade shoulders of previous forms.

Curt

[Bill]

Re: M-1840/M-1842 Bayonet question

Hallo!

Previous muskets had had th bayonet lug on top of the bottom.

Thanks Curt, for the prompt reply.

By accident, I now have the correct bayonet for my converted M-1840. It came with a repop M-1842 I purchased.

Funny, don't you hate it when your brain is going faster than your fingers can keep up! :)

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: M-1840/M-1842 Bayonet question

Hallo!

My brain works at the Speed of Light. My fingers at the Speed of Sound.

:(

Click, click. click...click...

Curt

[Bill]

Re: M-1840/M-1842 Bayonet question

Hallo!

My brain works at the Speed of Light. My fingers at the Speed of Sound.

Curt

LOL,

Thanks again!