Mystery trapdoor bayonet

[G.W. Strong]

I recently got a bayonet for my trapdoor Springfield and it is not marked US. is fits tightly about halfway on to the end of the barrel but will not go on all the way. That got me to thinking, perhaps it is not a US bayonet and if so, what could it be? It looks identical to all the US marked ones and it measures the same. Any thoughts?

[Pitspitr]

Imported repro?

I got a few about 15 years ago and you really couldn't tell the difference at a little distance, but it took some filing to get them on a rifle. In fact my trowel bayonet is one of them.

[FTrooper]

The not US marked is what gets me.  IS it blued or bare metal?  There are alot of Martini Henry bayonets floating around as well as various foreign socket bayonets for things like Remington Rolling Blocks, etc. 

If it is not blued, or doesn't show signs of ever being blued I would go with foreign.

To echo Pitspitr, I have seen original bayonets that fit one or two rifles great, but try and put them on a third and fourth and it just won't go...so much for "interchangeable" parts.

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Delmonico]

In fact my trowel bayonet is one of them.

What an idea for a stage at the muster, you have to dig a rifle pit with a trowel bayonet before you shoot, or perhaps bury a dead trooper.

[G.W. Strong]

It was certainly blued in its working life and shows genuine age with some pitting where the bayonet was out of the scabbard. The pitting is heaviest where the US should be and it is possible the US is obscured by pitting though I do not think it is there. It could be a repro but it looks authentically aged. I think that would be way too much work to go to in order to fake a $20 bayonet. but it is a possibility.

It came with a scabard that fits well. The leather is mostly gone but there are still a couple of chunks attached.

I have Martini and Enfield bayonets and it is not one of them.

[FTrooper]

Sounds legit to me.  It may just require some fitting.  Age can also play havoc with metals and they can swell, contract, or the socket can be just warped enough that we can't tell, but the rifle can!   

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[FTrooper]

Del,

That would be a fun competition.  Give the guys a time, and see who can get the deepest hole dug with either a trowel bayonet, M1873 Hagner Tool, or M1881 Knife!   

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[pony express]

Del,

That would be a fun competition.  Give the guys a time, and see who can get the deepest hole dug with either a trowel bayonet, M1873 Hagner Tool, or M1881 Knife!   

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

Might work ok in the SANDhills, but I don't think any of the three would make a hole very fast in my Ozarks limestone!

[FTrooper]

I have to say, I used to work out at Fort McKavett, Texas...both the M1873 Trowel Bayonet and the M1873 Hagner Tool were tested there side by side, the amazing thing to me is that the whole area is limestone and big rocks abound...I am sure there are broken pieces of those things all over that area, just under the surface!

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[G.W. Strong]

I have to say, I used to work out at Fort McKavett, Texas...both the M1873 Trowel Bayonet and the M1873 Hagner Tool were tested there side by side, the amazing thing to me is that the whole area is limestone and big rocks abound...I am sure there are broken pieces of those things all over that area, just under the surface!

Time to get out the metal detector!

[G.W. Strong]

Sounds legit to me.  It may just require some fitting.  Age can also play havoc with metals and they can swell, contract, or the socket can be just warped enough that we can't tell, but the rifle can!   

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

I did a little fitting and removed some thick rust from inside the socket. It fits perfectly now.

[Grapeshot]

I recently got a bayonet for my trapdoor Springfield and it is not marked US. is fits tightly about halfway on to the end of the barrel but will not go on all the way. That got me to thinking, perhaps it is not a US bayonet and if so, what could it be? It looks identical to all the US marked ones and it measures the same. Any thoughts?

I bought a Reproduction Civil War Springfield Bayonet to stick on the end of an 1874 Sharps Infantry Rifle.  It was to tight but some judicious use of a dremell tool with a sanding drum I managed to open the socket so it would fit over the barrel and front sight and lock in place.  Same Bayonet now works on the end of my Pedersoli Trapdoor.

[G.W. Strong]

All hail the power of the dremell!
Mine fits now too.