Picket Pin, exactly what is it?

[djknife13]

I have picked up a picket pin scabard and looked on line to see just exactly it is meant to hold. It came with a bayonet and the seller said he just stuck that in it and they didn't come together. On line the scabards pictured showed them with bayonets nearly identical to the one, a WW2 vintage US with 1900 stamped on the Mark side. I also found referance to a European tomahawk type weapon but they appear to be much larger than this 13 inch long scabard. I will download pictures when I have time to wait out my slow computer's ability to show them.

[djknife13]

I did another on-line search and this time found referance to a civil war era "pin" thing with a ring on top that would fit into my scabard and was used to tie the horse to. This is starting to make sense to me.

[jerryd6818]

You may have already seen what this fella on the "Krag Collectors Forum" had to say about it.

"At least in theory a "picket pin scabbard" mated with a Krag bayonet has some problems.

• Picket Pins were used by the cavalry (to stake out their horses - J.D.).
• Cavalry troops were armed with carbines that did not/could not use a bayonet.
• Stories that the rifle bayonets were issued to cav troops in liew of a knife are without basis.
• During the so-called Krag period, the picket pin, which is the purpose of the scabbard, was wrapped in the picket rope and didn't need a scabbard.

Finally, the "scabbard for the Krag bayonet" sold a lot of surplus leather. (what the hell does he mean by that? J.D.) "

So having never heard of a "Picket Pin" before this moment, from what he had to say, it appears that "picket pin" mated with "scabbard" would be a misnomer and the "scabbard" (sheath - scabbards are for swords) would actually be for a bayonet. I look forward to seeing a picture.

Any of the pictures here look like yours? -- https://www.google.com/search?q=picket+ ... d=0CB0QsAQ

Maybe someone more knowledgeable than I will come along and give us the true scoop.

[djknife13]

Jerry, Yes that's what it looks like in those pictures. A bayonet dealer a the Duluth show told me they were rare and worth about $200. I saw one last night on EBay for a "buy it now" price of $44. There's alot of information out there on these things, and a little bit of it is actual. Thanks for your answer. Dave

[98src]

The picket pin scabbard indeed held the picket pin which was all steel with one end tapered and a little claw hammer on the other end. I have seen many KRAG bayonets in the picket pin scabbards, but they were not issued that way. Probably a Bannerman expedient.....KRAG bayonets, but no scabbards , and picket pin scabbards but no picket pins.