Bayonet

[Willy]

Im not sure what rifle it go's on but the bayonet is in good shape... Has a leather and brass hook to hold it on the belt with US on it.... Blade is in a triangle shape.. If anyone knows the age or type of rifle it was used on please let me know...

[Gunsmoke47]

Hey Willy, looks like a bayonet and scabbard for a .45/70 Springfield. cirrca. 1872-1884 I believe. Hope this helps, Kelley

PS. Whats the story on it? I am an Indian Wars era collector of sorts and am always looking for this era artifact.

[Willy]

PS. Whats the story on it? I am an Indian Wars era collector of sorts and am always looking for this era artifact.

I got it from my grandmother and since Im a grandpa now that was a long time ago.. I was told back then it was past down in the family.. But you know how that go's.. I wish I knew the history but yopu gave me a clue with the rifle it fit... I assume the brass loop is to hook it too your belt.. Was this a infantry weapon? I didnt know they used bayonets during the indian wars but looks like it would be hard to ride a horse with that thing banging on your leg.

[Hukk]

Nice to see you posting again Willy! Nice looking bayonet, I gave my last one to my son. That one was relatively new, a WWII from the Tokyo armory.

[Willy]

Howdy Hukk.. I visit all the time but figured I needed to post a few things... Hows the Bulldog collecting going? Nothing new here..I havnt bought any knives in a long time but still have a pretty big collection.. Going to traveling to Asia next month.. Maybe Ill find something over there that needs to come home with me...

[Gunsmoke47]

Hi Willy, yes the brass hook did fit over the belt. There was a slightly earlier version where the belt went through the leather frog. Infantry did still carry bayonets in the Indian Wars period. Cavalry did not. However, the Cavalry did use a .45/70 it was a carbine instead of a rifle.

Hi Hukk, the one you gave to your son didn't look like Willy's did it??

[Hukk]

No, The one I gave my son was quite different. It had the 3 circles of the Tokyo Armory. I think they made millions, but not many survived WWII. The name of the rifle it fit escapes me at the moment - common WWII Japanese rifle.

[Mossdancer]

Hi Willy:
There were about 30 different socket bayonets made(Used in U.S.). If you can find a copy of bayonets from Jantzens notebook it would help you. Short of that you could post copious photos of all angles of your treasure. The belt hanger is called a frog. Is the bayonet itself blued. If so that put it up to a model 1873 or after, the tell seems to be in the socket itself. There should be marking on the knife the sheath and the frog. You might be able to find the book in a Library or look up the Jantzen collection. I don't know if it is online or not. As the gentleman above alluded to, you might look up the Indian Territory Collectors. Bayonets went back at least to Napolean Bonapartes time(15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) as he uttered the statement "you can do anything with a bayonet except sit on it."
The market for some of this type Bayonet can be good, you do have the three important parts.
Good Luck,
moss

[Willy]

Thanks for all of the information... The blade of this bayonet is blued and on the tang of the blade US is stamped.. On the back of the frog is stamped R.I.A. ..

I was in the infantry in Vietnam and served in the 9th Infantry Regiment "Manchus" ..Thats our insignia by my name .. Our unit has seen action in every war this nation has had since 1800.. And of course fought in the indian wars in Washinton and Wyoming in 1856.... And for some reason I always picture horses in the mix... I guess Ive seen to many cowboy movies .. Anyway nice to know I have a grunts bayonet anyway.. ..

Since I mentioned Vietnam I need to post a picture of my most valuble knife (at least to me) ..Its a Camillus K Bar. I bought it in Hawaii and sharped it for 20 days aboard the USS Walker troop ship.. Not as wacko as it sounds.. I just didnt have anything else to do in my spare time except watch the ocean go by, play poker and think to much.. But the knife served me well for a year in combat and will be given to my son at some point......

[Hukk]

Thanks for all of the information... The blade of this bayonet is blued and on the tang of the blade US is stamped.. On the back of the frog is stamped R.I.A.

That would be Rock Island Arsenal I think!

[jonet143]

thanks for sharing your story...and thanks for your service to our country.

[Willy]

thanks for sharing your story...and thanks for your service to our country.

Thanks for that jonet.. I still get a strange feeling when people say that to me.. Ive always said the roughest part of that war was coming home... I started school at Cal State Fullerton within a month of returning home.. that was in 1967/68.. Not a good time to brag about being a vet on a college campus. So like most vets of the time I put it to the back of my mind and started working.. But that was then..

Next month I am going to take my son to Vietnam and show him where I was when I was 18.. Should be a interesting trip.. Not my first time back but his first.. Its a better trip now on a wide body jet instead of a troop ship....

Rock Island Arsenal Hukk? I figured it might be regular issue army... But I just made a google search on it and I think your right..

[Mossdancer]

Willy:
My thanks also for your service for all of us.

I seems that Hukk had it nailed from the start.

I do not show RIA as making that particular Bayonet(the 1873) so the frog may have been from a separate rigging.

I am showing some text and the photo that goes with it, you should be able to I.D. the socket if it is this model. The brass frog may be worth more money than the sheath and blade combined. I did say may because sometimes that is the case.
moss
Edit for add: Willy I was in school off and on from 1966 to 1975 and I can relate to what you said on Campus so I just blustered up and shoved it down their throats. After awhile it wasn't mentioned to me or any of the other Vets, we had a tank commander amongst us who was just meaner than snot.

[Willy]

Thanks Moss Dance... Sounds like we had the same type of exprience.. My biggest problem at the time wasnt students.. I didnt hang around with them or attend any anti war rallys so I was ok for the most part from them.. The professors and instructors were another story.. They had my records and knew all.. I had more than one refuse to have me in there class.. Or at least made it clear I wouldnt pass if I was.. all seems like a real long time ago... Guess it was...

Guess I better say something about knives since its a knife forum.. that chart helped.. I checked the bayonet over and cant find any more marking .. The frog is attached just like the drawing shows with the square rivet punched in it... The scabbard and blade look like they belong together and they both have the same patina.. the locking part of the bayonet still works good and the blueing looks new.. at least no rust on the blade..I see that the one with US on it is the only one with the brass frog or belt loop?..

I have to admit this would be a nasty weapon coming at you..its long enough to go thru and then some.. thanks again for the help... Im going to print it all out and keep it with the bayonet..