Bayonet decision

[BlackJack10]

I recently discovered the saber bayonet that reportedly was issued with short rifles, especially the Mississippi and the short Enfield, the two rifles I have. I've found a source for a saber bayonet and am sorely tempted.

The real issue is I'm not set on a reenactment unit or persona yet so I'm wondering if I might be boxing myself in too much by going in that direction instead of getting a more common triangle bayonet.

Thoughts, suggestions, criticisms and general outbursts are respectfully solicited.

 

[redbob]

The sword bayonet was a throwback to the time when Riflemen actually used it as a sword and a bayonet. They lost favor because they tended to make the rifle front heavy and unwieldly to handle.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

BlackJack10 - if you are interested in pursuing reenacting, be aware that the short rifles are mostly frowned upon by the event promoters, etc. The reason being that when firing by rank they are too short and end up being too close to the face of the person in the front rank.
J.

 

[BlackJack10]

Why not just put short rifles in the front rank, or out on skirmish? Just curious.

 

[johan_steele]

Also note there were a variety of different sabre bayonets. M1841 had several different models, French another, Brit had two different models, Austrian another etc.

 

[redbob]

Why not just put short rifles in the front rank, or out on skirmish? Just curious.

During the Civil War, the 2 band Enfield (the sergeant's model) was used by many Confederate skirmisher/sharpshooter/sniper units because of the ease of using them in the brush in advance of their units.

 

[redbob]

During the Civil War, the 2 band Enfield (the sergeant's model) was used by many Confederate skirmisher/sharpshooter/sniper units because of the ease of using them in the brush in advance of their units.

I like your avatar, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with VMI in the background.

 

[BlackJack10]

I like your avatar, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with VMI in the background.

Not to mention "old Blue Light."

 

[redbob]

Not to mention "old Blue Light."

True.

 

[Specster]

Also note there were a variety of different sabre bayonets. M1841 had several different models, French another, Brit had two different models, Austrian another etc.

I have a French saber bayonet. When I bought it I thought it was going to be interchangable with the Mississippi. It is not but you can see where the design came from. I was in a situation where I had to buy it or loose the opportunity. When I bought it I at least hoped it may have been used in the ACW. In actuality it was made about a decade later. Still a nice bayonet. The French, and others, made scads..

 

[Jobe Holiday]

A friend recently purchased a very rare Mississippi variant, one of the long range sight types with a bayonet lug. The rifle came with a French M-1842 brass hilt saber bayonet that fit it perfectly! No modifications had been done to either the rifle or bayonet.
J.

 

[BlackJack10]

Well the one I'm looking at is a repro at Regimental Quartermaster here in Gettysburg. It's a silvery finish with a wood looking handle and fortunately they have an Enfield right there so I can verify it fits. My Mississippi is a .54 with no lug and I'm not sure I want to mess with it. If I get the saber, it will hang on the wall on the Enfield, and the Mississippi will just have to hang next to my old D-handle Bowie knife--a likely combination back in the day anyway. Thanks to all for thoughts and advice.

 

[Specster]

My M1866 Chassepot bayonet. Similar to Mississippi ?

 

[Specster]

 

[redbob]

Very much so except for the curved bottom piece ,also close to an Enfield as far as the blade goes, it is the yataghan style which was a double curved style which was also favored by the French.

 

[johan_steele]

US sabre bayonets along w/ French & Austrian

 

[johan_steele]

P56, P58 & P60 bayonets.

 

[Camp Randall Armory]

Go for it! The Confederacy was a big proponent of 2-band rifles and tried to issue a sword bayonet with each rifle. I say tried as there was never enough to go around. The rifle can be used in two ranks as Hardee originally intended, although it is true there are a lot of farbs who don't like them because they are poorly trained and think they are dangerous for the rear rank to use. Also note originally the M1841 didn't have a bayonet lug, but when armories starting modifying them they frequently had one added.

 

[Chattahooch33]

I've been reenacting for a decade and have never seen a saber bayonet so yes, you would stand out. Standing out is the last thing you want for authenticity.

 

[Don Dixon]

None-the-less, Austro-Hungarian Kammerbuchsen ("Garibaldi's") and Jaeger's were issued with and carried with saber bayonets. They're just not widely carried by reenactors -- so much for authenticity -- although they were widely carried during the first two years of the war.

Regards,
Don Dixon