Invalid Corps rifles and bayonets

[Misfit45]

I had not heard of the Invalid Corps until a few days ago. I ran across a nice 1855 socket bayonet with "I.C." marked above the U-S. I was told that this was an Invalid Corps bayonet. Has anyone heard of this marking on rifles and/or bayonets?
Marv

 

[WJC]

I had not heard of the Invalid Corps until a few days ago. I ran across a nice 1855 socket bayonet with "I.C." marked above the U-S. I was told that this was an Invalid Corps bayonet. Has anyone heard of this marking on rifles and/or bayonets?
MarvView attachment 171544

I have heard of the Invalid Corps, but have never heard that their weapons were specifically marked....

 

[johan_steele]

I would question that... it just doesn't look right.

 

[Don Dixon]

The stamps "I.C." was used for U.S. Army property which had been "inspected and condemned." The handicapped troops of the invalid Corps objected to the Invalid Corps being called the Invalid Corps because other troops joked that they had been "inspected and condemned." This resulted in the name being changed to the "Veteran Reserve Corps."

Regards,
Don Dixon

 

[JOHN42768]

The stamps "I.C." was used for U.S. Army property which had been "inspected and condemned." The handicapped troops of the invalid Corps objected to the Invalid Corps being called the Invalid Corps because other troops joked that they had been "inspected and condemned." This resulted in the name being changed to the "Veteran Reserve Corps."

Regards,
Don Dixon

Make a lot of sense

 

[UCVRelics]

Merry Christmas and Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie. I have to agree with all of the above. No such markings for the Invalid Corp.

 

[Misfit45]

I thank you for all the response. I too am skeptical of the marking meaning Invalid Corps. On the other hand, I would also think that the IC would not be "Inspected and Condemned". Two reasons: the bayonet itself is in near perfect condition, and if a socket bayonet was no good, they would more likely than not, throw it in a scrap barrel rather than take the time to stamp it.
I would love more comments, thanks.
Marv
One more thought. Would it be possible, that the condemned equipment was given to the Invalid Corps for their use, hence the reason for them being called "Inspected and Condemned"?

 

[Don Dixon]

On the other hand, I would also think that the IC would not be "Inspected and Condemned". Two reasons: the bayonet itself is in near perfect condition, and if a socket bayonet was no good, they would more likely than not, throw it in a scrap barrel rather

One reached a point where this socket bayonet, no matter its condition, would no longer fit any weapons in the Army's inventory. At that time it became surplus. It was marked with I.C. before auctioning it off so that the purchaser would not be accused of stealing it. One finds similar property disposal marks on ordnance disposed of by the European armies of the same period.

It has nothing to do with the Invalid Corps.

Regards,
Don Dixon

 

[Misfit45]

I guess we can agree that the I.C. marking has nothing to do with the Invalid Corps. Here's a pic of the socket. If this is an Inspected and Condemned bayonet, and it could not be fit to a rifle, then we would have to have the exact measurements of the inside diameter and length of the socket and the muzzle length of the slot to try to determine why it would not fit. Certainly there is nothing at first glance that would give us a clue as to why it might have been considered unusable.
Maybe the I.C. simply stands or Irving Cravitts, or maybe Ichabod Crane. Thanks again for your comments.
Marv

 

[UCVRelics]

What @Don Dixon is eluding to is the fact when the US Army sold it, it had to me marked some how so that anyone buying knew that the seller had legally acquired it and not stolen it from the US Army. The same holds true today if you go to a DOD DRMO sale and buy a hmmwv. They don't stamp it IC but the stamps on the milspec tag are proof of purchase from the US Army.

 

[Misfit45]

Do you then believe that the I. C. on this bayonet is indeed the Inspected and Condemned mark? I would be quite satisfied if that were the case. I think that would be a great piece of history. However, my question then would be, why would we not see hundreds of Civil War bayonets marked with I.C.?
Marv

 

[Michael W.]

I would pass it by. You can get a good, authentic CW bayonet for 125-150 bucks. That's the safe bet.

 

[UCVRelics]

Do you then believe that the I. C. on this bayonet is indeed the Inspected and Condemned mark? I would be quite satisfied if that were the case. I think that would be a great piece of history. However, my question then would be, why would we not see hundreds of Civil War bayonets marked with I.C.?
Marv

Because they were exported for sale to other nations army.

 

[Misfit45]

Because they were exported for sale to other nations army.

I had no idea! US Springfield rifles and bayonets were exported to other countries? Wow!

I had another theory. Since this 1855 bayonet is a Type I, there might be a possibility that the disposal of this bayonet may have occurred before the War, at a time when proper protocol was more likely to be adhered to, i.e. before the chaotic times ahead where protocol might go out the window.
Marv

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Do some research on the number of US arms sold to France for the Franco-Prussian War, you will be absolutely amazed at how many obsolete US arms went to Europe!
J.

 

[johan_steele]

I had no idea! US Springfield rifles and bayonets were exported to other countries? Wow!

I had another theory. Since this 1855 bayonet is a Type I, there might be a possibility that the disposal of this bayonet may have occurred before the War, at a time when proper protocol was more likely to be adhered to, i.e. before the chaotic times ahead where protocol might go out the window.
Marv

It would not have been disposed of as surplus until after the ACW. Prior to the war the M1855 series of arms was considered a first rate arm none went onto the surplus market.

The M1855 series of bayonets were meant to fit on a weapon in .58. Later the .50-70 & .45-70 service arms could use the same bayonet if the socket was sleeved and many were.

As weapons became obsolete they were condemned and sold off. The M1855 series of arms would serve on in the US military up until the early 1870's when they finally completely replaced by the Trapdoor Springfield. M1863 & 64 rifle muskets were still in the hands of the Regulars as late as 1875. Other arms had as much or more longevity. M1863 Sharps as well as Spencer carbines were still on active issue as late as the mid 1880's.

The US became a major arms supplier worldwide after the ACW w/ arms ending up in all corners of the world.

To quote an old friend who knew what he was talking about: "It's only obsolete if it doesn't kill you."

 

[Craig L Barry]

IC stamped (as Don Dixon states) means "inspected and condemned." Eli Whitney had a regular cottage industry selling their "good and serviceable arms not subject to inspection by gauges" out of what might politely be called condemned parts.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

If I recall correctly, Whitney was one of the purchasers of surplus and condemned parts who complained to the Government that the condemned "C" was too large and obvious on those parts. He requested they use a smaller stamp and to locate it to places not so obvious!
J.

 

[Package4]

I had not heard of the Invalid Corps until a few days ago. I ran across a nice 1855 socket bayonet with "I.C." marked above the U-S. I was told that this was an Invalid Corps bayonet. Has anyone heard of this marking on rifles and/or bayonets?
MarvView attachment 171544

I question the legitimacy of the marking itself, very few US government stamps were individually struck, as this obviously was, even the periods were struck separately. The marking looks spurious to me......

 

[Package4]

No sooner than I posted this (above) I saw another such marking on a Model 1861 Norris Clement Musket on Harry Ridgeway's site. The C is identical and seems to be the exact stamp used on the bayonet. Harry states that these were condemned parts used for a Massachusetts contract.