Thanks Jon,
The chain is attached to a nipple protector.
I suspect it might be more of a Brit accessory than US...I purchased it after I purchased the gun.
The same thing for the sling which is not correct for a P-53 Enfield of the CW period.
Two different colored frogs for the P-53 bayonet scabbard...one dyed black the other not.
The two scabbards are somewhat different as well...I think.
Iron Duke,
With the presence of troops marching with the light glistening off that long blade...perhaps it was meant for intimidation???
Then you have the other end of the size spectrum ------ the U.S. Navy Dahlgren knife bayonet.
The first Knife bladed bayonet is considered to be the Model 1861 for the Plymouth / Whitneyville rifle. It is perhaps better known by its nickname the Dahlgren Bowie Bayonet, named for it inventor Admiral John A. Dahlgren.
The Whitney "Plymouth" rifle, named after the U.S.S. PLYMOUTH, a naval ordnance testing ship which had been built under Dahlgren's supervision, has the distinction of being the only U.S. contract arm to be originally rifled in .69 caliber.
The Dahlgren knife bayonet was one of two bayonets associated with the Whitney Model 1861 Percussion Navy Rifle.
"DR" hilt marking for U.S. Navy Inspector Daniel Reynolds on this 1864 dated Dahlgren bayonet.
These Dahlgren bayonets were manufactured by Ames, the same company that manufactured the swords.
An early Ames marking on a M1840 saber-dated 1845, with the earlier company identification;
N.P. Ames ,Cabotville....which eventually became Chicopee Mass. -----same place.
I guess this is what might make collecting ACW bayonets somewhat interesting.
David