UCVRelics
Brevet Brigadier General
Forum Host
Gold Patron
Regtl. Quartermaster Shiloh 2020
Asst. Regtl. Quartermaster Antietam 2021
Regtl. Quartermaster Stones River / Franklin 2022
- Joined
- May 7, 2016
- Location
- Alabama
As everyone knows, when the CW broke out the South was woefully short of military grade weapons. The immediate solution was soldiers bring their long guns and shotguns with them. As early as August of 1861 the shotguns long term use was foreseen; Captain of Ordnance Wm. R. Hunt wrote to the Secretary of War from Memphis, recommending that contracts be let for 10,000 sword bayonets for double barreled shotguns. Nearly a year later Hunt wrote to Secretary of War J. P. Benjamin, “Colonel Forrest, the most efficient cavalry officer in this department, informs me that the double barrel shotgun is the best gun with which the cavalry can be armed.”
Arming cavalry with shotguns was one thing but infantry needed a bayonet. In order to fit a bayonet to a shotgun the maker needed the shotgun in order to affix the bayonet lug to the shotgun in order for the bayonet to fit it.
Cook & Brother of New Orleans provided many of these. Below is a receipt from Cook & Brothers that received 12 shotguns from Co. M, Chalmette Regiment and the invoice from Cook & Brothers for the work.
The Cook & Brothers bayonet is hard to find but a Cook & Brothers shotgun bayonet is VERY Rare. They are not makers marked but the C&B bayonet is easily recognized by the pattern and serial #.
You can find many CW era photos of Confederate soldiers with a shotgun but finding one with a bayonet is impossible. Hopefully we can get @Lanyard Puller to chime in.
Arming cavalry with shotguns was one thing but infantry needed a bayonet. In order to fit a bayonet to a shotgun the maker needed the shotgun in order to affix the bayonet lug to the shotgun in order for the bayonet to fit it.
Cook & Brother of New Orleans provided many of these. Below is a receipt from Cook & Brothers that received 12 shotguns from Co. M, Chalmette Regiment and the invoice from Cook & Brothers for the work.
The Cook & Brothers bayonet is hard to find but a Cook & Brothers shotgun bayonet is VERY Rare. They are not makers marked but the C&B bayonet is easily recognized by the pattern and serial #.
You can find many CW era photos of Confederate soldiers with a shotgun but finding one with a bayonet is impossible. Hopefully we can get @Lanyard Puller to chime in.