Socket Bayonets
The
museum has two socket bayonets, both from the 19th Century. Socket
bayonets were an improvement on the older plug bayonet (which fitted into the
barrel) as they meant the musket could still fire with the bayonet fitted.
Brown Bess musket bayonet
This bayonet (the lower one with the the socket on the right) was made in Birmingham, England in the years 1803-12. We know this from the maker’s mark “Woolley & Deakin” on the blade, as these were the years this company was in business. It is also marked “K / 24”, showing it was the 24th weapon in the unit distinguished by a ‘K’. Our best guess is that this stood for “King’s”, the 8th (Kings) Regiment of Foot of the British army. The Regiment first deployed to Canada in 1775 during the American War of Independence, and despite the overall loss of the war it was successful in operations from Quebec to Kentucky, and established good working relations with First Nations tribes. This unit was transferred again to Canada in 1808 (with this bayonet) as the Napoleonic wars extended to the Western side of the Atlantic. It took part in the capture of Martinique in the Caribbean, and then the Regiment fought in several battles of the War of 1812 which established the future of Canada as a country independent from the USA. One battalion of the Regiment was stationed in the Maritimes for part of the war, which may well be how the bayonet has ended up in Bedeque.
The Brown Bess musket was introduced in 1722 and, whilst not ideal in any feature, was a good all-round weapon and the standard for the British Army until 1854. One was still in use in 1862 at the battle of Shiloh in the American Civil War.
M1816 Socket bayonet
The M1816 flintlock musket had a production period from 1816–1844, and had the highest production total of any US musket. Early examples were left 'in the white' (unstained), while later examples were browned. Both Springfield and Harper's Ferry Armories produced the M1816. It was introduced to improve on the weapons used by the Americans in the War of 1812 against the better British Brown Bess, so we should not be surprised that it looks very similar to the first bayonet. If you can’t beat ‘em, copy ‘em!
The M1816 introduced the distinctive T-mortise in the socket, which meant no locking ring was needed (the locking ring is missing from our Brown Bess musket). The point was also unique, resembling the prow of a boat. No other U.S. bayonet type was pointed this way. There is an abbreviated face flute, extending about 9 in. (230 mm.) back of the point. The socket length is 3.00 in. (76 mm.).
This example was made at the Springfield Armory, likely between 1827–1831, and inspected by a bayonet forger with the initials WR. There were two inspectors who used WR, William Richardson and William Russell. We know the dates because beginning in 1827, the neck diameter was increased from 0.435–0.460 in. (11.0–11.7 mm.) to 0.460–0.500 in. (11.7-12.7 mm.). This example's neck measures .472 in. (12.0 mm.). Beginning in 1832, inspectors placed their initials on the neck, rather than using a punch mark on the blade (each inspector put the punch mark in a different location).
Brown Bess musket bayonet
This bayonet (the lower one with the the socket on the right) was made in Birmingham, England in the years 1803-12. We know this from the maker’s mark “Woolley & Deakin” on the blade, as these were the years this company was in business. It is also marked “K / 24”, showing it was the 24th weapon in the unit distinguished by a ‘K’. Our best guess is that this stood for “King’s”, the 8th (Kings) Regiment of Foot of the British army. The Regiment first deployed to Canada in 1775 during the American War of Independence, and despite the overall loss of the war it was successful in operations from Quebec to Kentucky, and established good working relations with First Nations tribes. This unit was transferred again to Canada in 1808 (with this bayonet) as the Napoleonic wars extended to the Western side of the Atlantic. It took part in the capture of Martinique in the Caribbean, and then the Regiment fought in several battles of the War of 1812 which established the future of Canada as a country independent from the USA. One battalion of the Regiment was stationed in the Maritimes for part of the war, which may well be how the bayonet has ended up in Bedeque.
The Brown Bess musket was introduced in 1722 and, whilst not ideal in any feature, was a good all-round weapon and the standard for the British Army until 1854. One was still in use in 1862 at the battle of Shiloh in the American Civil War.
M1816 Socket bayonet
The M1816 flintlock musket had a production period from 1816–1844, and had the highest production total of any US musket. Early examples were left 'in the white' (unstained), while later examples were browned. Both Springfield and Harper's Ferry Armories produced the M1816. It was introduced to improve on the weapons used by the Americans in the War of 1812 against the better British Brown Bess, so we should not be surprised that it looks very similar to the first bayonet. If you can’t beat ‘em, copy ‘em!
The M1816 introduced the distinctive T-mortise in the socket, which meant no locking ring was needed (the locking ring is missing from our Brown Bess musket). The point was also unique, resembling the prow of a boat. No other U.S. bayonet type was pointed this way. There is an abbreviated face flute, extending about 9 in. (230 mm.) back of the point. The socket length is 3.00 in. (76 mm.).
This example was made at the Springfield Armory, likely between 1827–1831, and inspected by a bayonet forger with the initials WR. There were two inspectors who used WR, William Richardson and William Russell. We know the dates because beginning in 1827, the neck diameter was increased from 0.435–0.460 in. (11.0–11.7 mm.) to 0.460–0.500 in. (11.7-12.7 mm.). This example's neck measures .472 in. (12.0 mm.). Beginning in 1832, inspectors placed their initials on the neck, rather than using a punch mark on the blade (each inspector put the punch mark in a different location).
