This is a VERY GOOD+ to NEAR FINE condition example of a scarce socket bayonet produced by the firm of Collins & Company for use on the US Models 1859 and 1863 Sharps Infantry Rifles (Reilly B-107). The blades of these socket bayonets were unmarked, but the socket was normally marked on the reverse with the C&Co maker’s mark of Collins & Company. The obverse side of the socket or shank is often marked with a single inspector’s initial. To the casual observer, the bayonet appears to be a standard US M1855/70 .58 caliber bayonet, but the lack of blade markings and the Collins & Company mark on the socket, in conjunction with the single sub-inspection mark that is sometimes visible, help to identify this as a Sharps rifle bayonet. The most important features that make this bayonet for the Sharps Rifle are the taller bridge at the rear of the socket, which is necessary to clear the tall rifle front sight, and the socket diameter of .817” versus the standard M1855 socket diameter of .783”. This example retains a full-length 18” blade with a 3” socket and an overall length of 21”. The muzzle diameter of the socket correctly measures .817” and the interior height of the bridge measures 1.09” from the opposite interior socket wall.

As noted, the bayonet offered here is in about VERY GOOD+ to NEAR FINE condition. The reverse of the socket is marked with the usual, sloppy C&Co mark that often appears double struck like this one. The obverse side of the shank is marked with a poorly struck inspector’s initial M at the socket to shank juncture. The Collins & Company mark on the left side of the socket remains crisp and clear, but the “M” inspection is a little weak. The bayonet is almost entirely mostly smooth throughout and free of any significant pitting. The bayonet blade has a medium smoky pewter gray patina with mottled surface oxidation and age discoloration scattered long its length. The socket has a slightly brighter pewter gray patina with similar areas of mottled age discoloration and minor darkening. The blade is full-length, and the original locking ring and tension screw are present on the socket, with the ring functioning freely and smoothly. As is typical, a few lightly scattered impact marks are found on the socket and blade, but not nearly as many as are typically found on socket bayonets from the Civil War era.

Overall, this is a very nice, solid, complete and correct example of the socket bayonet for US Civil War era Sharps infantry rifle. According to bayonet researcher and author Robert Reilly, only 10,600 of these bayonets were produced, which accounts for their scarcity today. These bayonets were issued to all infantry that were armed with the Sharps rifles that did not accept saber bayonets, including the famous Berdan Sharpshooters (the 1^st & 2^nd US Sharpshooter Regiments). This would be a nice bayonet to complement your high-quality Sharps percussion military rifle and is in nice condition. I have to note that over the last couple of years a number of people have asked about finding one of these bayonets at shows, but for some reason they have become extremely difficult to find recently. This is the first Sharps socket bayonet I have had in inventory in about two years and it’s a very nice one, so don’t miss your chance to add this rare accessory to your Sharps Rifle.

SOLD