The Land Pattern Socket Bayonet was the first somewhat standardized socket bayonet utilized by the British military. Prior to the adoption of this pattern, many of the bayonets in service were procured at the whim of the Colonel who raised and equipped the regiment, leaving significant leeway in the quality and specifications of the bayonet. The British Board of Ordnance did not uniformly supply socket bayonets to the infantry until circa 1740, although they did contract for and issue some bayonets prior to that point in time. As a result, great variation in British bayonets is noted prior to that time. These first “standardized” Land Pattern socket bayonets were based upon “hollow triangular blade”socket bayonets that first appear in regimental Colonel’s procurements circa 1715. Surviving documentation from the Board of Ordnance is almost non-existent for that period, but it is known that two “patterns” of socket bayonets were adopted, one in 1728 and another in 1768. No doubt additional pattern changes (even if minor) occurred between these two official patterns. 

For a detailed discourse on the socket bayonet as used on the Brown Bess Muskets, I highly recommend Erik Goldstein’s The Socket Bayonet in the British Army 1687-1783. Research by Goldstein and English bayonet collector and researcher Graham Priest have established a series of features that allow us to classify the Bess bayonets chronologically, based upon their physical characteristics. The most readily identifiable feature of the earliest Land Pattern socket bayonets is the pronounced shield shaped juncture between the shank and the socket. According to their research this was really a decorative feature, not unlike the “Beaver Tail” relief carved apron around the breech plug tang of Brown Bess muskets, and the relief carving that appears around the side plate and lock areas of early Brown Bess pattern muskets. It has been established that this very distinctive decoration disappears from the bayonets circa 1750, so the presence of this feature allows a Bess bayonet to be reliably dated to 1730-1750. After that date the obvious “shield” is no longer present at the joint between the shank and socket. In some cases, it was actually removed during refurbishment, changing the “old pattern” bayonet to the “new pattern”. In most other ways the bayonet remained essentially the same as the earlier variant of the first Land Pattern bayonet. Research into the markings found on Land Pattern bayonets by Mr. Goldstein reveals that the {CROWN} over 5 inspection stamp, believed to be the mark of Board of Ordnance viewer (inspector) George Markby, is found on both the earlier “shield shank” bayonets as well as the early production examples of the newer “removed shield” or “shield-less” bayonets. Because a small collection of regimentally marked Brown Bess muskets from the early 1750s exists in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg, along with their original socket bayonets that are correctly numbered to the guns, Mr. Goldstein has been able to postulate that the {CROWN}/5 inspection mark was utilized circa 1740-1760. Thus, by examining any Land Pattern socket bayonet with this inspection mark and further analyzing its attributes it is reasonable to estimate the period when it was produced within a fairly narrow window. Additional markings can also help to determine the period from which the bayonet originated. Similar pattern changes allow the astute observer to make reasonable estimates regarding the period during which any accompanying scabbard may have been produced as well.

Offered here is a VERY GOOD Untouched Attic Condition Land Pattern Socket Bayonet that dates to the period of the “Shield Shank” bayonets circa 1740-1750. The bayonet has two important identifying marks on the ricasso that allow us to make this determination. The first is the clearly obvious shield shaped apron around the shank at the blade that dates the bayonet to circa 1730-1750. The second is a worn and only partially legible {CROWN}/5 inspection mark on the face of the shank. As noted above this mark was applied in the period of 1740 to 1760. Thus, we can narrow the period of production to circa 1740-1750 as the bayonet is of the shield shank pattern and has the post-1740 {Crown}/5 inspection mark. There may be hint of a London cutler’s mark on the face of the blade, possibly a “dagger” but the mark is exceedingly weak, and the thickly oxidized patina of the bayonet does not allow the mark to be seen clearly. This mark could help further date the bayonet as cutler’s marks of this style are commonly encountered on plug bayonets during the latter portion of the 1600s and on the earliest socket bayonets produced during the first half of the 1700s. The use of such marks dropped off precipitously in the latter portion of the 18^th century and were replaced by the names of the contractors providing the bayonets to the Board of Ordnance.

As noted, the bayonet remains in about VERY GOOD Untouched Attic Condition. The bayonet has an overall length of about 21 ¾” with a flat faced blade with a pronounced spine that measured 17” from the tip to the blade shoulders and 17 ½” long when measured to the face of the shank. The blade is about 1 3/8” wide at the widest point. The socket is 4” in length with a muzzle to stud distance of nominally 2”. The muzzle diameter of the bayonet is .925”, or about 23.4mm. Due to the thick patina there is no obvious weld line where the iron socket and rear portion of the blade were hammer welded to the front portion of the blade, which is made of steel, however there is no doubt that it exists. The bayonet has a thickly oxidized brown patina over all of the surfaces, which is untouched and uncleaned. The socket is mostly smoothly oxidized metal with freckled surface roughness. The blade shows somewhat more uneven patches of oxidized surface roughness and as is so common on bayonets that are more than 250 years old, the blade shows dings, mars and minor impact marks along the edges of the blade. The tip is also very slightly bent and deformed, but it complete and intact. The bayonet has a forging flaw inside the mouth of the socket where the shank joins the bottom of the socket. A very careful light oiling and extremely careful removal of some of the surface crust may make the indistinct blade mark or marks more visible or legible. However, the untouched dry brown, attic found look of the bayonet is quite attractive and it is nice to see a piece of history like this that has not been messed with in any way.

Overall, this is a really nice, solid example of a French & Indian War era Shield Shank British Land Pattern Socket Bayonet. These pre-Revolutionary War era British socket bayonets are extremely desirable and sought after by collectors, and finding one is extremely difficult. This will be a wonderful addition to your display of British arms from the period of the French & Indian War or the American Revolution and will certainly display well with your Long Land Pattern Brown Bess Musket and other arms of that era in your collection.

ON HOLD