For Sale: Model 1861 Saber Bayonet for the US 1861 Navy Rifle

The Model 1861 Saber bayonet was manufactured to fit the U.S. Model 1861 Navy “Plymouth” Rifle. Both designed by John A. Dalhgren of the US Navy who founded his ideas on the French Carabine á Tige rifle and bayonet. Dahlgren designed two bayonets to fit his rifle, a short Bowie knife bayonet and the longer, yataghan style saber bayonet seen here. The saber bayonets, manufactured by Collins & Co, located in Hartford Connecticut, were shipped to Whitney Arms Company who hand fitted each bayonet to a specific rifle and then marked the set with a matching number prior to shipping them to the US Navy. This method of fitting bayonets to rifles was limiting in that bayonets could not be switched between rifles without additional work.

The Model 1861 saber bayonet here is a good representative piece. The blade is 22 ½ inches long, 1 ¼ inches at its widest point, and has on overall length of 27 ½ inches. The Collins & Co manufacturing mark is no longer visible on the ricasso. The inspector stamp ‘F.C.W. (Frank C. Warner) is clearly visible on the pommel and as is the fitment number stamped onto the grip flat. An ‘anchor’ is stamped on the center of the handguard and on the opposite side of the handguard is a series of unknown dots punched in two vertical (parallel to the blade) lines. Overall, the blade has a semi-bright appearance with no knicks or heavy pitting. The brass hilt shows some service handling marks and is in generally good condition. No scabbard.

See pictures for overall condition. Must be 18 years of age to purchase.

If you are searching for the Bowie style bayonet/knife, click here