Original U.S. Civil War Whitneyville “Plymouth” Navy Percussion Rifle Brass Hilted Bayonet with Partial Tattered Scabbard - Serial 5718
In stock
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Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a good example of the rare brass hilted bayonet for the U.S. Civil War "Plymouth" Navy Percussion Rifle. 10,000 of these rifles were made by Eli Whitney’s manufactory, Whitney-ville, based on an 1861 contract to the U.S. Navy. Five sample rifles were delivered in October 1862 and regular deliveries started in February 1863, with 5,300 delivered that year and the remaining 4,695 in 1864. Collins was contracted to produce an equal number of bayonets to go with the rifles.
The 22 ½” single-edged blade has a slight curve and a thick, flat spine that ends in a 140mm double-edged spear point. The blade is in fair condition, with heavy oxidation and wear across that has . The hilt is marked with serial number 5718 next to the channel. There is extreme wear to the ricasso, and the only word we could make out was HARTFORD, so the original markings would have read:
COLLINS & CO
HARTFORD
CONN.
The bayonet is now heavily worn, and it doesn’t look like the bayonet would fit onto a rifle anymore given the oxidation of the button and bar. The pommel is stamped with F.C.W., denoting the navy inspector’s initials of Franklin C. Warner. These bayonets were mated to the rifles by serial number stamped next to the long guide stud groove. This one is numbered 5718, which puts its delivery very early in 1864 (some 5300 had been delivered by the end of 1863 and 1,000 in January 1864.)
These rifles were intended for shipboard actions, patrol duty, landing parties, and expeditions both small and large, such the Battle of Tulfinny Crossroads in 1864, where a Plymouth-armed sailor shot down the colorbearer of the 5th Georgia. McAulay lists more than thirty vessels that received Plymouth rifles and also notes that the Potomac Flotilla preferred them to Spencers, which were subject to accidental discharge and explosion from natural rough handling onboard ship and in landing parties.
The leather scabbard shows extreme wear and material loss, with the stitching almost entirely gone and the leather now extremely weak, cracking, and falling apart. The brass drag is gone, and the brass throat is missing the frog button. It is a fair example for display, but please exercise caution.
This is a nice example of a seldom seen bayonet in its scabbard.
Specifications:
Blade Length: 22 1/2"
Blade Style: Single Edge Yataghan w/ Fuller
Overall length: 27 1/4“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 20 ½”
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