{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-us-navy-m1861-dahlgren-bowie-knife-bayonet-by-ames-dated-1862","title":"Original U.S. Civil War US Navy M1861 “Dahlgren” Bowie Knife Bayonet By Ames - Dated 1862","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. Now this is a rare bayonet to come across! Designed in 1856 by U.S. Navy Admiral John A.B. Dahlgren for use aboard his ship, the USS Plymouth, this Ames-marked knife replaced the saber-style bayonet that was first issued with the Plymouth Whitney Rifle musket. The Dahlgren bowie knife bayonet is considered to be one of the best bayonet designs of the nineteenth century. First produced for the Navy by well-known arms maker Ames Manufacturing Co of Chicopee, Massachusetts in September 1861, this finely-crafted weapon features an unfullered, bowie-shaped spear point blade 11 ¾” long with a clipped point tip on the obverse side. Still quite sharp, the hefty, 3\/8\" thick steel blade is in fine condition though the blade does have heavy oxidation damage and staining on the blade, but is presented without extensive damage or any edge nicks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe knife has a one-piece pommel, guard and back strap of heavy brass with a one-piece walnut grip fitted between the pommel back strap and the guard. All brass has a lovely dark bronze patina with heavy oxidation spots scattered about between the dings and scuffs marks. Bottom of the walnut grip features four finger grooves for a positive grasp. Brass hilt is secured to the grips by a long brass wood screw vertically traversing the hilt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdmiral Dahlgren's own description of this foreboding weapon states \"The special bayonet is a short, broad and stout knife of the well known bowie-pattern, the principal use of which I designed to be in the hand in close conflict as in boarding.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStamped on the center obverse ricasso are the markings:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.N.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eD.R.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1862\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse ricasso bears the maker's three-line mark of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAMES MFG \u0026amp; CO\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCHICOPEE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMASS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an incredible opportunity to add a rare piece of Civil War weaponry to your Naval collections. Comes more than ready for display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecifications:\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 11 3\/4\"\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: Single Edged \"Bowie\"\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 16 1\/2“\u003cbr\u003eCrossguard: 4 3\/4”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn A. Dahlgren\u003cbr\u003eJohn Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren (November 13, 1809 – July 12, 1870) was a United States Navy officer who founded his service's Ordnance Department and launched significant advances in gunnery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDahlgren devised a smoothbore howitzer, adaptable for many sizes of craft and shore installations. He then introduced a cast-iron muzzle-loading cannon with vastly increased range and accuracy, known as the Dahlgren gun, that became the U.S. Navy's standard armament.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Civil War, Dahlgren was made commander of the Washington Navy Yard, where he established the Bureau of Ordnance. In 1863, he took command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron at the rank of rear admiral. He helped William Tecumseh Sherman secure Savannah, Georgia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44018570690629,"sku":"ONJR25NOMS90","price":1295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR25NOMS90__02.jpg?v=1763773654","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-us-navy-m1861-dahlgren-bowie-knife-bayonet-by-ames-dated-1862","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}