Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent original U.S. Model 1873 socket bayonet for the .45-70 Springfield “Trapdoor” rifle, complete with its steel scabbard and later Model 1887 belt hanger. The bayonet retains an unusually strong amount of its original blue finish and is marked U.S. / J at the base of the blade. Its M1887 hanger, with leather frog and brass hook attached through the U.S.-marked rosette, represents the later Indian Wars carrying arrangement developed for use with the Army’s woven cartridge belts.

The Model 1873 bayonet was adopted with the .45-70 Springfield rifle in 1873 and was the last standard U.S. angular socket bayonet. Its appearance closely follows the Model 1855 bayonet used with the .58-caliber rifle-musket, but the socket was reduced in diameter to accommodate the smaller barrel of the new .45-70 rifle. In fact, large numbers of Model 1873 bayonets were produced by modifying existing Model 1855 bayonets, with Springfield Armory cold-pressing or swaging the sockets down to the required diameter.

The model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, which was originally developed by Erskine S. Allin to convert Springfield model 1861 and 1863 rifled muskets into breech-loading cartridge firearms. The rifle was named for its hinged breechblock, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 325⁄8-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22-inch (560 mm) barrel. Both were chambered for the new .45-70 "Government" cartridge.

As the barrel was slightly less wide than the rifled muskets it replaced, the design of the current bayonet required alteration of the socket. Aside from this, the bayonet design was identical to the Rifled Musket version. It consists of a standard socket, which locks over the barrel and front sight, and has an attached 18 inch long triangular hollow-ground blade.

This example is in excellent near mint shape overall. This example has the U S / J stamp on the ricasso. The locking ring moves easily, and still has the correct securing screw. The bayonet is in outstanding condition without any heavy oxidation, with the bluing on the blade in great shape.

The bayonet comes complete with its original steel scabbard, with attached M1887 belt hook. The scabbard, like the bayonet, was not refinished. It now has some rust speckling, however there are no dents, bends, or other damage. The leather frog is in good shape, with cracking and flaking in the black finish, and has a very nice brass hook attached by the U.S. rosette hinge.

The combination of an earlier Model 1873 bayonet with an M1887 hanger is historically appropriate. The bayonet remained useful as the Army transitioned to woven cartridge belts during the later Indian Wars period, and the M1887 hanger adapted the existing bayonet and scabbard to the newer equipment system.

Condition overall is excellent, particularly for an Indian Wars-era U.S. bayonet. The strong original blue finish, intact locking ring and screw, clear U.S. / J marking, straight steel scabbard, and complete M1887 leather-and-brass hanger make this a particularly well-preserved example of the final standard socket bayonet used by the U.S. Army.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 18"
Blade Style: Triangular
Overall length: 21“
Scabbard Length: 18 3/8"