| Part 3~Continued: |
| Getting to the Point: those pesky Bayonets again |
| By Bill Skillman |
| One of the critical differences between the original Berdan Sharp Shooters and those of us who portray them, is that their equipment belonged to Uncle Sam, while we (or VISA/MasterCard) purchase our own reenacting "kit".� This difference was especially important if you were the Company Commander and Orderly Sargent of 140 years ago; as one of your primary duties was to account for all of Old Abe's equipment issued to the men. These duties were very clearly spelled out in Army regulations.� Below is an excerpt from Customs of the Service: |
| 440. The most responsible duties of the first sergeant are those which |
| involve the issue and care of public property and keeping an account |
| thereof. These are principally the issuing of arms and ammunition, and camp |
| and garrison equipage, to the men; the keeping of a record to whom and when |
| issued, and the charging of articles lost, or procuring affidavits or |
| certificates if the articles are not lost through the fault of any one. |
| 443. Ordnance. - The design is that a company shall draw its full allowance |
| of ordnance; and it is expected to appertain to the company as long as it is |
| serviceable. |
| 444. A strict account of the arms, therefore, is necessary, and tends to |
| keep them in good order; for if the soldiers find that they are to pay every |
| loss or deficiency, they will take care of them as if they were their own |
| personal property. |
| Unlike we reenactors who sell or toss our old/farby equipment into a company "fresh fish" box (for prospective recruits to wear), in the original USSS any equipment that became worn, broken, or "disappeared" had to be accounted for.� Failure to do so could result in a stoppage of the Captain's pay and his chronic inattention might result in charges of theft of Gov't property and a court-martial.�� This fact was not lost on Major Mattocks when he arrived at the 1st USSS camp in March of 1864.� He wrote to his family; "the rifles cost $43 and they can't be picked up from the battlefield like they do in the infantry." |
| So what is a company commander to do?� Well that brings us to inspections - something I have never seen USSS, and very rarely, other reenacting units conduct.� A couple weeks before the end of every quarter (March, June, September & December), the Captains would assemble their companies in full marching order and the First Sargent would go from man to man to carefully inspect and record the number, quality and serviceability of all their Ordnance equipment. |
| What is Ordnance?� It is one of the three departments of supply for the Army.� You are already familiar with the role played by the Quartermaster Dept, (What did they Wear? Part-2), which focused on clothing distributed to the men.� Ordnance comprises the rifles, bayonets and scabbards, gun slings, cartridge boxes-plates-cross belts-plates, waist belts and plates, cap pouches and cone picks, swab brushes and wiping sticks, screwdrivers, cartridges, caps and pellet primers. |
| Back to our inspection.� Any equipment that was found to be broken or unserviceable the First Sargent would record it's condition on a piece of paper (typical for the USSS) and then forwarded it to the captain, who in turn turned it in to Lt. Col. Trepp/Col. Stoughton.� Defective ordnance was either turned over to the regimental armorer for repair or packed up and shipped to an Arsenal (usually Washington D.C.).� If repairs could not be made the item was condemned by a Division Inspector and then disposed of (destroyed). |
| But now how do you get new equipment for your men?� Fortunately, if you were a Captain/Orderly Sgt. you pulled out a copy of Kautz's The Company Clerk (1) from your desk.� This little brown tome was loaded with invaluable information on the various Ordnance, Quartermaster and Commissary forms, how to fill them out (in duplicate or triplicate), who to submit them to, and how often.� The Clerk was sort of a Cliff's Notes tonic for newly commissioned officers with supply woes. |
| The Army, like most businesses, has developed an orderly system of exchange using vouchers, invoices and receipts between those who need supplies and those who issue them.� For example, if a Captain wanted to turn in some old or left over equipment he would fill out Form 2(b.) entitled: Invoice of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores.� It would look something like this: |
| Invoice of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, turned over by Capt. Rob't Krouse Comg, Co. B. 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters to Lt. Col. Stoughton� Comg 2nd Regt U.S. Sharpshooters at Camp near Falmouth, Va..on the 16 day of May, 186 3 . |
| No. of Boxes |
| Mark |
| Contents |
| Weight |
| 1������������������������ One Improved Sharps rifle |
| 1������������������������� �� " do���������� do plate |
| 1���������� ��������������� " do���������� do belt (crossbelt-WES) |
| 1������������������������� "�� Cap box |
| 1������������������������� " Waist belt |
| 1������������������������� " ���� do��������� do plate |
| __________________________________________________ |
| I certify, That the above is a correct Invoice of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, turned over by me the 16th day of May, 1863� to Lt. Col. H. Stoughton� Comg 2nd USSS |
| ����������������������������������� R. E. Krouse |
| (in duplicate)���������������������� Capt Comg Co. B. 2nd USSS |
| Form 2-b is a great little document for it allows a Captain to return equipment from deceased, wounded or discharged enlisted men (or spare equipment-i.e. a "fresh fish" box). Form 2-b works both ways, as it can track the progress of Ordnance as it makes it's way from the Arsenal to Division Ordnance officers to Regimental Commanders (see below), and finally to the Company commanders and their men.� Other forms provide a paper trail even after 140 years have elapsed.� Even relatively mundane information, such as the ammunition expended by Company F during March-May, 1864, is available. |
| Abstract of Materials expended or consumed in Co. F.�1stReg?tU.S. Sharp Shooters during the First quarter� 1864 |
| Date |
| 1864 |
| How |
| Cartridges |
| Sharps .52/100 |
| Primers |
| Caps |
| March�� Practice Firing���� 1800�������������������������������������� 2500 |
| May 5� Wilderness Va.�����600���������������������� 300������������ 300 |
| May 6� "������������ "������������� 320���������������������� 400������������ 100 |
| May 7 "������������"��������� �� ��320���������������������� 300������������ 430 |
| I certify, That the above is a correct Abstract of Materials expended or consumed . |
| ����������������������������������� Chas. Merriman |
| (in duplicate)���������������������� Capt |
| However, sometimes the war would delay or disrupt this otherwise orderly exchange.� Note the following memo that accompanied the Co. D. 1st USSS Invoice that was supposed be turned in for June 1863: |
| "I certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the above named stores were turned over by Captain C. D.�� McLean, Comdg Co. D. 1st USSS to Lieut. Col. Trepp Comdg 1st USSS.� At the time the stores were turned over Invoices could not well be made out, and before they were made out Capt. C. D. McLean was killed at Gettysburg, Penn" (July 2nd atPitzer?s Wood-WES) |
| Okay Bill, so why all preoccupation with bookkeeping principles, invoices and receipts?� What is the point? |
| When I originally wrote my 1999 articles about the Ordnance equipment issued to the USSS, I cautioned readers that my total resources at the time comprised of the Vermont (Co. F.) records of Captain Merriman, and a few tidbits offered in Wiley Sword's book (2).� Since my friend Rob Leinwebber was kind enough to send me photocopies of Caspar Trepp's Correspondence and Papers 1861-1863, my understanding of "What did they Wear" has expanded significantly --but sometimes not exactly in the direction I wanted. |
| If you examine formations of reenacting USSS companies one of the first items you find missing among the green ranks (in comparison to the infantry) is the dearth of bayonets and scabbards.� If you ask a reenacting Berdan why this is so you might hear a classic comeback; "I'm a sharpshooter, and we ain't got no use for no stinking bayonets...I tossed mine into a ditch 10 minutes after I got it".� Okay, let's do a little math here; if a modern set trigger Pederosoli Sharps costs $1000 (compared to roughly $45 for a NM1859 Sharps in 1863); a comparable cost/ratio for a triangular bayonet ($2.50 in 1863-that same original now runs $800+) should cost about $65.� Now imagine if Capt. Bob/Orderly Sgt. Dan had to pony up $975 from their own pockets because 15 Co. B. boys decided to 'chuck' their bayonets?� Hmmm, I suspect now your starting to get the picture at this point. |
| In an undated and hand written "Arms & Equipment in the 'Co' Trepp (or his clerk) recorded the various companies and the equipment on hand.� For our purposes here we will focus on the bayonets (using guns to represent the number of men present): |
| Companies������� Guns���� Bayonets |
| A���������������������������� 34����������� 33 |
| B���������������������������� 65����������� 63 |
| C���������������������������� 63����������� -- |
| D���������������������������� 17����������� -- |
| E����������������������������� 35����������� -- |
| F����������������������������� 64����������� 39 |
| G���������������������������� 58����������� 52 |
| H���������������������������� 38����������� 36 |
| I������������������������������ 41�������� ��� 2 |
| K���������������������������� 35����������� 32����������� |
| Total����������� ����� 450������ 257 |
| I dated this 'scratch sheet' to March 1863, by comparing it to company returns, but these showed a lower tally of rifles 'present' than above (247). I suspect the discrepancy between the two documents is due to the company lists of men present for duty, while the record above reflects men plus Ordnance stores retained (for use by the Armorer for repairs and Captains to issue as replacements). |
| An Ordnance Invoice dated June 5th 1863 from Rob't A. Stauton 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps to Lt. Col. Caspar Trepp lists the following stores sent to the 1st USSS: |
| 10 ������ Sharps Rifles |
| 200 Angular Bayonets for same |
| 200 Bayonet Scabbards |
| The number of bayonets (193) 'missing' from the March report nearly matches the 200 issued from Capt. Stauton (see above).� So while it appears some units had a bayonet deficiency at various periods of service, Lt. Col. Trepp appears to have made certain that all the men of the 1st USSS were fully equipped during his tenure (December 1862-November 1863). |
| If the enlisted men of Co. F. (VT) were going to 'toss away' their equipment it was going to cost them.� In an affidavit dated May 1864, Captain Merriman recorded in the Statement of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores for the 3rd Quarter for 1864; that Pvt. Alphonso Field had "lost or thrown away on the March" his Sharps rifle, bayonet and scabbard, cartridge box and cap pouch.� Merriman ordered $42.54 dollars to be deducted from Field's pay.� Considering he made only $14 per month, Field's momentary lapse cost him more than 3 months wages!� Okay, but what about bayonets?� Two more affidavits (July 1864) cite both Pvt. John Kaaman and Samuel Williams who "lost or tossed away on the March" (1) bayonet and (1) scabbard, they were dunned $2.95 each to replace the missing equipment.�� Williams was later wounded in action, (if he lost any equipment while being brought off the field under fire their loss would not be charged against him).� From May 1863 to September 1864 I have only located the names of these three men cited for "losing" bayonets.� While other Co. F. men may have been charged thus, I have not found any documentation to support this.� Hence this would suggest that the other enlisted men had learned to retain all their equipment, (no matter how questionable the worth of the item was to them personally). |
| Question? Do we have an isolated circumstance of an officer punishing offenders for tossing away their equipment or was there a wider adherence to Regulations than we have been lead to believe?� And did this same situation exist in the 2nd USSS? |
| Unfortunately my collection of 2nd Regiment documents is presently quite limited.� However, I found some interesting information in the August 31,1863 Muster and Pay Roll for Co. H (VT).� Under the "Comments" section, Captain Buxton had written "deduct from pay" from five enlisted men who had lost or missing equipment (gun slings, canteens, haversacks, cartridge box-plate).� However, what I found particularly enlightening was in the section reserved for the Inspector's assessment of the preparedness of the company. Colonel Stoughton noted: |
| Discipline:���������������������������� Good |
| Instruction:�������������������������� Good |
| Military Appearance:��������� Good |
| Arms:������������������������������������ Good, No bayonets, |
| Accoutrements:������������������� Imperfect, |
| Clothing:������������������������������� Good.� |
| A second inspection held the next day by Col. Chas. Collis (114th PA) cited the company for the same deficiency. I reviewed each of the quarterly Muster Rolls & Pay Rolls dating from April 1862 until February 1865, and nowhere did I find any additional comments related to missing bayonets in Co. 'H'. Regrettably, I don't have the Ordnance reports, but there is strong evidence to suggest that the men were subsequently issued bayonets and retained them throughout their service. |
| But let us return to Colonel Trepp's papers.� Okay, there were bayonets issued before the Chancellorsville/Gettysburg campaigns, but what about afterwards? |
| Form No. 7-(a) |
| (For issues or transfers of Ordnance Stores) |
| Received at Camp in the field this 30th day of Sept, 1863 of Lt. Col. C Trepp, the following Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, as per invoice dated 30 day of Sept, 1863 |
| 3 (Three) ������������� Sharps Improved Rifles Cal. .52/100 |
| � 1 (One) �������������� Gun Sling |
| 10 (Ten)���������������� Triangular Bayonets |
| � 7 (Seven)������������ "�������������� ���� ���������� " ������������� Scabbards |
| � 8 (Eight)������������ Waist Belts |
| � 8 (Eight)������������ "������������� "���� �������� plates |
| � 4 (Four)������������� Cartridge boxes |
| 14 (Fourteen)����� "������������� �� "���������� plates |
| � 1 (One)��������������� Cap pouch |
| 320 (three hundred & twenty) Linen cartridges� Cal. 52/100 |
| 710 (seven hundred & ten) Percussion caps |
| ����������������������������������� G. B. Clark 1st Lieut. |
| ����������������������������������� Comg Co. 'C' 1st USSS |
| These September Receipts (Form 7-a) show that these Michigan boys were carrying bayonets during the Kelly Ford/Mine Run campaign.� Other invoices show issues of bayonets and scabbards among other companies at the same time. |
| The above Receipt also corresponds to a Division Ordnance Invoice dated September 26, 1863, showing a second large quantity of bayonets (103) being issued Trepp's command. This new issue was to replace; "The bayonets were worn out in service to such an extent as to make them useless in the field without repairs which could not be done in the field"-Voucher #6 in Memorandum for the 3rd Quarter in Return of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores. |
| But let's go back to see where the 'bayonet' controversy started in the first place.� In his excellent book Hiram Berdan, his Famous Sharpshooters, and their Sharps Rifles, Wiley Sword discussed the missing angular bayonets on pages 20-1 and 54.� Among the specifications cited in the court martial against Col. Hiram Berdan was the damaging testimony Lt. Col. Nelson Bartram (reviewing officer for 5th Corps), whose infamous 'slouches and slovens (about half the men are without bayonets)' inspection of December 17, 1862 was particularly troublesome.�� Major Bartram testified that when he questioned Colonel Berdan as to why such a significant number of enlisted men were not carrying bayonets, he was informed that the company commanders had given the men the choice of taking them with the newly issued Sharps or not.� When challenged on this point, Berdan waffled and then alleged that the bayonets did not accompany the original Sharps rifle shipments (yeah...that's the ticket), so his men couldn't draw them.� There was only one problem with this line of defense.� The Ordnance records showed that the Sharps rifles and bayonets were packed together in the same shipping crates. |
| Fortunately, for Berdan, he somehow escaped being cashiered and all charges against him were dismissed.� In his defense, he correctly claimed that from September to December, he was in Washington D.C. recuperating from a (Second Bull Run) wound, so he had no direct supervision of the men. On January 14th Berdan was appointed Chief of the Sharpshooters by Maj. Gen. Burnside.� This promotion relieved from him from becoming any further embarrassed about his (and subordinates) lack of familiarity with Army requisition and supply procedures.� |
| The man who replaced him as commander of the 1st USSS was the newly minted Lt. Col. Caspar Trepp.� It appears from his papers that Trepp took over the duties of Ordnance officer himself.� Trepp was a thoroughly professional soldier whose military career had already spanned 18 years.� His military service began on May 1848 by joining Jossepo Garibaldi's Italian army, he was quickly promoted to 2nd Lieut. A year later he served "s instructing officer in different grades and different arms, instructing the men and officers from the school of the soldier to the three arms combined in tactics, from the Rifle pit to the permanent fortification , from the duty as sentenial to the Logisitics of tactics."� Trepp joined the British Army in Crimea first as a Captain of infantry, then detached to the Engineers.�� Since joining the USSS in August of 1861 as the Captain of Company 'A', Trepp had already proven himself a capable combat officer and was highly respected by most of the senior officers in the Army of Potomac.� However, one officer Trepp did not respect was Brigadier Gen. Martindale.� Trepp tendered his first (of eventually three) resignation to Col. Berdan (May 31, 1862): |
| "Having been informed by you that an order has been issued by General Porter, assigning the Regiment to General Martindale's Brigade, and knwoing that the entire Regiment is well aware that General Martindale has manifested on several occassions a bitter feeling against the Regiment since the night that a portion of his Brigade, the 13th NY Vols. ran away from our pickets before Yorktown, and hes having avowed in the last three days tha the Regiment should never be used again as Sharp Shooters if he could prevent it, and feeling confident that the Regiment would be worthless under his command.� I tender my resignation" |
| While we might like to think that the independent-minded boys of the USSS sided with their Lt. Col. and independently took whatever steps they could to render themselves unfit as infantryman, (tossing away bayonets would be one), the Ordnance records (as a whole) do not reflect this, nor is there any evidence that this sort of misconduct was tolerated by the Company commanders. The Sharp Shooters were not assigned to Martindale and Trepp withdrew his resignation.� He was killed in action at Mine Run, Virginia in November 1863. |
| Conclusion (so far) |
| In my paper I have revealed some facts that clash head on with one of our most cherished "myths" about the original USSS: that the Sharp Shooters did not normally carry bayonets, and the men were able to "pitch them" without suffering any consequences.� On the contrary, I believe that I have demonstrated in this paper that not only was the USSS issued bayonets as part of their regular equipment, but there is also supporting evidence to show company commanders enforced this regulation both before during and after Lt. Col. Trepp's death.� While my research does not cover the entire span from 1861 to 1865 for the USSS, (nor does it cover all the companies or regiments), there is strong evidence to suggest that a majority of Sharp Shooters would have been issued and carried bayonets during their term of service. |
| So where did the confusion and the bayonet "myth" begin?� I attribute much of the confusion to Wiley Sword's book entitled; Hiram Berdan, his Famous Sharpshooters, and their Sharps Rifles, considered the "Bible" for a sizeable number of reenactors who wear green.� To his credit, Mr. Sword expertly quotes primary sources and does an excellent job of distilling this complex topic of men, deeds and weapons into a book of less than 100 pages of text.� However detailed Sword's research is, for some reenactors his book comprises their sole knowledge of the USSS, and therein lies the problem. |
| By deliberately limiting their understanding of the USSS to a single source of information I have encountered reenacting units whose appearance and conduct bear little resemblance to the original Sharp Shooters.� Even worse, these units have selectively used Mr. Sword's book to justify their decision not� to learn company drill ("the book says they only did skirmish drill"), learn the manual of arms ("the book said they weren't any good at this"), lax discipline ("the book says the men and officers didn't have the same distance as in infantry") and indifferent attitudes during company or battalion formations ("these guys were slouches and slovens ").� Of course now we have the fallacy of� "no bayonets" to address.� |
| These affectations have not gone unnoticed among the progressive members of the enacting community.� One nationally-recognized hardcore dismissed allUSSS reenactors as "they're nothing more than a bunch of puffed up dogs at a puffed up dog show".� However, he also wistfully lamented that he would love to see some progressive Berdans climb into a rifle pit and pop away at my boys". |
| Over the past 3 years I have discovered a small but growing body of men who want to do more with their USSS impression.� They recognize that the U.S. Sharp Shooters were part of the U.S. Army during the Civil War, and as such they were subject to the same rules, regulations and duties: officers and enlisted men alike.� While the original volunteers may have started out a mob of independent minded and opinionated civilians (who could shoot straight), they gradually evolved into some of the most highly professional and disciplined soldiers to come out of the Civil War.� This had nothing to do with color of their uniforms or the type of rifle they carried.� Rather, it was the hundreds of hours, days and months of drill, carrying out orders, tending to monotonous details, enduring hard marches and terrifying battles that molded them into the elite soldiers they became.� |
| The 'progressives' of this hobby are made up of individuals who are not content to limit themselves to a single source of information from which to base their impression.� On the contrary, they are driven to learn as much as they can about the men and units that they portray.� Not content with that, they stray into the area of 'material culture' which covers their uniforms and how they were manufactured.� Other mundane objects like tin cups, canteens, fork/spoon/knives are thoroughly researched to ensure only the correct ones were issued to the men.� A light blue canteen cover that was considered 'standard issue' only a couple years ago has given way to the correct gray jean cloth or similar covering.� Even if they have not updated their kit (often due to financial considerations) they demonstrate a willingness to learn from those who have and incorporate knowledge like period correct drill, military protocol, picket/patrol and other duties that were part and parcel of the original Sharp Shooters life. �A progressive is not content to let things bide, but strives to improve his kit and appearance to reflect that as the Civil War soldier.� To them, anything less is to dishonor the original men. |
| But what can we modern Berdan Sharp Shooters do about those pesky bayonets?� At this time none of the companies producing Sharps rifles makes bayonet for them (no doubt helping perpetuate the 'myth').� The only person converting bayonets to fit Sharps rifles is John Zimmerman, (reknown gunsmith - resident of Harpers Ferry-his website is at http://www.edsmart.com/jz/#defarb).� There are a few progressives who with much filing and bending have converted� Enfield or Springfield bayonets into a passable Sharps pigsticker.� And a few of us slide a Springfield bayonet into our scabbard and hope that the Captain never yells "Fix bayonets".� I hope that this article might stimulate enough interest among our readers to approach Mr. Zimmerman or another reputable manufacturer to see if they could crank out a couple hundred Sharps bayonets for us at a reasonable price.� For those with a hankering to take on a modification project yourself, Dan Wambaugh has provided you with the following article. |
| I welcome your thoughts and comments, |
| Bill |
| Sources: |
| Merriman, Chas. Co. F, 1st USSS papers 1863-64.� Wm. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. |
| Sword, Wiley. Hiram Berdan, his Famous Sharpshooters, and their Sharps Rifles. A.Mowbray (pub).1988 |
| � |
| Caspar Trepp: Collected Papers 1861-1863.� New York State Archives, Albany, N.Y. |
| To Convert or not to Convert: |
| Bayonet options for the Modern Sharps Rifle |
| By Dan Wambaugh |
| Introduction: In my latest article for "WDTW? - Part 3 continued: Getting to the Point--Those pesky Bayonets Again" |
| I documented the issuing of bayonets to the 1st USSS while under the command of Lt. Col. Trepp (December 1862-November 1863). In my conclusions I noted that none of the manufacturers are making a Sharps bayonet to fit the various Garrett/Shiloh Pederosoli/Armi-Sport rifles now in use.� Dan has informed me that if one has the patience and persistence, they can convert one of the Springfield/Enfield bayonets to fit their Sharps.� Dan wants to caution readers that this can be a difficult project to undertake and he has provided only general guideline in this article.� He stresses that taking your time and wearing eye protections is a must!� If you have questions about this project you can email him at [email protected].� WES |
| Dan writes:� "Finding a socket bayonet to fit your Sharps rifle is not a difficult task, if you know what to look for.� First off, you have two big choices, followed by two smaller choices.� The first decision you must make is whether you want an original or reproduction bayonet.� Granted, an original Sharps bayonet can be costly beyond extremes ($800 in 1999-WES), but as I've come to learn through experience, a period bayonet for another weapon that has the look, but isn't necessarily a Sharps bayonet can also work.� I picked up a bayonet from a .69 caliber "Colonial" Enfield at the Ohio Civil War Show that, with about half an hour's work, fit my (Garrett) Sharps like a glove.� An original bayonet also has one quality that no current reproduction has ever had: true American steel.� As Phil Odren will tell you, his original Springfield bayonet was tearing up the hard ground of McDowell Virginia while I was cursing and re-bending my reproduction Springfield bayonet back straight again.� There is no substitute for American or British steel of the period. |
| If you decide that you want a reproduction bayonet, you will find that you'll end up paying about half of what you would for an original, but rest assured you will get what you pay for either way.� What you will most likely find at events that comes closest to fitting your Sharps barrel will be a Springfield bayonet for .69 caliber muskets.� These will NOT work; however, because the bayonet lug for the M1842 and M1816 Springfield is located on the bottom of the muzzle, while the bayonet lug for the Sharps (the front sight assembly) is on TOP.� The result will be your converted bayonet will fit on the WRONG SIDE, (meaning to the blade will be on the left of the muzzle instead of the right)� For those of us used to going without bayonets, this small compromise might be seen as no big deal.� But if you're going to take the time and effort to purchase and convert a decent bayonet for your Sharps, you might as well go a step further and get it right.� |
| The second choice is whether or not you want to purchase a reproduction Sharps bayonet, or convert an existing reproduction Springfield or Enfield bayonet.� Bill has informed me that the premier 19th century gunsmith of our time, John Zimmerman is offering correct Sharps bayonets.� If the price is right on these, (+$100) I say go for it.� Since it seems every year the Sharps rifles produced by Pederosoli and other firms have minor but distinct muzzle dimensions, you will need to do some hand fitting.� But fret not, for where there is a will there's a way! |
| The most important tool you will need to convert your Brand X bayonet to fit the Sharps is either a good Dremel tool, or some grinding bits for your electric drill. Secondly you will need at least one good file; a round or "rat tail" file is absolutely necessary.� |
| Now any bayonet you wish to fit onto your Sharps should at LEAST start to go onto the muzzle of the rifle.� If you can slide the end onto the muzzle and it stays in place, then you're in business.� But if it won't fit you're in for a long job ahead. |
| Begin by using your Dremel/drill and grinding wheel to rough out the inside of the socket.� This work will be tedious but you'll want to make sure that you are evenly grinding out the interior of the socket.� I don't use calipers to measure the amount of steel removed but tend to eyeball the job and make adjustments accordingly.� After you've taken out at least one layer (all the metal is shiny and scarred) use the round/rat tail file to smooth (polish) it out.� This may seem pointless (as you'll be grinding again), but if you don't file the interior the rough surface can score the bluing off the muzzle when you slide it on for a "test fit".� You will have to repeat this step a number of times until the bayonet fits cleanly onto your barrel.� You will probably have to work out certain rough spots, such as where the safety ring stud pokes through to the interior of the socket.� |
| As you've been slowly moving your bayonet down the length of the barrel you may discover that the "nub" opening where the front sight assembly is supposed to pass through on the bayonet is not big enough, or that it tends to gouge the metal on the barrel on either side of the Sharps sight assembly.� If this is the case file the interior of the nub gently until you slide the front sight through with no damage.� Under NO circumstances should you have to alter your front sight or any other part of your gun to fit a bayonet. |
| As you slowly slide your front sight down the little "Z" shaped slot of the bayonet, you may find places where the sight binds against the metal.� Don't force it!� Simply take off the bayonet, file some more on the rough spots, and then put the bayonet back on and work it down the barrel until it finally fits snuggly and the muzzle of the barrel is flush with the bayonet throat. |
| Finally, the locking ring, (which should have been removed before beginning the project and set aside,) should be replaced on the bayonet, and the screw re-inserted.� You may not be able to tighten the screw as much as before, or may even have to find a slightly longer screw and cut it to fit.� |
| There you have it, clear as mud, right?� Well, I hope that more of Company B-2 will begin to focus on this often-neglected aspect of the USSS impression.� I will offer my services to anyone wishing to buy a new bayonet.� I will also help to do all the necessary work to refinish it, free of charge.� |
| A bayonet is not only a hand-to-hand weapon, but also an all-purpose tool, (entrenching tool, skillet handle, candlestick, etc.) But most important of all the original USSS volunteers did, indeed, carry them! |
| ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� DAN |
| 1������������������������ " Cartridge box |
 |