Rare Boyle, Gamble, & McFee Saber Bayonet / SOLD

Description

Rare Boyle, Gamble, & McFee Saber Bayonet – Inventory Number: BAY 280 / SOLD This example exhibits a 22″ blade. The brass hilt is also in good condition with mellow patina exhibiting its original spring and locking mechanism. These bayonets were hollow cast and often the concentric ring grip is dented and even crushed. This specimen is perfect. Until the 1855 series of arms American military rifles were not usually fitted for bayonets and the saber/sword bayonet was intended to make up for that deficiency, with its length compensating for the rifle’s shorter barrel if it came to close combat with a musket armed opponent. The Mississippi rifle was a main candidate, but there were also southern copies. Boyle and Gamble used a clever bayonet lug adapter that would screw-tighten on the barrel, avoiding any extensive machining to fix a bayonet lug permanently. This is a very good example of a classic Confederate saber or sword bayonet by a prolific and very well-known Confederate arms maker.   Inventory Number: BAY 280 / SOLD