US 1873 Socket Bayonet for the Springfield Trapdoor Rifle, New Jersey National Guard

Socket bayonet for the Model 1873 .45-70 Springfield Trapdoor rifle, with fullered triangular blade and steel scabbard. Scabbard with drainage hole and frog hanging hook, black leather frog with rotating belt loop. The ricasso of the blade is stamped ‘US’. The brass swivel of the belt frog is cast with ‘NJ’ indicating that it was made for the New Jersey National Guard. The leather inside of the scabbard loop is also roughly inscribed with ‘AL’, presumably a soldier’s initials.

The last model of standard-issue socket bayonet, the M1873 was used with the 1873 and 1879 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield rifles, until 1884 when the new model introduced a rod bayonet.

Both bayonet and scabbard have been deeply blued and retain a great deal of this original finish. Some rubbing and flaking to the belt loop in places, the leather is stiff but undamaged and the loop still rotates freely. A few small patches of pitting to the blade, some edge chipping towards the point. The scabbard body is free of dents with rubbing wear to the bluing towards the chape.