US Navy Model 1870 Yataghan Bayonet
Yataghan blade, brass hilt with muzzle ring and lobe quillon, brass grip with ‘feathered’ or ‘fishscale’ texture, beaked pommel with motif of crossed cannon barrels over an anchor. Unusual hilt design with high leaf spring locking catch and lower hole to accommodate the cleaning rod of the 1870 rifle. Black leather scabbard with brass locket and chape, with frog stud.
Blade is unmarked. Hilt is marked with ‘S’. The back of the grip is stamped with ‘GGS’ and the pommel end with ‘J.G.B’.
The US 1870 Navy rifle was a Springfield made rolling block type – the bayonets for it are thought to have all been made by the Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts. Two versions are known to exist, this version with the yataghan blade and a straight-bladed version.
Blade has some pitting, brass hilt has some very small dings and patina as expected for age. Scabbard is very good, only minor rubbing to the leather, no structural damage. Some small dents to the chape piece.
