Bayonets production?

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

I have been curious for a while as to how bayonets should be made. During the ACW would bayonets have been forged or cast? I tend to think that they would have been forged, but I am looking to find some real information as to how they were produced, and what types of steel would be appropriate. (No I am not looking at reproducing them).

Thanks,

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04

[1stMaine]

Re: Bayonets production?

Comrade,

As to the exact method of manufacture, I cannot say. I would offer, though, that the blade itself was made of steel, whereas the sacket and clasp were made of iron, according to the Ordnance Manual, edition of 1862. The blade was welded to the socket, and there are 9 seperate gauges listed for the inspector to assure that each part and outline/contour of the bayonet is made according to pattern. There ias also an extensive test for durability listed under the section on inspecting arms.
respects,

[Agate]

Re: Bayonets production?

Paul,

You should enjoy this.

regards,

John

John Sarver
Cin. O.

"The bayonet-blade is first forged under a trip-hammer, and then rolled to the proper shape, by an operation similar to the barrel-rolling. The socket is forged separately, and afterwards welded to the blade under a trip hammer. It is then passed twice under the drop, than milled and polished, when it is ready for use."


The Atlantic monthly
Vol. 12, issue 71
Sept. 1863
The United States Armory
pg.444

http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/moa-cgi?notisid=ABK2934-0012-59

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Bayonets production?

Hallo Kameraden!

I had previously posted the entire several page detailed description for making socket bayonets from ORDNANCE MEMORANDA No.22, which, alas, was lost when the previous version of the AC Forum archives.

I will ask a friend with a scanner to copy it and put it up this weekend...

In part:

"THE BAYONET. The material from which the bayonet is formed is a cast-steel bar, cross section 0".625 square, the length of which is sufficient to bring up the weight to 14 ounces.
"Cutting. -- The bar is cut into suitable lengths by a large pair of shears worked by power, and is determined as follows: A tube containing water is capable of receiving 14 ounces of steel without causing the water to run over.
"The bar enters the tube, and when the water rises to the level the bar is cutt off.
"The intention is that the same amount of stock shall be in each bar."

It then goes on to detail these steps and processes, which will be clearer when scanned and posted:

Neck-rounding
Rolling
Neck-heading
Socket Welded on
Lapwelding
Neck-swaging
Annealing socket
Pickeled
First boring
First turning
Burring sockets
Straightening blade
First facing
Milling blade
Punching points
Heeling and pointing
Tempering
Buffing edge
Buffing face
Buffing back and point
First punching
Second boring
Second turning
First milling socket
Third turning
Second punching
Milling neck
Buffing neck
Grinding blade
Filing slot
Second milling
Drilling and tapping
Polishing
Inspecting
First reaming
Fitting
Second filing
Assembling
Second reaming
Inspecting

BAYONET CLASP.

Blocking
First trimming
Dropping (drop hammering)
Second trimming
Annealing
Turning
Pressing
First milling
Drilling
First profiling
Second profiling
Tapping
Second milling
Slitting
Inspecting
Jigging
Polishing
Filing
Inspecting

BAYONET-CLASP SCREW

Milling
Slitting
Inspecting
Case hardening in water
Tempering
Polishing
Blacking (Heating enough to burn off sperm-oil.)

Then comes finishing an dtesting, followed by the inspection gauges for the bayonet, inspection gauges for the clasp, and inspection gauges for the clasp-stop screw.

IMHO, the Italians, Indians, and Pakistani leave out about 95% or more of these to keep costs "low" (and it shows...).

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt