You bet Murph! and you've really set my sights on bayonets, which is a field I have neglected entirely in my years of study (many many moons). This is entirely the proper place to study these, it is the period that it is of concern. The objective is to avoid the encroachment of the multitudes of 20th c. bayonets of the world war periods which inevitably drag in militaria and war surplus.
I began my collecting syndrome as a kid prowling through war surplus stores which were everywhere in those days (50s) and I could buy bayonets for a quarter. Little did I know what odyssey had begun!
With bayonets, I knew a bit on plug bayonets, as my late friend Roger Evans wrote the book on them ("The Plug Bayonet", R.D.C.Evans), and these were essentially hunting daggers later so well marked etc.
The ubiquitous 'socket' bayonet however has a degree of literature, but the design is so simple, very hard to distinguish usually aside from, as you note, dimensions.
It seems most of these from the land pattern muskets (I still cant figure what 'land' means.....is it aside from sea?) were in about 16-17" lengths. It makes sense that dragoon carbine use would require shorter versions, as the Elliott mentioned.
That odd mark resembles the broad arrow but it is deformed somewhat.
I broke down and paid the ransom on the bayonet book by Goldstein, you got me goin'! so I'll keep you posted, so to speak.
Best
Jim
|