Planning my new build w/a bayonet

[Berks Liberty]

In planning my new build I've come up with an idea to make this one a little unique and personal.  I'd like to take a fowler and put a bayonet on it.  I want to pattern the gun after something made in Reading that someone could have used as their personal gun but then went to war during the Rev. War.  I currently have a 44" D profile Colerain barrel which is .900 at the muzzle.  Anyone have any suggestions as to a maker of a bayonet for that size muzzle?  I checked TOW but they don't have one which would fit.  If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate them. 

Jason

[Dennis Glazener]

Probably would have used a Brown Bess bayonet. Here's a low priced one
http://www.bytheswordinc.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=1522&SEName=brown-bess-bayonet-ah-3551

Or if you want a higher priced  one http://www.cabelas.com/traditional-rifles-shotguns-brown-bess-musket-bayonet-1.shtml?WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleBaseUSA&WT.z_mc_id1=739870&rid=40&mr:trackingCode=3958E7CC-958E-DF11-A0C8-002219318F67&mr:referralID=NA

[jpldude]

Jason, methinks you'll have to make your own socket to fit your barrel & have the bayonet welded to it.

Rgds,

John

[Rasch Chronicles]

Jason,

Personally, I think it's a great idea! I'm doing the same thing with my Chambers NE Fowler. I would think lots of frontier settlers during the F&I era, and again during the Revolution, cut down their forends to fit a socket bayonet in place.

I know that The Rifle Shoppe  carries several models also. You will probably have to cut down and  braze the socket to make it fit properly.

Best regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch   
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles Top Ten!

[Ed Wenger]

Jason,

You might want to try The Rifle Shoppe.  They had one that fit a Colerain "Bess" barrel, not sure of the muzzle diameter...  Sorry, don't have their contact info in front of me, but you can google them.  Good luck, hope that helps.


             Ed

[bob in the woods]

I bought one of the " Indian" bayonets and filed the socket to fit. I am however, strongly considering asking Jeff Miller to forge me one. The Indian one was cheap enough that I didn't mind messing around with it.

[Berks Liberty]

Jason,

Personally, I think it's a great idea! I'm doing the same thing with my Chambers NE Fowler. I would think lots of frontier settlers during the F&I era, and again during the Revolution, cut down their forends to fit a socket bayonet in place.

I know that The Rifle Shoppe  carries several models also. You will probably have to cut down and  braze the socket to make it fit properly.

Best regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch   
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles Top Ten!

I came up with the idea when I found out that I had an ancestor who fought in the Rev. War.  He was a farmer.  Not sure if he would have used a gun like the one I'm planning but no one will ever know.

[satwel]

Jason,
Sounds like a worthy project. I'm considering something similar.
Remember to include a metal ramrod and a retaining spring. If you brought your own fowler to militia duty, the regulations said that the wooden ramrod had to be converted to metal and a spring installed on the entry pipe to keep it in place and prevent rattling. They also stated the forestock should be cut back to accommodate a bayonet, but you've already got that covered.

Good luck.

[Dennis Glazener]

Another thought is a rifleman knife with the handle whittled down to fit the bore. I know that some of the Rev War militia units that were carrying civilian rifles were told by their commanding officers to modify their rifleman's knife to fit into the bore like "plug bayonets".

Dennis

[Dan'l 1946]

  I think Dennis is onto something with the plug bayonet idea. That way you won't have to alter the muzzle area. I believe that plug bayonets are available, but if not one of the knife makers on this forum could certainly make you one. Dan

[Rasch Chronicles]

Jason,

Here are more bayonets: The Sutler of St. Misery. Nice selection for a variety of reproduction arms, unless the Italians and Japanese had Brown Bess rifles... Anyway, I would drop them an email, and see if they have one that might match your barrel dimensions.

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
It’s Been a Long Road: Albert A Rasch In Afghanistan

[Berks Liberty]

Jason,

Here are more bayonets: The Sutler of St. Misery. Nice selection for a variety of reproduction arms, unless the Italians and Japanese had Brown Bess rifles... Anyway, I would drop them an email, and see if they have one that might match your barrel dimensions.

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
It’s Been a Long Road: Albert A Rasch In Afghanistan

Thanks!  I'm surprised there isn't a Chinese Brown Bess Bayonet! 

[Birdhunter]

Jason,
I built one this spring using a D-weight Colerain oct barrel that I turned the last 5" to round & fitted it with a bayonet. I'll be at the CLA show & have it there if you want to see it.
Curt

[Rasch Chronicles]

Birdhunter,

How about a picture or two for those of us unable to attend the CLA show?

Thanks!

Best regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch   
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™ Darn Tough Vermont: The Best Socks!
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

[Birdhunter]

Albert,
I haven't taken any pictures yet,but when I do I'll try to figure out how to post here. Thanks for serving. God Bless and Preserve the United States.
Curt

[Rasch Chronicles]

BirdHunter,

That is very gracious of you thank you!

Best regards,
Albert “The Afghan” Rasch
Traditional Methods of Waterproofing Fabric
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

[Birdhunter]

Albert,
Bill of the 45th took some pics of the bayonet mount on my smooth rifle & posted them on the over the back fence thread. Thanks Bill.
Curt

[Rasch Chronicles]

Curt,

Thanks again!

Albert