2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company D
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Company D
  • Military Life
    • Uniforms and Gear
    • Drill and Tactics
  • Research Library
  • Civilian
  • Armory

​Next Event:

Goldendale Tactical August 24-25. Goldendale, WA.

Fitting Your 1859 Sharps Bayonet

3/19/2017

13 Comments

 
     Before you start and exclaim Berdans threw away their bayonets remember, we did it once and had to buy them back.  Then, captains were held financially liable for further "lost" bayonets.  Finally, if you check your documentation there were Berdan bayonet charges on record.  With that out of the way, we are nearing the end of our off season fitting 1861 Springfield bayonets to many of our Sharps rifles.
     As a necessary disclaimer this information is for entertainment purposes only and we in no way condone or suggest these modifications being done by anyone other than a professional.  That said, this is how our unit goes about making these modifications.  We've fitted five bayonets so far this season and none of them really interchange.  This is great if you worry about your stuff getting stolen.
     If you have an Armi Sport Sharps, you're in luck.  Your mods should only take about 15 or 20 minutes.  We start with a bayonet purchased from Regimental Quartermaster sand smooth all the rough machining marks inside the lug.  Just smoothing the inside of the bayonet lug seems to be all that is needed for an Armi Sport. We then slide the lug to the front sight and use a Sharpie to trace the outline of the sight onto the rear of the lug.  This is a poor man's machine bluing.  We then file the area inside the "bluing."  Once the sight clearance is addressed we then make some slight modifications if necessary to the channel.  Lastly, we file the very end of the sight channel with a square file until the locking ring locks snugly behind the front sight.  Make sure as you file you keep your corners nice square and crisp.
     Now, if you have a Pedersoli, pull up a chair and clear your schedule because you are in for hours of grinding, sanding, and filing to make a bayonet fit.  Before you even consider fitting a bayonet to a Pedersoli, you have to come to terms with the fact you will need to file your front sight down by nearly half.  The Pedersoli front sight blade is nearly twice as tall as that of an Armi Sport.  We used calipers to measure an Armi Sport sight and filed the Pedersoli to the same height.  Even then, you will need to file the sight entry of the lug as close to the edge as you dare. 
     The Dremel is indispensable in the process and we prefer the extension tip for grinding further into the center of the lug with greater ease.  We keep the bayonet firmly in a vice with guards to protect the finish.  We do most of the heavy material removal with a grinding attachment and a low grit sanding disc.  The bayonet material is very soft and one grinding wheel is all we need.  Be mindful about over heating the metal while you're grinding and cool it off frequently in water.  If you do have any heat discoloration, it sands off nicely with high grit wet/dry sand paper. We have often been plagued by high spots due to the low production standards of Indian made bayonets so an aggressive rat tail file is indispensable in locating the high spots.  Everything else requires some measure of filing.  
     Whether an Armi Sport or Pedersoli, we remove a little and fit.  We then remove a little bit more and then fit.  It's better to not take off enough and try again than take off too much and have a bayonet for the trash. Don't rush the process.  When you're finally complete you can spend as much time cleaning up and perfecting your work as you prefer.  Smoothing and polishing with wet/dry sand paper from 1-2,000 grit restores the luster removed from grinding and filing.
     When done correctly, the bayonet should fit snugly without scratching or catching and with hardly any rattle.  When your bayonet is fitted perfectly, we highly recommend the two rivet bayonet scabbards from ACW kits.
13 Comments
Robert Beck
4/19/2017 10:29:04 am

Could someone get back to me in reference to loading a Berdan for reenactments? I watch the video and tried the two different paper loads. Neither one fired. I have a new Pedersoli Sharps.

Thank you.

Reply
Ethan Whitehall
5/1/2017 08:29:33 pm

Hello Robert!

I too have a brand new Pedersoli Sharps that We worked on over this last weekends training event. We drilled the cone and the front flash channel out slightly wider and fixed the problems of misfires. If you have more questions or would like pictures of my fix, feel free to email which is listed here on the website.

Reply
best online resume writers link
12/18/2018 04:03:03 pm

The bayonet is a really interesting weapon. It is a weapon that can be used both for long range and melee engagements. This is possible because the bayonet combines a rifle and a sharp knife. The knife is attached to the front of the rifle, making it really easy to stab an enemy. I am really amazed how people designed this type of weapon. Never in my wildest dreams, would I be able to conceptualize or even think of something close to the bayonet.

Reply
Owen
7/8/2017 01:02:03 am

Easiest way i found to solve the "missfires" in the Sharps rifles is to ditch the anemic CCI brand musket caps and just buy the RWS caps. I was also wondering since I was given the standard military sharps as a gift, if I bought the double set trigger from taylor's and Co available for the berdan model, would it just drop in?

Reply
Bill Skillman link
7/11/2017 05:38:50 am

Fellow Sharpshooters.

Great work on modifying repop bayonets to fit the AS and Ped Sharps. I've included a link to your website and 'how to article' on the Co. C 2nd USSS forum website.

For those who posted questions about making blank cartridges for their Sharps, I invite you to stop by the Co. C forum--I have two articles (one text and one in photos) on how to recreate Ordnance type blanks that use the flat base instead of the 'cut off tail' approach. The former cartridge (made of a linen base with 'gold beaters foil' base--aka the inner lining of sheep intestine) is one issued to US cavalry, infantry and sharpshooters. The cartridges were fragile, which is why the USSS had cartridge boxes issued with wooden inserts drilled with 10 holes per each upper tin to hold them. The South continued to use the pre-1860 Ordnance rounds, using paper cartridges with the 'twist tail'.

I also had a brief exchange about the percussion caps. The 'reenactor caps' produced by CCI are nowhere near as powerful as their original line that featured 6 wings and 'hot shooters'. There were banned from reenacting due to reports of one of the wings flying off and striking men in closed ranks. We had no problems on the skirmish line--but followed battalion orders and limited them to live shooting. RWS is the cap the majority of us in the Old Northwest use to keep "making music on the skirmish line".

Good luck on the skirmish line, great site.

Bill Skillman
Bugler

Reply
John Flora
11/20/2019 06:15:00 am

I saw one of your woodworking videos. In it you were holding the end of a bed that was made for the captain. Would you do a video of how to make that bed?

Reply
Kate Myers link
12/9/2019 11:56:15 pm

This is indeed an interesting blog. I'm glad I stumbled upon this blog. :)

Reply
Martin link
12/25/2020 01:15:49 am

Appreciate youu blogging this

Reply
Robert Courtney
12/25/2021 08:44:35 am

Great info! Been attempting to start an authentic USSS unit for years.I'll be following!

Reply
Glass Doors Johnson City link
7/30/2022 04:54:00 am

Niice blog you have

Reply
hair stylist naples link
12/20/2024 09:33:48 pm

The atmosphere at this salon is so relaxing, and the stylists are top-notch. My hair looks and feels amazing every time.

Reply
pet portraits link
12/26/2024 02:15:34 am

A perfect combination of creativity and emotion, these designs are a lovely way to remember furry friends.

Reply
haul away boat link
3/14/2025 03:36:47 am

Salvaged boats offer an opportunity for DIY enthusiasts and professionals to find rare, high-quality parts at a fraction of the cost. A great way to support sustainability in the marine industry.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Contact us!
    Captain Ethan Whitehall: [email protected]

    Vendors:
    NJ Sekela
    Wambaugh & White
    Regimental Quartermaster
    Townsends

    Dell's Leather Works

    Gun Parts:
    VTI gun parts
    Taylor Arms
    Flintlocks, etc.


    Firearms Dealers:
    Gun Broker
    Dixie Gun Works

    Other Links:
    Washington Civil War Association
    Happy Friends of Civil War Farb
    Company C Berdan Sharpshooters
    Historically Speaking

    New Recruits:
    WCWA Safety Test

    Other Resources:
    Reenactment Checklist
    Company D Standing Orders
    Company D Drill Guide
    Berdan Brochure
    Officer Responsibilities

    Archives

    June 2024
    September 2023
    July 2023
    August 2022
    June 2022
    August 2021
    May 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    July 2013

    Picture
    Special thanks to the archivists at the Maine State Archives for all their research help.



    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly