Confederate Saber Bayonet Attributed to Leech & Rigdon with Cook & Brother Type Hilt

American Civil War

22.75" semi-Yataghan blade with 13.5" unstopped central fuller, 1.125" wide at ricasso. Overall length 27.125" with a crudely cast 4.875" brass hilt with 22 grooves in the grip. 4" cross guard with .90" interior diameter muzzle ring and forward swept quillon. 2" mortise slot in top of hilt with spring catch to receive a saber bayonet lug. Bayonet is accompanied by what appears to be an unrelated brass mounted leather scabbard with moderate wear that has been mated with a late 19th or early 20th century European frog. Both Leech & Rigdon and Cook & Brother sent large numbers of finished and unfinished parts that had yet to be assembled into edged weapons to Columbus, MS when the falls of their respective cities were imminent. Thus parts from both Memphis and and New Orleans ended up being assembled into completed items in Columbus for issue. For years collectors have noted these odd, non-standard items that appeared to include Cook & Brother blades on Leech & Ridgon hilts or the reverse, like this example. Recent discovery of documents and correspondence reveal that these hybrid items were assembled from the parts sent to Columbus, MS. The measurements suggest that this bayonet was intended for use on a modified US Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle, rather than on a Cook & Brother product or an English import rifle.

From the Bill Beard Collection

This lot is located in Cincinnati.