PRUSSIAN HIRSCHFANGER SWORD BAYONET FOR THE JAEGER RIFLE FROM THE YORK SPRINGS, PA, G.A.R. POST

$295.00

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Item Code: 2023-2997

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This bayonet is in excavated condition, showing deep brown pitting and rust to the blade and green to the brass hilt. The spearpoint tip of the of flat, unfullered double-edged blade is bent, but the blade is full length, the grip mortise and quillons of the crossguard are in place and undamaged, and the catch spring is still there, though rusted. Sometimes designated as the Prussian Model 1810 or Model 1810/23, the general pattern was introduced as early as 1796 and remained in use for decades thereafter on the short rifles of jaeger, or light, troops and show up in a number of variations. The number of German short rifles imported into this country for the Civil War is unclear since records of “rifles” might refer to rifled muskets, but Todd (Vol.1, p.138) lists the Prussian Jaeger Short Rifle, Model 1835/47, fitted with a hunting pattern sword bayonet, as one of the four types of Prussian arms imported in any number. Schwalm and Hofman (p.124) note the shipment of 26,000 rifled “carbines” with sword bayonets from Prussia to the Confederacy under a contract of September 1861, which seems to have taken place in November, and presumably of the “French ‘chasseur’ type,” i.e. a short rifle or “carabine a tige.” Their entries are confusing and only 6,000 may have made their way out via Hamburg, but we note some similar bayonets classified by Hardin as “unknown Confederate” under his number 115 in The American Bayonet.

This comes from the collection of artifacts held by the Miller G.A.R. Post 551, Department of PA, located in York Springs, here in Adams County, who were in a very good position to acquire relics from the battlefield and surroundings. When the post disbanded sometime between 1919 and 1924 the relics were entrusted to David Starry, former Post Adjutant and Post Commander, and reportedly the post’s youngest member. These included tagged and un-tagged relics from the battlefield and a few tagged pieces from elsewhere, many of which we have handled over the years. These had remained in Starry’s family until purchased by well-known Maryland antique and Civil War dealer Tom Gordon and his father in the 1970s.

The Miller Post was chartered (or “mustered”) July 2, 1887, and named after a member of the 30th Pennsylvania killed at South Mountain. David Starry had served twice in the war: in the 165th PA Drafted Militia and in the 21st PA Cavalry. He returned to Adams County after the war, married in 1868 and reared twelve children. We know from the February 1924 obituary of another former member of the post that it had disbanded by that point. Ironically, though entrusted with the relics as the youngest member of the post according to the family, Starry died in 1925, outlived by at least one other member, who died in 1931, reportedly as the last survivor.  [sr][PH:L]

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