Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage MHG bayonet info

I recently got a issue of a August 1985 Gun Report, and in it they had an article titled "The mystery of the Canadian Savage M99 Bayonet" By Alfred H. Savage.

Here is the article,im sure some have seen it bofore.

Thanks Don, this is really interesting. David

I don't remember seeing that, cool info!

Now, who is/was Alfred H. Savage?

An interesting fellow who among other things, collected bayonets.
Thanks for the post Don!

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/edmontonjournal/obituary.aspx?pid=174053706

Thanks Don, I had never seen the article before. Good info.

John

I have data on about 10% of the MHG rifle production.

To add a little to the history using the above data, the first shipment of rifles 12/30/1914 appears to have had rack/member numbers up to around 500.

There was a later shipment made 4/10/1915 with rack numbers mainly in the 800's and 900's with the highest I've seen being 1015.

There is another group with serials in between and rack numbers in the 500, 600, 700 ranges. I don't have enough shipping info to tell if they shipped as one group or multiples groups.

The musket barrel was marked with the caliber in the standard location which was covered by the upper forearm wood. After around serial 165500, round the end of the 1st shipment, the caliber was added to the top of the receiver ring where it would be visible.

From the data it appears that the rifles were ordered in batches. The butt plates were numbered and randomly attached to rifles within that production group.

As a member you had the option to purchase a Savage musket or provide your own rifles. Therefore not all MHG guns are Savages. It is thought that around 800 Savage muskets were produced with member/rack numbers going to over 1000.

I've read that all MHG gun had the members name and date engraved on them. I think that was optionally added by the member at a later date. I've seen engraving on the receiver and info stamped in the butt stock, with no standardized format.

As for the bayonets, I would like to know more about them being numbered to the rifles. My bayonet is not numbered. Was each rifle shipped with a bayonet? Were they numbered at the factory or was it added by the member? Were there leftovers that were sold in the USA and for what purpose...to fit what? There have been a few leftover blades show up over the years. If anyone has or knows of a bayonet that can be checked for a number I would appreciate knowing what is found.

I have read that many of the MHG rifles were converted to sporting rifles after the war. This is true of the bayonets, also and probably with a much smaller survival rate.

I remember a bayonet selling a few years ago, don't recall the price. I finally sold my musket 4 years ago, was never lucky enough to find the blade, was told the blades would fetch as much as the rifle. I bought a blade missing the wood parts a few years ago from a guy in Dallas, tinkered with the idea of doing something with the handle, but never did.

Ken, Your blade is resting nicely next to my brothers complete bayonet ! maybe next winter i will take the time to try and complete it. The krag-jorgenson blade looks very close to the savage one,but the aluminum savage bolster is completely different,As far as i can see the savage bayonet was the only one with one grip screw. Don

Cheryl said if anyone wanted the high resolution version ,she could e-mail one.

jthe complete bayonet would be the one thing I would never sell, never say never about one showing up

This is mine Rick but can find no numbers on it

what is your "don't want to sell it price"

Multiple pics of mine appear on p. 54 of my book. It belonged to Blair at that time. It's not for sale. It'll be displayed at the CGCA show in Denver next weekend. There aren't any numbers on it. David

Thanks guy's! We are at 3 for 3 no numbers.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the scabbards that were made for the bayonet had the number. Tom

You find that over there Graeme? Thought I saw one at the Wellington auctions some years ago maybe this was it

Johno

Mine does not have any numbers either.

Thanks Bill. We are at 5 for 5 with no numbers.

My gut tells me those with numbers were stamped by owners and not factory. There was an MHG with "number matching" bayonet at a show in Orangeville, Ontario a year ago. I should have taken a close look at it. Owner is a Samurai sword expert/ historian who is respected around the world.
Bill

How many different blades styles did they make and how many different handles did they use on the Home Guard Muskets???????

The P. L. Co. may have been The Pacific League. Today known as The Pacific Polo League ( The Vancouver Polo Club). That would explain those Muskets found out here.

Rick99 said he read that many of the MHG Muskets were converted to sporting rifles after The War. These converts must today, be easily identified by the ladder backsight still on them. Military 1903 Springfield , .303 Enfield , Mauser 98' backsites ,and others are strongly attached to the barrel by a large collar and hard to remove, unless the MHG ladder sight was mounted only by a 3/8" dovetail. The step at the muzzle for the bayonet then would be the only identifying feature.

Amazing that Savage had these guns ready to go, and yet didn't use unfinished rifles manufactured earlier with lower serial #'s.