Joseph and Fellow Sharpshooters.
If you use the search feature on your computer and type in “Co. B. 2nd USSS” you should be able to locate the old Michigan reenactor/company website (better yet, just go to:
http://geocities.com/Pentagon/6949/.) Therein, you will find a series of articles I wrote circa 2001-4. The one article I think is most apropos for Joe’s inquiry is entitled: Getting to the Point-those pesky bayonets again”. In the article I describe my research using the Caspar Trepp papers, particularly the 1st USSS Ordnance reports. Unfortunately, the rest of the ‘What did they wear?’ articles consist of my earliest writing and research, that have been eclipsed by more comprehensive and up-to-date research.
It is good to hear that Fall Creek is still offering for sale bayonets for Armi Sport Sharps rifles. When Thom Winter told me about this option a few years ago, I contacted Fall Creek to see if I could purchase one separately? I was informed that this option was only for the new Armi-Sports rifles. I don’t know if this is still the case, haven’t checked.
When I discussed the possibility of having a bayonet fitted for my Shiloh with Mr. Zimmerman, he informed me that he would have to: (a) remove the existing front sight mount, (b) reduce the diameter of the barrel-starting from the muzzle to 6 inches back, (c) reconfigure a Springfield bayonet to fit the new barrel, (d) weld on a Springfield mount/front sight. The real ‘deal buster’ was when he told me that I couldn't use my Sharps for live firing after the conversion. I don’t know if old Zim was just getting tired of my hanging around and asking him annoying questions, or if he was being dead on honest. Needless to say, I beat feet out of his tent, pronto.
Accompanying my ‘Pesky Bayonets’ article is one that Dan Wambaugh wrote on how to convert original Springfield/Enfield or reproduction bayonets to fit our Sharps. A number of the Michigan fellows have successfully done this.
Bill Skillman
Randolf Mess-USSS