This bayonet was introduced in 1842 because of soldiers’ complaints that the previously issued standard Hanovarian catch bayonet was shaking loose under fire -vibration caused the bayonet’s rear rim to jump out of the “S” shaped spring catch. No less than the Duke of Wellington got involved and suggested the addition of a socket ring.

The compromise was the P-1842 bayonet (known as the Lovell bayonet) that required a different catch mechanism on the weapon itself. This “Lovell’s” pattern was then put into service with the pattern 1842 Musket and again with the Pattern 1851 Minie rifle.

As a side note, in 1853 the British adopted the new pattern P-1853 rifled musket that was rifled and built in the smaller .577 caliber. This weapon, shipped in huge quantities to the United States for the Civil War, used a similar socket bayonet, but finally with a locking ring just as originally suggested by the old Duke. He didn’t get to see his fix realized, because he had already died on 14th September 1852. This tough replica is made of high-carbon steel