Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the rare Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle bayonet with scabbard, made for Prussia and regimentally marked. The bayonet is in very good condition, with lots of clear markings. The M1871/84 was the first knife bayonet to become general issue in a major army, setting a trend that continues to the present day. Most of these bayonets were later altered into M1884/98 knife bayonets for the Gewehr 98 rifle, so finding one intact is extremely rare. This is only the second example that we have had.

The steel blade is 10" long and is in very good condition, with just a few small areas of pitting on the spine and other areas. It has been sharpened a bit, but still has a lot of the original factory machining marks. The blade ricasso bears the maker marking:

ALEX COPPEL
SOLINGEN

Per J Anthony Carter's Work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik, (Steel Ware Factory), this company was a major manufacturer of edged weapons and tools from the end of the 19th century up until the WWII period. Unfortunately, as NSDAP-control increased, brothers Carl Gustav and Dr. Alexander Coppel, the Jewish owners of the firm, were forced out. In 1936 the firm had been "Aryanized", and started using the name ALCOSO to hide the Jewish family name. By the end of 1936 the brothers were ejected from their Solingen offices, and by 1940 the brand trademark initials ACS were changed to AWS to reflect the change in ownership and name: Alexander Coppel Solingen to Alcoso-Werk Solingen. Carl Gustav Coppel committed suicide in Solingen in 1941, and Dr. Alexander Coppel was arrested in 1942 and sent to Theresienstadt Prison camp, where he died August 5th 1942. The factory itself was destroyed by Allied bombers in November 1944.

The Spine of this bayonet is marked (CROWN) / W / 88, indicating acceptance in 1888 by Kaiser Wilhelm II, and the year the bayonet was accepted (1915). There is also an inspector proof under the date marking.

The bayonet is also regimentally marked on the Cross guard in the typical German fashion, with 8.R.14.145 stamped below the maker mark. The scabbard also has regimental markings but differ from the bayonet; 55.R.1.50.

A very nice example of this very rare bayonet and scabbard, fully marked and read to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 15“
Crossguard: 2 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 11 1/4"

The Mauser Model 1871 adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71, or "Infantry Rifle 71" ("I.G.Mod.71" was stamped on the rifles themselves) was the first rifle model in a distinguished line designed and manufactured by Paul Mauser and Wilhelm Mauser of the Mauser company and later mass-produced at Spandau arsenal.

Paul Mauser developed his bolt-action rifle from 1867 to 1871. During 1870–71 trials with many different rifles took place, with the "M1869 Bavarian Werder" being the Mausers' chief competitor. The Mauser was provisionally adopted on 2 December 1871, pending the development of an appropriate safety. With support from the government's Spandau arsenal, the improvements to the safety mechanism were completed and the rifle was formally accepted on 14 February 1872 as Infantry Rifle Model 1871 by the German Empire excluding Bavaria. General issue to troops began in late 1873 and all units had been converted by the spring of 1875.

The design was updated in 1884 with an 8-round tubular magazine designed by Alfred von Kropatschek, making this Germany's first repeating rifle. This version was designated the Gewehr 1871/84, and a new shorter bayonet was developed for this rifle. These bayonets are extremely rare on the market today.