Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice example of the sword bayonet for use with the 10.4 mm. M1871 Vetterli and M1871/87 Vetterli-Vitali rifles. This is a very early example, with the long spring for the bayonet catch, and without the cut out lower muzzle ring that was introduced in 1875 indicated by Anthony Carter in his work World Bayonets 1800 to the Present. This example also still has its original composition grip scales.
The blade on this bayonet is 20 1/2 inches in length, with an overall length of 25 1/2 inches. Many M1871 bayonets were subsequently shortened and/or had the lower quillion removed, making unaltered examples very desirable to collectors.
This example is marked on the blade ricasso with Crown over TA, for Royal Arms Factory Torre Annunziata, which was founded in 1758 as a commune in Naples. There are additional markings and proofs on the hooked-quillion crossguard.
Condition of the blade and bayonet is good, though the blade and hilt does show staining and light pitting in the steel. The composition grips are in very good condition, with no cracks or dents, and the catch functions correctly.
The scabbard is brass mounted leather, and is in very nice condition, though over the past century the leather has dried out, and the scabbard has shrunk by about an inch in length. The portion of the blade exposed near the grip is darker than the rest, so this bayonet was stored in the shortened scabbard for some time. The Brass fittings are in good condition.
A fine example of what is becoming a difficult bayonet to find in such fine condition, never messed with, just the way we like to find them, ready to display.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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