Original Italian WWI M1870/87 Vetterli Sword Bayonet Shortened in 1916 with Retained Quillion & Modified Scabbard
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is an unusual original Italian M1870/87 Vetterli sword bayonet that was subsequently shortened during the First World War, retaining its original curved quillion and accompanied by a correspondingly shortened leather scabbard with metal fittings. The approximately 11¾-inch blade places it among the less common longer shortened conversions rather than the much more frequently encountered approximately 9-inch pattern.
The bayonet began life as part of the long Italian Vetterli sword-bayonet family developed for the 10.4mm M1870 Vetterli rifle and subsequently retained with the M1870/87 Vetterli-Vitali.
However, it was later modified in the WWI era from the Model 1870 issue to the Model of 1870/1915 model with a shortened blade length of 11 3/4" for issue with the 87/15 Vetterli. This example retains the curved quillion, rare to see!
The brass and steel mounted scabbard was also modified in length to match, though it still has very faint original markings on the leather of the scabbard.
The ricasso of the blade of the bayonet is unmarked, but there is an arsenal or inspector stamp on the crossguard. The blade has been heavily sharpened, taking away much of the finish from the edge. This should fit any WW1 6.5mm Vetterli rifle of which there are still plenty to be found.
The combination of the M1870/87 long-spring Vetterli hilt, original composition grip scales, WWI-shortened approximately 11¾-inch blade, retained curved quillion, surviving inspection marking, and correspondingly shortened original-style leather scabbard makes this an especially interesting example of Italy’s wartime reuse of 19th-century Vetterli equipment.
Its unusually long shortened blade and surviving quillion distinguish it from the more common approximately 230 mm conversions, while measurement of the muzzle-ring diameter may allow its particular WWI modification to be classified more precisely.
Dimensions:
Blade length: 11 3/4”
Blade Style: Single Edge with Fuller
Overall length: 16 5/8”
Crossguard: 4”
Scabbard length: 12 3/8"
- This product is available for international shipping.
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