Original Item: Only One Available. We have only had a few of these rare sets previously, and they are definitely hard to come by. This is an excellent U.S. M1905 bayonet dated 1920, originally made for the M1903 Springfield Rifle. It is still in the original issued length, with the blued steel 16 inch blade, blued handle and cross guard, and wooden grip scales. This example is fitted with a very good condition original M1905 leather covered scabbard, dated 1908, with the rare Type 1 modification to add a belt hanger clip. These are very rarely seen on today's market, especially with the leather hanger loop intact. Unfortunately one of the rivets on the back is missing.

The M1 Garand was designed to take the same blade bayonet as the M1903 Springfield rifle, so at the beginning of WWII, many were issued with bayonets originally made for those rifles. Later in 1942 to keep up with wartime production, new orders for M1905 bayonets with plastic grips were sent out, which had plastic ribbed grips. These were also sometimes fitted to M1905 bayonets made previously that had damage to their wooden grips. This bayonet however still has its original wooden grips, and does not appear to have been reissued for WWII use.

In 1943, the specification for bayonets was changed to have a 10 inch blade, and many M1905 bayonets were shortened to this length. This bayonet however is still in the original configuration, which is rare to find on the market today. It still has the original Post-1909 blued finish on the blade.

The blade ricasso is marked with SA for the Springfield Armory in Springfield Mass, the primary center for the manufacture of United States military firearms from 1777 until its closing in 1968. Below this is the Ordnance flaming bomb and date of manufacture 1920. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. above serial number 1146690. The blade is in very good shape, though there are some nicks on the edge and spine. The wooden grip scales are in solid condition, with a great color, though they have been worn mostly smooth, with only traces of the original factory ribbed texture and a crack on one side.

The original M1905 Type 1 Modified Scabbard is clearly marked R.I.A. / 1908. / H.E.K. on the leather, just below the throat on the rear of the scabbard. This indicates modification at Rock Island Arsenal in 1908. The “H.E.K.” marking identifies a leather goods inspector, who unfortunately has not been identified. This first type modification of the M1905 scabbard involved removing the metal hanger, and installing a leather frog with a belt clip. This example has some wear on the leather tip and on the side of the body, but is otherwise in great shape, especially considering the age. Unfortunately the bayonet catch on the scabbard is broken and no longer locks the bayonet in place.

An excellent 16” WWI M1905 Springfield rifle bayonet by Springfield Armory, complete with an original M1905 Type 1 Modified Scabbard!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 15 ⅞”
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 20 1/2“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 17"

The Banana Wars were a series of conflicts that consisted of military occupation, police action, and intervention by the United States in Central America and the Caribbean between the end of the Spanish–American War in 1898 and the inception of the Good Neighbor Policy in 1934. The military interventions were primarily carried out by the United States Marine Corps, who also developed a manual, the Small Wars Manual (1921) based on their experiences. On occasion, the United States Navy provided gunfire support and troops from the United States Army were also deployed.

With the Treaty of Paris signed in 1898, control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines fell to the United States (surrendered from Spain). Following this, the United States proceeded to conduct military interventions in Cuba, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. These conflicts ended with the withdrawal of troops from Haiti in 1934 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The term "banana wars" was popularized in 1983 by writer Lester D. Langley. Langley wrote several books on Latin American history and American intervention, including: The United States and the Caribbean, 1900–1970 and The Banana Wars: An Inner History of American Empire, 1900–1934. His work regarding the Banana Wars encompasses the entire United States tropical empire, which overtook the western hemisphere, spanning both Roosevelt presidencies. The term was popularized through this writing and portrayed the United States as a police force sent to reconcile these warring tropical countries, lawless societies and corrupt politicians; essentially establishing US reign over tropical trade. Hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of locals died in the Banana Wars.