Original Item. Only One Available. This is a heavily service worn original U.S. Model 1905 bayonet manufactured by Springfield Armory in 1906 for the Model 1903 Springfield rifle. It remains in its original full length configuration with a 16-inch blade, blued hilt and crossguard, and wooden grip scales. The bayonet is accompanied by an early Rock Island Arsenal leather covered scabbard dated 1907, although the scabbard is in very rough condition with its belt hanger missing and the leather body nearly separated at the throat.

The Model 1905 bayonet was adopted for use with the U.S. Model 1903 Springfield rifle. Its long blade reflected the military doctrine of the period, which continued to place considerable importance on the bayonet for close combat.

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 1906. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. above serial number 141704. The blade is in fair heavily-used and sharpened condition, with the extreme sharpening wearing away much of the bluing. There is a bit of surface oxidation staining, especially where the finish is worn away. The handle and cross guard are slightly oxidized, and the original wooden grip scales are in good condition with some scuffing.

The included scabbard is an original Pre-WWI issue M1906 second pattern scabbard, but the leather cover is nearly broken off and the belt hook is long gone. It is marked on the back with R.I.A. / 1907 / F.P.B., for manufacture at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, one of the major producers of U.S. Arms and Ordnance from after the Civil War until present day.

The retaining hooks are still intact, so the bayonet locks securely into the scabbard. The scabbard overall is very rough with the leather weak and rubbing, and the stitching along the edge is heavily splitting with leather loss near the tip. The belt hanger is entirely gone due to the leather throat piece nearly being detached.

The dated Springfield Armory blade, serial number 141704, original 16-inch configuration, wooden grips, and early Rock Island Arsenal scabbard preserve the principal features of a pre-WWI Model 1905 bayonet set. The heavy sharpening, oxidation, missing scabbard hanger, weakened leather, separated stitching, and loss near the tip are substantial condition factors, but the bayonet itself remains a representative example of the long pattern used with the Model 1903 Springfield rifle through WWI.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 16"
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 20 1/2“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 17"