{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwi-m1905-springfield-16-inch-rifle-bayonet-marked-r-i-a-with-british-p17-scabbard-dated-1906","title":"Original U.S. WWI M1905 Springfield 16 inch Rifle Bayonet marked R.I.A. with British P17 Scabbard - dated 1906","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a true very good Condition 16” WWI M1905 Springfield rifle bayonet by Rock Island Arsenal, complete with a British Scabbard. It is dated 1906, being made during the Pre-WWI period for the M1903 Springfield rifle. It is still in the original issued configuration, with a 16 inch blade and wooden grip scales.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe WWII-era 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take the same blade bayonet as the M1903 Springfield rifle, so at the beginning of WWII, many were issued with bayonets originally made for those rifles.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.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike almost all examples we have seen, the blade ricasso is marked with \u003cstrong\u003eRIA\u003c\/strong\u003e, and not \"SA\". This indicates manufacture at Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, currently one\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eof the largest U.S. Government weapons manufacturers. Below this is the \u003cstrong\u003eOrdnance flaming bomb\u003c\/strong\u003e and date of manufacture \u003cstrong\u003e1906\u003c\/strong\u003e. The other side of the ricasso is marked with \u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e without a serial number present. The blade is in very good condition, with only light wear to the finish and edge. It has definitely had post arsenal sharpening, which has altered the profile somewhat. The handle and cross guard have retained the finish well, and the original wooden grip scales are in good condition, though the factory ribbed texture has partly worn away. The included scabbard is a British P-13 scabbard for a P-14 bayonet. The scabbard is in excellent condition. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlade Length: 16\"\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlade Style: Single Edged with Fuller\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOverall length: 20 1\/2“\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCrossguard: 3 1\/2”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eScabbard Length: 18”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40288559530053,"sku":"ONSV8785","price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV8785__03.jpg?v=1662137537","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwi-m1905-springfield-16-inch-rifle-bayonet-marked-r-i-a-with-british-p17-scabbard-dated-1906","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}