Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice U.S. M1905 bayonet dated 1906, originally made towards the end of WWI for the M1903 Springfield Rifle. It was then reissued in WWII for the M1 Garand Rifle. This example is fitted with a very good condition original M1905 leather covered scabbard, dated 1911, with the rare Type 1 modification to add a belt hanger done by R.I.A in 1921.

The Garand was designed to take the same blade bayonet as the M1903 Springfield rifle, so at the beginning of the war they were issued with bayonets originally made for those rifles.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.

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 was however at some point stripped and nickel-plated, with the wooden grips painted black. This is the standard setup for a "parade" bayonet, used during drill and parades to match nickel plated rifles.

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 81433. The blade is in very good condition, with the expected stained patina from being over 100 years old. It has been sharpened and has some signs of minor staining and peppering. The handle and cross guard have a nice, worn aged patina. The original wooden grip scales are in good condition, however they have been worn almost totally smooth and have damages to the top side of the grip.

The original M1905 Type 1 Modified Scabbard is clearly marked R.I.A. / 1921 on the frog on the front side of the scabbard. This indicates modification at Rock Island Arsenal in 1921. It also bears a H.E.K. marking and the year 1911, the year of manufacturing of the leather scabbard. 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. These are hard to find intact, as usually the hanger is gone or partially torn away. This example has some wear on the leather tip, but is otherwise in great shape with some minor signs of wear, especially considering the age.

A very nice 16” WWI M1905 Springfield rifle bayonet by SA, complete with a rare R.I.A. leather scabbard! Ready to display or fit on your Garand or Springfield Rifle!

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