Original U.S. WWI USMC USN M1905 Springfield 16" Parade Bayonet Marked RIA with White M1910 Scabbard - Dated 1918
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good original U.S. WWI Model 1905 bayonet manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal in 1918, later converted for ceremonial or parade use with a bright nickel-plated finish and varnished wooden grip scales. It is accompanied by an original M1910 scabbard that was subsequently painted white, a configuration strongly suggestive of later U.S. Navy or Marine Corps ceremonial use.
The blade ricasso is marked with RIA for 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. It was put into operation somewhat to compensate for the loss of Harpers Ferry. Below the maker marking is the Ordnance flaming bomb and date of manufacture 1918. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. above serial number 353665. The blade is in good condition, with some chipping away of the plating along the edge.
The scabbard included is an original WWI issue M1910 scabbard, which has a raw-hide clad wooden inner scabbard, with a steel throat. The scabbard still has the canvas and leather "sleeve", which is so often missing. The scabbard was painted white, which is why we think it was done either for the Navy or Marine Corps.
The Model 1905 bayonet was adopted for the U.S. Model 1903 Springfield rifle and became one of the longest-lived American bayonet designs of the early 20th century. Original production ran from the prewar period through the years following WWI, with Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal manufacturing the early government examples.
During WWII, renewed demand for long bayonets for the M1 Garand led to additional production by commercial contractors beginning in 1942. These later examples differed in several details, including the widespread use of molded synthetic grips and Parkerized finishes. Many earlier Model 1905 bayonets were also refurbished or shortened during WWII, making an intact 1918 RIA 16-inch example especially desirable.
The combination of the RIA / 1918 markings, U.S. serial number 353665, full 16-inch blade, later nickel-plated parade finish, varnished wooden grips, and original white-painted M1910 scabbard with surviving canvas-and-leather cover makes this a particularly interesting ceremonial variation of a WWI-produced Model 1905 bayonet. The plating loss along the blade edge is the principal condition issue, while the intact original length and complete scabbard remain its strongest collector features.
Specifications:
Blade Length: 16"
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 20 1/2“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 17"
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