Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good original U.S. Model of 1905 rifle bayonet manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal in 1906, complete with a WWII-period USN Mk I fiberglass scabbard. Originally produced for the M1903 Springfield rifle, the bayonet remains in its desirable full-length configuration with its original 16-inch blade and wooden grip scales. Unlike the enormous number of early M1905 bayonets shortened to the 10-inch M1 configuration during WWII, this example retains its original blade length.

The left ricasso is marked R.I.A. for Rock Island Arsenal, above the Ordnance flaming bomb and the manufacture date 1906. The opposite side is marked U.S. and has no serial number. Early 1906 Rock Island Arsenal M1905 bayonets are known without serial numbers, making the lack of a number consistent with an early RIA example.

The Model of 1905 bayonet entered production in 1906 and was manufactured by both Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal. It was designed for the M1903 Springfield rifle and incorporated a substantial 16-inch blade with broad fuller and ribbed walnut grip scales. The same mounting system was later used on the M1 Garand, allowing the large inventory of existing M1905 bayonets to remain useful when the Garand entered widespread service.

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.

Unlike most examples we have seen, the blade ricasso is marked with RIA, and not "SA". This indicates manufacture at Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, currently one of the largest U.S. Government weapons manufacturers. Below this is the Ordnance flaming bomb and date of manufacture 1906. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. without a serial number present, correct for a 1906-dated RIA bayonet. The blade is in fair condition, with moderate 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 scabbard included is an original WWII issued M3 scabbard. The scabbard is faintly marked on the throat with USN MKI which was generally used in conjunction with the practice bayonet. This wasn’t always the case and many troops during WWII used these scabbards with steel bayonets as well. The markings are still visible and much of the paint is retained on the fiberglass body, though there is some chipping and material loss, heavy scuffing, and minor fraying of the material along the edge.

Taken together, this is a particularly interesting combination of an early pre-WWI Rock Island Arsenal M1905 bayonet and WWII U.S. Navy scabbard. The unnumbered R.I.A. / Ordnance bomb / 1906 markings, original 16-inch blade, surviving walnut grips, and USN Mk I scabbard give the set relevance to both the M1903 Springfield’s early service life and the continued wartime use of the M1905 pattern with the M1 Garand. The post-arsenal sharpening and scabbard wear are important condition considerations, but the bayonet’s survival without having been cut down during the WWII conversion program is a particularly desirable feature.

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