French M1892 Mannlicher Berthier 1st Pattern Bayonet
Straight blade with spear point, single fuller on each face as well as short fuller on the spine running to the tip. Black slab composition grips (meaning that this is the 1st pattern, the 2nd pattern having wood grips) secured to the exposed tang by two steel rivets. Hilt with muzzle ring overlapping the grip and a hooked lower quillon. Many M1892 bayonets had the quillon removed during WW1 – this example remains intact and original. Steel pommel with locking button. Steel scabbard with frog loop, brown leather frog of the correct type for the M1892, with strap and brass buckle.
The bayonet’s quillon is stamped with a cursive F and the serial number ’38157’. The scabbard is also numbered on the frog loop band but because of the black paint that has been applied to it this number is illegible, so I cannot tell if the bayonet and scabbard are a matching pair or not. The scabbard has a small ‘S’ inspection mark next to the rivet hole on one side.
The blade is bright with some light frosting and a few small spots of patination in the fullers. The edge of the blade has been sharpened with visible grinding marks – the tip has also been ground but is not particularly sharp, probably because of its thick point intended to pierce without breaking.
The hilt, tang and pommel have areas of patination, the pommel some speckled cleaned light pitting. Some small indentations to the grip slabs. The scabbard has been painted gloss black – this is mostly intact with just a few small chips revealing steel. The rivet near the throat of the scabbard is missing. The leather frog has some surface rubbing and loss of stitching in places.
