French M1892 Mannlicher Berthier 2nd Pattern Bayonet, Chromed Finish
Single-fullered straight blade, 40cm (15¾ inches) in length, 51.6cm (20 5/16 inches) overall. Wood grips, meaning that this is the 2nd pattern, the 1st having composite grips. The blade has notches near the hilt which engage with a mechanism locking the blade into the scabbard. Steel scabbard, brown leather frog. Hilt with muzzle ring overlapping the grip and a hooked quillon. Many M1892 bayonets had the quillon removed during WW1 – this example remains intact and original.
The blade and hilt parts have been chromed – this finish is intact with no visible chipping or flaking. The wood grips are in good condition with only one noticeable dent. The scabbard has a dark blued finish with one rubbed patch on the reverse side showing patinated steel, some tiny scuffs and scratches overall and one small dent at the edge near the chape. The leather frog is flexible, with some very small abraded losses to the leather at the edges on the front side – not enough to affect the stitching which is all intact. One small crack on the reverse side of the scabbard loop which has not opened up, and I think may have been previously glued to stop it propagating.