Norwegian M1894 Krag Jorgensen Bayonet, by Steyr
Unfullered spear-pointed blade, wood slab grips secured by a single screw, steel one-piece hilt, backstrap and pommel with integral sprung locking mechanism in the hilt, that both locks the bayonet to its scabbard and locks it onto a rifle. Steel scabbard with projecting hook on the throat piece to engage with the locking mechanism, brown leather frog with angled belt loop, riveted to the scabbard throat piece. Blade 21.4cm in length, 33.5cm overall.
The blade is stamped at the ricasso with a ‘WG’, the maker’s mark of Steyr in Austria. Most M1894 bayonets were produced at the Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (Kongsberg Weapons Factory) in Norway, which produced 101,750 between 1912 and 1926. Steyr made only 29,000.
The hilt is stamped with the serial number ‘2511’ – a low and therefore early example. A new production run was ordered during WW2 while Norway was under German occupation, but these have distinctive Waffenamt stamps and none were produced at Steyr. A depot fire in 1941 destroyed 4,693 M1894 and M1916 bayonets, and 31,000 M1894s were converted to fit the M1 Carbine in 1956-57. The ricasso on the edge side is stamped with a crown mark.
The blade and hilt have their original bright finish with only small spots of patination, some wear and patination to the scabbard throat piece. Light denting to the wood grips. Cracking to the leather frog at the edges next to the top rivets, no fraying to the stitching.
