Memorabilia

Interesting mixed lot, features a French WWI ‘Clou Francais’ trench knife which is 24cm (9-3/8") overall, fashioned from random scrap steel with a flat double-edge blade and rounded point.  Also includes two sets of commercial cast iron fighting knuckles and a concealed blade swagger stick.  This particular example is a mating of a French Lebel bayonet and scabbard with the brass grip portion from the hilt of a German S.71 bayonet.  The cruciform blade remains full-length at 50.8cm (~20").  $200 - $300

French WWI Bayonets Lot of Three: Two Lebel and One Berthier, Two With Frogs

Two Lebel Model 1886/93/15 Bayonets, one with white metal alloy hilt and the other with the brass alloy hilt.  The brass alloy example has 52cm (20-3/8") quadrilateral blade blade with light age toning and blemishes, has scabbard with dark age spots, complete with brown leather belt frog.  The white metal example has 52cm quadrilateral blade also with dark age spots, complete with scabbard in comparable condition.

M1892 bayonet for the Mannlicher Berthier rifle is the second pattern with wartime modified quillon.  Has fullered blade in excellent polish, retaining 90% matte finish, distinctive second pattern muzzle ring extends back over the grips, and the hooked quillon has been shortened as was done during WWI.  Hilt has nice two-piece wood grips and functional press stud.  Scabbard retains traces of finish blending with a dark age patina and is complete with a good black leather belt frog.

$200 - $300

French WWI Bayonets Lot of Three: Lebel, Gras, and Berthier

Lebel Model 1886/ Bayonet has white metal alloy hilt with hook quillon, 52cm (20-3/8") quadrilateral blade blade with dark age blemishes and areas of light pitting, complete with scabbard.  M1874 Gras bayonet is 64.4cm overall, has 52.3cm T-back blade in good condition with gray patina and light blemishes throughout, inspector poinçons at the ricasso.  Spine has script marking from the state arsenal St. Étienne dated 1881.  Hilt has steel guard with gray patina, notched muzzle ring and forward-swept hook quillon stamped with inspector marks and serial number.  Wood scale grips have normal light dings and service wear, and brass pommel has steel locking bolt spring and press stud attachment.  Scabbard has good blued finish.  M1892 Berthier bayonet for the Mannlicher Berthier rifle is the first pattern with the shorter muzzle ring and black composition grips.  Has blade which is fullered both on the sides and for a distance from the tip on the spine - in very good condition with only light age blemishes throughout, inspector stamps on the ricasso.  Hilt has black composition grips secured by two small rivetsPommel has some 'salt-and-pepper' pitting and a bit of rust on one side of the guard.  Hooked quillon has accountability number which does not match that on the scabbard, as is almost always the case.

$200 - $300

French Model 1896 Cavalry officer's sword has "Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Chatellerault" 1914 dated maker engraving on the spine.  Blade is in very nice condition, retains leather scabbard washer at the ricasso.  Cast brass basket hilt has floral designs, and the leather covered ribbed wood grip has wire wrap intact.  Complete with scabbard.  $300 - $500

Italian WWI / WWII Bayonet Lot: M1891 Truppe Speciali Carbine & M91 Carcano 

Two bayonets: first is an Italian M1891 Truppe Speciali Carbine Bayonet, dark patina on the blade and hilt, with "BRESICA" arsenal stamp on the ricasso and accountability markings on the crossguard.  Includes fluted steel scabbard also with dark patina.

Second is a Model 91 Carcano bayonet with leather scabbard; bayonet has dark blued blade in good condition.  Hilt is also nice with good wood grips and nice finish on the guard and pommel, accountability markings on the crossguard.  Leather scabbard is in good condition but is missing the throat attachment screw.  This scabbard is dated 1942.  $100-$150

Turkish Bayonet Lot: Three Ersatz Bayonets, One Shortened S.98/05 and One M1903 Mauser Bayonet

Includes two shortened ersatz bayonets, one shortened S.98/05, and one rather nice Turkish M1915 ersatz bayonet for M1893 and 1903 rifles.  That example is nicely marked with a star and crescent moon on the crossguard, in it's proper steel scabbard, with both the bayonet scabbard and hilt retaining the same traces of feldgrau painted finish blending with dark patina.  M1903 bayonet has fullered quillback S.98 style blade with star and crescent on the spine, and pommel marked with the Sultan's tughra.  Includes black leather scabbard with steel throat and drag. 

$200 - $300