French, 1874 Pattern, Gras Bayonet and Scabbard. Maker and date marked 1877

*French, 1874 Pattern, Gras Bayonet and Scabbard. Maker and date marked 1877*

This was manufactured to fit the French Model 1874 “Gras” Infantry Rifle, a refinement of the Model 1866 Chassepot Infantry Rifle. The “Gras” was manufactured from 1874 to about 1885. This bayonet was the last of the French “sword-type” bayonets.

The serial number is embossed on the quillon but it is indistinct and on the scabbard “RF64737”. The blade is marked on the back-edge (opposite the bottom cutting edge) with the arsenal, month, and year of manufacture; in engraved cursive writing “Mre d’ Armes de St. Etienne août 1877”, there are some indistinct proof marks on the quillon and the ricasso.

This bayonet has a solid brass pommel with integral latching mechanism (push-button/spring-steel). Grips are wood. Crossguard is steel, “blued,” with upper guard being the muzzle-ring, lower guard forming a hooked “blade-breaker” quillon. Blade is 52cm – steel triangular (3-edge) in form (very sturdy as a thrusting weapon), 64cm overall. The scabbard is sheet-rolled steel, semi-oval, tubular, with a ball finial.

The Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne, often abbreviated to MAS (“Saint-Étienne Weapons Factory” in English) was a French state-owned weapons manufacturer in the town of Saint-Étienne, Loire. Founded in 1764, it was merged into the French state-owned defense conglomerate GIAT Industries in 2001.

*Condition*
This bayonet is in excellent condition given its age. The blade has age related tarnishing and rusting, the crossguard has some rusting. The grip is in good condition, the button works well. The black metal scabbard is in excellent condition and fits snugly. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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