Swedish, Model 1896 Knife Bayonet, Eskilstuna Jernmanufactur AB, Scabbard by Erik Anton Berg AB & Leather Frog, I3 Life Regiment of Foot/Grenadiers (Livregementet till fot/grenadjärer)

*Swedish, Model 1896 Knife Bayonet, Eskilstuna Jernmanufactur AB, Scabbard by Erik Anton Berg AB & Leather Frog, I3 Life Regiment of Foot/Grenadiers (Livregementet till fot/grenadjärer)*

A Swedish Model 1896 knife bayonet for the 6.5 mm m/1896 Mauser rifle. The bayonet is of the standard service form, featuring the long spear-point blade with single broad fuller and the characteristic tubular, cross-hatched steel grip fitted with the later conical spring catch.

The blade ricasso is stamped EJ AB beneath a Crown over Anchor, identifying the maker - Eskilstuna Jernmanufactur AB, with the serial number 15565 stamped below. Beneath the crossguard the blade is again stamped EJ AB with Crown over Anchor, confirming manufacture and acceptance. The crossbar is stamped underneath with  EJ AB beneath a Crown over Anchor on one side of the blade and 565 on the other, an abbreviation of the serial number, and bears additional Swedish crown inspection marks. Further crown acceptance stamps are present to the pommel attachment and hilt components. The crossbar bears the infantry issue marking “D / I 3 No. 589”, denoting Infantry Regiment No. 3 (I 3) and an individual inventory number, in accordance with Swedish Army regimental marking practice.

The bayonet is complete with its correct blued steel scabbard, retaining the ball finial and belt stud. The scabbard throat is stamped EAB with a crown mark, identifying manufacture by Erik Anton Berg AB.

Accompanying the scabbard is its correct Swedish leather belt frog, constructed from thick brown leather with riveted belt loop and adjustable securing strap with steel buckle. The frog retaining tab is stamped “B”, while the rear belt loop bears a crown acceptance stamp. This frog corresponds to Carter classification No. 406, the standard Swedish service frog for the m/1896 bayonet.

Approx. Measurements – Blade length: 21 cm. Overall length: 30 cm. Frog length: 23.5 cm. Width:  6 cm.

Historical Note:
The m/1896 bayonet was adopted alongside the 6.5 mm :m/1896 Swedish Mauser rifle and remained in service for decades, later being used with the m/1938 short rifle and the AG42/AG42B Ljungman self‑loading rifle. Its long service life reflects the exceptional quality of Swedish military steel manufacture and the conservative approach of the Swedish Army to equipment replacement.

Production of the m/1896 bayonet was undertaken by three principal manufacturers: Eskilstuna Jernmanufactur AB (1899–1912) – approx. 280,000 produced; Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori (from 1913) and Erik Anton Berg AB (dates uncertain). Total production across all manufacturers is estimated at approximately 665,000 examples. Early bayonets featured a flat spring catch, later replaced by the conical spring catch seen on this example, which became the standard and most commonly encountered form.

The regimental marking I 3 denotes issue to the Life Regiment of Foot (Livregementet till fot), Infantry Regiment No. 3, based in Örebro between 1893 and 1904, later redesignated the Life Regiment Grenadiers (Livregementets grenadjärer) from 1904 onward. Descended from the Life Regiment Grenadier Corps, which evolved from the light infantry arm of the Life Regiment Brigade in the late 18th century, the regiment held independent status from 1815.

During the active service life of the m/1896 bayonet, I 3 operated as a fully equipped frontline infantry regiment, its soldiers regularly drilling, manoeuvring, and deploying on extended field exercises. Although Sweden remained officially neutral, the regiment stood on repeated wartime footing, particularly in the years surrounding the First World War, when bayonets such as this were carried on mobilisation, guard duties, and national defence assignments. The regiment’s motto, Artibus et armis recuperatur gloria (“By skill and arms, glory is regained”), reflected its emphasis on discipline and martial proficiency. The Life Regiment Grenadiers remained active until 2000, making I 3 one of the longest-serving infantry lineages in Swedish military history.

*Condition*
Bayonet in very good service-used condition. The blade shows honest wear with scattered light surface marks, retaining a strong profile and well-defined fuller. The hilt and crosspiece display even patina, with traces of original blued finish visible in protected areas. All markings remain clear and legible. The scabbard is structurally sound, with uniform wear and thinning to the original blued finish, now largely a smooth grey patina, and retains both ball finial and belt stud. The leather frog shows expected age and service wear, including surface cracking, darkening, and wear to the nap, but remains complete with intact stitching, belt loop, securing strap, and buckle. Markings to the frog remain visible despite wear. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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