French issue Chassepot 1866 bayonet in its steel scabbard.
£155
French issue Chassepot bayonet in its steel scabbard. Ribbed brass grip with release button to the left rear is fitted with a hooked quilon cross guard struck with various French issue and inspection marks. Fullered single edge Yataghan blade signed Mle Imple de Chatl Aout 1871 to the top for manufacture at the French governments Chatellerault armoury in August of 1871. In its correct pattern blued steel scabbard (miss matched numbers). Designed to fit on the Model 1866 Chassepot rifle these bayonets also fit onto the later Gras rifle although a lighter and slimmer pattern was officially adopted for the new rifle. A typical sword bayonet of the time it was like the British rifle regiments Yataghans designed to work both as a bayonet and a short sword, but like the British weapon was not ideal for either purpose, and later bayonets were made shorter and lighter to make them more practical when fitted to the rifle. In good condition with clean blade and scabbard with good clear issue markings.
