A scarce French M1956 knife bayonet to fit the 7.5mm M1949/56 self loading rifle.
£175
A scarce French M1956 knife bayonet to fit the 7.5mm M1949/56 self loading rifle. Hilt with bolt retained plastic scales has the unique dual muzzle ring arrangement which makes these French bayonet immediately recognisable. Release catch to the lower rear of the grip. M1956 pattern 8 ½” long blade based on the US M4 bayonet with green / grey parkarized finish. In its correct issue steel scabbard with integral leather frog, the rear of the scabbard stamped E-RM the French ordinance code of E for 1959 and RM for the Paris manufacturer of R Merat. Adopted by the Frech army along with the self loading rifle it was decided that the M4 type blade with its long false edge to the top was inherently weak and so the bayonet was redesigned with a shorter false edge and redesignated the M1958 with only about 40,000 of these early patterns being manufactured. In very good condition showing minimal signs of use.
