French issue ‘X’ serial number Chassepot drill purpose bayonet in its issue steel scabbard.
£175
An interesting and unusual French issue ‘X’ serial number Chassepot drill purpose bayonet in its issue 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 with serial number X8888 to the left side. Unsigned fullered single edge Yataghan blade. In its correct pattern steel scabbard with frog loop to the front. 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 for fighting. These X serial numbered bayonets were made up from components rejected at manufacture by the weapons inspectors and issued for training and drill purposes only to make use of otherwise scrap components. In good condition with clean blade and scabbard with good clear issue markings. A nice example of a scarce French drill purpose bayonet.
