Help needed with bayonet ID...

[Brian George]

I picked this up at the flea market this weekend, and I have no idea what it's for or where it came from...






The inscription on the spine of the blade:



It sounds vaguely Slavic, if I had to guess.

It almost looks like a cross between a Dutch Mannlicher bayonet and one for a Danish Krag with a little bit of Gras thrown in.

I'm at a loss for this one....

[Theodor]

Something Norwegian? The handle has a strong resemblance to the Norwegian M44 Krag Jorgensen bayonet.

However the blade inscription is strange. It is similar to the writing seen on French blades, like Chassepot or Gras. But this looks like nonsense and the year 1879 /if that's year/ is seems too early for such type of bayonet. Such inscriptions are seen on Chinese replica blades. They sell very well made and well aged replica swords and sabres, but with wrong inscriptions, sometimes just random letters gathered, as if the makers don't recognize the Latin letters /which is most likely the case/. I can not say that your bayonet is such production, but the extraordinary writing reminds me of that.

[Brian George]

Theodor,

It might be a Chinese fake. I honestly don't know.

[just]

Hello
it looks like a danish M15 ??
http://www.19thcenturyweapons.com/41...anishbayo.html
http://arms2armor.com/store/product859.html
cordially
Didier

[Richie B]

My initial re-action, based on the writing on the blade back is Chinese fake. The blade does resemble the French Mle 1874 Gras bayonet which does have an inscription on the back.

If you trawl through eBay you might find something similar.

[bolo]

Chinese fake

I saw one exactly like this today at the swap meet, it was also inscribed on the back of the blade with writing and the year 1879

it did not have any proof marks , no serial numbers, no Danish Crown marking

but it did have some type fake rusty residue on it and the blade was blued not polished like the originals and the wood grips were made of a lower quality wood with reddish stain [not walnut] and the grip screws were plain steel not brass and it came with a blued all steel scabbard like yours

price tag was marked $55

http://www.jjmilitaryantiques.com/ca...yType=bayoeuro

[peter monahan]

Sounds a LOT like a cheap copy then.

[bolo]

Sounds a LOT like a cheap copy then.

Im sure it was a modern copy, more of a wall hanger for decoration

you have to watch out, many sellers at flea markets try to sell these as originals and play dumb and pretend they found it at a veteran's estate sale or something

Ive also been seeing lots of reproduction coins sold as originals at antique shows / swap meets

[bolo]

fake bayonets

I just saw another identical bayonet like the Original Post at the local Antique Mall and it was also marked 1879 and priced at $55

he also had a fake Japanese Arisaka bayonet with fake rust for the same price

it felt like it was much lighter and of poor quality compared to an original, with loose crossguard and crude screws on the grips

the seller was trying to sell these as originals