M1874 French Gras Bayonet and Scabbard. Maker and date marked 1876

“M1874 French Gras Bayonet and Scabbard. Maker and date marked 1876*

This bayonet was manufactured to fit the French Model 1874 “Gras” Infantry Rifle, a refinement of the Model 1866 Chassepot Infantry Rifle that enabled use of the 11.15 x 59 mm. centerfire cartridge. The “Gras” was manufactured from 1874 to about 1885. This bayonet was the last of the French “sword-type” bayonets. The M1874 rifle is referred to as the Gras, after the French Army officer who developed the conversion, Colonel Basile Gras.

This bayonet has a solid brass pommel with integral latching mechanism (push-button/spring-steel). Grips are wood. Crossguard is steel, “blued,” with upper guard being the muzzle-ring, lower guard forming a hooked “blade-breaker” quillon. Blade is 52cm – steel triangular (3-edge) in form (very sturdy as a thrusting weapon). The scabbard is sheet-rolled steel, semi-oval, tubular, with a ball finial.

The serial number is embossed on the quillion with a cursive G “86061” and on the scabbard with what could also be : a cursive G “86061”. The blade is marked on the back-edge with the arsenal, month, and year of manufacture; in engraved cursive writing “Mre d’ Armes de St. Etienne Mars 1877”.

The Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne, often abbreviated to MAS (“Saint-Étienne Weapons Factory” in English) was a French state-owned weapons manufacturer in the town of Saint-Étienne, Loire. Founded in 1764, it was merged into the French state-owned defense conglomerate GIAT Industries in 2001.

*Condition*
This bayonet is in excellent condition given its age. The blade has some minor nicks, the crossguard has some minor rusting and tarnishing. The grip is in good condition with service related wear and tear and the press stud works well. The black metal scabbard is in good condition with a few minor dings though it doesn’t engage with the crossguard. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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