Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Lebel Bayonet “Rosalie”

In Military and Wartime > World War One > Show & Tell and Military and Wartime > Swords > Show & Tell.
Military and Wartime4178 of 7283Silver mounted flintlock dueling pistols.French Model 1886 Lebel Rifle
9
Love it
0
Like it

WhenIsraelbelievesWhenIsraelbelieves loves this.
AntiKaasAntiKaas loves this.
MilitaristMilitarist loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
vanskyock24vanskyock24 loves this.
walksoftlywalksoftly loves this.
pw-collectorpw-collector loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
See 7 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 10 years ago

    Chrisnp
    (310 items)

    As WWI loomed on the horizon, no army had as much faith in the spirit of the bayonet as France. The concept was “attaque à outrance” - the idea that massed French infantry could conquer an objective at the point of their bayonets though sheer élan. They were mistaken. The French even nicknamed their bayonet “Rosalie” after a song of the era. The Germans called the French bayonets “knitting needles.”

    These are two Model 1886 Lebel bayonets. The French called this style an épée bayonet, after the épée sword used in fencing, because of the cruciform cross section of the blade. Both bayonets have 20 ½ inch (52.7 cm) long blades, but they can be found in various lengths as the blades were often repointed when the tip broke off in field use. The French also modified many of these bayonets in 1935 by shortening them.

    Originally the bayonets had a nickel-silver handle and a hooked quillion. By 1916, with the need to conserve nickel for the war effort, the handles were made of brass. About the same time they were manufactured without the quillion, I assume because the French discovered the quillions were more apt to get caught on equipment straps than catch the downward thrust of an enemy bayonet.

    My 1886 Lebel bayonet with combination of brass handle and quillion is a rather scarce example of the bayonet in transition. The handle has lost its patina because someone along the way decided to polish it and cover it with lacquer. The other bayonet without quillion is a typical post-1916 example.

    logo
    World War One
    See all
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custom stamping
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custo...
    $20
    WWI Kerr N0-Buckl Sling for M1903 Springfield
    WWI Kerr N0-Buckl Sling for M1903 S...
    $25
    Trench Art WW1 German Memorabilia Battle Relics Authentic Collection
    Trench Art WW1 German Memorabilia B...
    $38
    WW1 WW2 GERMAN M1916 CAMO HELMET SIZE 64 War Military
    WW1 WW2 GERMAN M1916 CAMO HELMET SI...
    $690
    logo
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custom stamping
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custo...
    $20
    See all

    Comments

    1. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 10 years ago
      Thanks for the love vanskyock24, Militarist, walksoftly, pw-collector, vetraio50 and Roycroftbooksfromme1.
    2. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 10 years ago
      Thanks for the love petey and blunder.
    3. Jimboville, 9 years ago
      I'm a bit of a newby at this stuff. I have inherited a rosalie bayonet. It looks like the one on the right of both your two centre pictures but does have the hook (quillion?) where does that place it in history? Ta.
    4. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      There are other variations, but basically:
      from 1886 till 1916: Nickel steel handle, hooked quillion, a bit over 25 inches long overall.
      1916 - 1935: Same as above but without the quillion and with a brass handle. Many older bayonets had the quillions removed.
      1935 through WWII: same as above, but shortened to 18 inches. Many older bayonets were also shortened.
      Also after 1935, some bayonets were made with blued steel handles.
      Bayonets that had tips broken off were often re-sharpened, so that some bayonets are neither the long or the short length.
    5. AntiKaas AntiKaas, 8 years ago
      I just wanted to thank you for sharing this valuable knowledge. I had been researching this Bayonet for days. and you summed up all that I found and added to my knowledge in a simple easy to read 1 page. next time I know where to look for answers. God Bless you
    6. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 8 years ago
      Thanks for your kind words!

      Chris
    7. jfbarnesps, 2 years ago
      Thanks, I have a Rosilie. Wondered about it and stubbled upon this. Thx Mine has the Nickle handle which i was wondering about till now. Thx for the clarification

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.