Posted 10 years ago
Chrisnp
(310 items)
The bayonet pictured here and in my last post about the 1888 rifle is one of many substitute, or “ersatz” pattern bayonets manufactured in WWI. Due to the pressures on industry to supply the war effort, bayonets were simplified to free up materials, workers and machinery for higher priority tasks. This is one of about 80 varieties of ersatz bayonets made during the war.
This bayonet is all metal construction with the only visible marking being a four digit serial or rack number. The muzzle ring is designed to be compatible with the German 1898 rifle and the older 1888 Commission rifle, as well as captured French Lebel rifles.
The sheet metal scabbard is marked with the manufacturer’s logo “Fag” for Fischers aktien-gesellschaft, a company primarily known for the manufacture of ball-bearings.
Guess I gave up the yard sale too early. Came back & found this. Grip is brass or that strange military metal that doesn't seem to rust?
the whole thing is the color of steel, and there is some darkening on the low points. the grips are actually three layers of metal: a center piece which I presume also forms the blade tang, and then a slab on each side forming the grips. In the photos you can make out circles which are rivets pinning all three pieces together. Everything is ground flush and at first glance the handle seems to be one piece of metal.
Always wondered what that mystery military "steel" was. As I remember, I tried decades ago with several pieces to see if a magnet would stick & it didn't. Just impervious to rust.
I never thought of checking before, but a magnet does stick to the bayonet grips, blade and scabbard.
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