Sword bayonet for use on the 7.65 x 53 mm. Argentine M1891 Mauser rifle.

This example was made in 1900 by the German firm Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. of Solingen.

Most have white metal grips, like this example. However, M1891 bayonets are also found with Brass grips. According to Webster's book on Argentine Military Rifles, the white grip metal is an alloy of aluminum, with 6 percent copper.

The "RA" inside an oval is an Argentine property mark, representing Republica Argentino. This replaced the earlier "E.N" Ejercito Nacional (National Army) property mark.

Most M1891 rifles and bayonets were exported to the USA in the 1950s and 1960s, when Argentine export laws required that the national crest be ground away before being sold.

Knife bayonet for use with the 7.65 x 53 mm. M1891 Engineer's Carbine.

The unusual trapezoidal muzzle ring is unique to this bayonet. Strange and unique mounting systems are a common characteristic of bayonets made for rifles that weren't originally intended to mount a bayonet.

M1891 Engineer's Carbines were created in the 1920's, by adding sling swivels and a nose cap/bayonet lug to existing M1891 Cavalry Carbines.

The bayonet is a modified M1879 saber bayonet, formerly used with the 11.15 mm. M1879 Remington rolling-block rifle. This example was originally made in 1879 by the firm of W. R. Kirschbaum of Solingen, Germany.

The workmanship on the bayonet conversion is quite good. However, the steel scabbard was crudely modified by cutting a section away and brazing the two ends together.

Sword bayonet for use on the 7.65 x 53 mm. M1909 Argentine Mauser rifle, which was a variation of the famous Mauser M1898. These bayonets were made in Germany and also in Argentina.

This example was made in 1910 by the firm Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. of Solingen, Germany.

The earliest M1909 bayonets had a low Mauser 98 type muzzle ring. These are scarce today. Most M1909 bayonets were made with the higher Mauser 91 style muzzle ring and used the Richhieri Adapter to allow interchange of bayonets between the M1891 and M1909 rifles.

Adapter designed by Gen. Pablo Ricchieri to allow use of M1891 bayonets with the M1909 rifle. Upon adoption of Ricchieri's adapter, M1909 bayonets were made with the high M1891 muzzle ring to allow use with either rifle.

Gen. Ricchieri was responsible for the introduction of Mauser rifles, mandatory military service, and the overall modernization of the Argentine Army in the latter years of the 19th Century. Gen. Ricchieri died in 1936.