| Pictures (click to enlarge) |
Type | Description | Blade Length |
Overall Length |
Muzzle |
Markings | |||
in. |
mm. |
in. |
mm. |
in. |
mm. |
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Plug Bayonet | European plug bayonet, possibly from one of Italy's sovereign city-states of the late 17th Century. I believe this bayonet is most likely military, due to its plain features. It has a double-edged, unfullered blade. The thin brass cross guard has pierced finials. The ribbed wood grip is approximately .780 in. (19.8 mm.) diameter.
The ribbed grip tends to be more common on Italian plugs, although they are found on some others as well. It may be an 18th Century hunting piece, however, its utilitarian styling speaks of military origin. However, it is not one of the documented military styles, so it is unclear who made and used this particular bayonet. Surviving military plug bayonets are very scarce. Because of this, I may never be able to precisely identify or date this piece. If military, the most likely period of manufacture is the latter part of the 17th Century, circa 1680. |
12.125 | 308 | 16.875 | 429 | n/a | None. | |
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M1871 | Sword bayonet for use with the 10.4 mm. M1871 Vetterli and M1871/87 Vetterli-Vitali rifles; and the 6.5 mm. M1871/87/16 Vetterli-Carcano rifle.
This example was made at Reale Fabbrica d' Armi di Torino (Arms Factory of Turin). This is a very early example, with the long spring and without the cut out lower muzzle ring that Carter indicates was introduced in 1875. This example has it's original composition grip scales. Many M1871 bayonets were subsequently shortened and.or had the lower quillion removed, making unaltered examples very desirable to collectors. |
20.25 | 514 | 25.375 | 645 | .690 | 17.5 | Ricasso (left): proofmark
Ricasso (right): proofmark and "Torino" Crosspiece: "DC 641" Pommel: "RC" inside an oval |
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M1891 |
Knife bayonet for use on the 6.5 mm M1891 Mannlicher-Carcano rifles and M1891 carbines. This bayonet will not mount to the M1891 Cavalry Carbine or the M1938 Short Rifle.
These bayonets had nearly a 50 year service life. Scabbards can be leather with either brass or steel fittings, ribbed steel, or smooth steel. This example does not have any maker markings. |
11.875 |
302 | 16.375 |
416 | .510 |
13.0 | Crosspiece: "VG 6360" |
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M1891 | This example was made at Fabbrica D'Armi Di Terni (Firearms Manufacturing of Terni) and has a ribbed steel scabbard. | 11.75 | 298 | 16.25 | 413 | .510 | 13.0 | Ricasso (Left): "Terni" inside an oval.
Crosspiece: "DF643" |
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M1938 | Unique folding knife bayonet for use on M1938 Mannlicher-Carcano short rifles (fucile corto). These rifles were produced in both 6.5 mm and 7.35 mm caliber.
This example is the push-button folding model, where blade folds into handle like a pocket knife. This was done because the bayonet was intended to remain fixed to the rifle. This did not work well in practice, so the folding feature was discontinued and a steel scabbard provided. Most scabbards have a frog stud, however, some have a belt loop (like this example). The overall length listed is with the blade extended. Overall length with the blade folded is 8.50 in. (215 mm.). |
6.875 | 175 | 11.375 | 289 | .505 | 12.8 | Tang: "PS" inside oval. "187" and small circle with raised "PB" |
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Belt Frog | Green leather belt frog used by the Italian Army during WW II for carrying the M1891 and M1938 bayonets.
9.375 in (240 mm) long x 2.75 in (70 mm) wide. Carter classified this frog as #337. |
n/a | n/a | n/a | None. | |||
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| © Ralph E. Cobb 2009 All Rights Reserved | |||||||||
