PRE WW1 FRENCH ARMY GRAS BAYONET & SCABBARD DATED 1876 ST. ETIENNE ARSENAL

Offered is a pre WW1 - 1876 dated French Army Gras 1874 pattern bayonet with scabbard.

Bayonet features a brass birds head pommel with working release button, with very good wooden grips and metal guard & quillon, numbered 28771. The 52 cm long triangular steel blade in very good condition, engraved to top of flat spine for manufacture by St. Etienne Arsenal, August 1876. Standard black enamelled metal scabbard, in very good condition, numbered 82372, retaining the uniform belt clip. Overall length 66cm.

The bayonet was manufactured to fit the French Model 1874 "Gras" Infantry Rifle, being the backbone of the French Army for the next 30 years.